What to Do If Your Toddler Isn’t Talking Yet and 5 Things You can Do Right Now
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from parents:
“My toddler isn’t talking yet—should I be worried?”
If you’ve been told to “wait and see,” but your gut says your child needs more support, you’re not alone. Many parents feel stuck between concern and uncertainty, unsure of when or how to help.
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a diagnosis to start supporting your child’s language. In fact, early action, especially from parents, can make a big difference.
By 12 months, most toddlers point, gesture, and babble with purpose. By 18–24 months, they begin saying 10–50 words and combining two-word phrases. If you have concerns in any of these areas, are waiting for a speech and language evaluation, or just want to engage with your child more at home, here are five actionable steps you can take today to support communication development at home:
1. Model Simple Language All Day Long
Use short, clear phrases like “Drink water” or “Go up.” Avoid testing (“What’s this?”) and instead model what you want to hear during play, meals, and routines.
2. Pause and Wait
It might feel awkward, but silence can be powerful. After saying something or offering a choice, pause for 3–5 seconds to give your toddler time to process and respond.
3. Create Opportunities to Communicate
Place a favorite toy just out of reach or in a box that needs to be opened, or “forget” a spoon at lunch. These small setups encourage your child to use gestures, sounds, or words to request what they want.
4. Use Visuals, Gestures, and Choices
Give your child two choices—“Banana or cracker?”—and point or sign as you say each option. Pairing visuals with speech helps bridge the gap for late talkers.
5. Build Language Into Your Daily Routines
Bath time, snack time, bedtime—these are goldmines for consistent language learning. Stick to predictable routines and repeat key words each time.
Want These Tips Plus More in a Free Printable Guide?
We've created a SLP-approved cheat sheet with all these tips and a few bonus ideas to help you boost language every day.
(Perfect for printing, posting on the fridge, or sharing with a caregiver.)
Want More Guidance?
We’ve created the Let’s Talk Parent Coaching Program—a simple, stage-based guide for parents of late talkers. It includes checklists, play routines, and progress trackers so you can help your child thrive at home.