Yearly Milestones
1-2 Years
Speech and Oral Motor Development
Social & Play
Skills
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Uses early speech sounds: p, b, m, n, d, h, w
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Starts combining consonant + vowel sounds (“ba,” “da,” “ma”)
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Attempts simple words
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Begins using rising/falling pitch to express excitement
Language Development
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Uses 2–6+ words at 12–15 months
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Uses ~50 words by 18 months
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Points to request items
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Uses gestures: waving, reaching, shaking head “no”
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Understands simple directions (“come here,” “get the ball”)
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Engages in simple back-and-forth play
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Responds to name
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Shows interest in people and familiar routines
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Brings items to show parents
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Imitates actions before imitating sounds or words
Red Flags
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Has fewer than 10 words by 15 months
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Has fewer than 50 words by 24 months
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Is not pointing, waving, or gesturing
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Is not babbling or rarely makes sounds
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Doesn’t respond to name
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Has frequent frustration during communication
Understanding “Averages” vs. “Milestones”
Many parents compare their toddler’s speech to milestone charts, but milestones and averages are not the same.
Milestone = what 90% of children can do
Average = what about 50% of children can do
Example:
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At 24 months, the milestone is 50 words
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But the average is 200–300 words
A toddler with 40–50 words may appear “close to the milestone,” but may still be far below the average — meaning early support can be helpful.
Common Reasons Families
Seek Therapy
These concerns are very common—and early support can
make a meaningful difference.
Late Talking
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Small vocabulary
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Not combining words
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Slow progress in new words
Speech Sound Concerns
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Hard to understand
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Dropped sounds (“ca” for “cat”)
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Limited consonant sounds
Feeding Concerns
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Difficulty chewing
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Gagging on textures
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Limited food variety
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Difficulty transitioning to table foods
Social/Play Concerns
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Limited imitation
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Prefers to play alone
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Limited pretend play
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Not responding to name
Behavior Related to Communication
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Meltdowns from not being understood
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Increased frustration
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Difficulty expressing wants/needs
FAQs
Early communication skills develop quickly during the toddler years, and many parents have questions as language, play, and understanding begin to emerge. Below are answers to common questions families ask during early development.
Don't Navigate Alone
If you’re noticing challenges with your toddler’s communication, feeding, or daily routines, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team is here to listen, answer questions, and help guide next steps with care.
Comprehensive Therapy Services
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