Is my child a late talker?
What most children are saying at one, two and three — and when it’s worth booking a speech and hearing check.
Every child develops at their own pace, and parents are often told to wait and see. But some delays are worth checking early — not least because the first thing to rule out is hearing.
By one year
- Turns towards sounds and voices
- Understands words like ‘cup’ and ‘shoe’
- Says one or two words — bye-bye, dada, mama
By two years
- Says more words every month
- Follows simple instructions
- Puts two words together — ‘more biscuit’
By three years
- Has a word for almost everything
- Uses two- and three-word phrases
- Is understood by familiar people most of the time
When to book
If your child isn’t doing most of these for their age, book a hearing and speech assessment. It is never too early to check — and early help makes the biggest difference.