18 Month Milestones: Speech & Language
Learn which communication skills to look and listen for at 18 month olds.
Vocabulary milestones for 18 month olds
At 18 months old, the number of words speech therapists expect varies greatly! Toddlers at this age say between 20-200 words roughly.
There is such a big range at this stage because some toddlers have spent the majority of their developmental energy on motor skills; whereas other toddlers have dedicated their developmental energy towards communication. There is some evidence that supports boys are more likely to develop motor skills early on and girls tend to develop communication first.
This gap continues throughout toddlerhood, and begins to close when children start elementary school.
If you are looking to support your toddler in expanding the number of the words your toddler can say, check out one of our free lessons (links below) which will teach you the most powerful things you can do as their parents to encourage them to talk.
Links to lessons:
How do 18 month olds tell you what they want or need?
At this age, toddlers use many different strategies to let you know what they want and need. Watch for your toddler to communicate with a combination of gestures (like pointing), words, attempts at words, and facial expressions.
Toddlers at this age often speak in gibberish. Learn more about this phenomenon here. Speech therapists refer to gibberish as jargon. Toddlers seem to have made up their own language, and you might be able to understand the gist of what they are wanting to say based on their tone of voice.
As vocabulary grows, toddlers will rely more on words to communicate than gestures. You can expect some short periods of regression if your child is sick, uncomfortable (e.g., teeth coming in), or not sleeping well.
If you notice that your child has stopped saying words and they haven’t reappeared, talk to your pediatrician about ways you can help support your child in recovering those skills.
Suggested Reading: How many words should an 18 month old say?
What do 18 month olds understand?
The number of words toddlers can understand at this age has grown to the hundreds. On average, 18 month olds can understand about 200 words!
As the number of words they understand increases, they begin to follow some familiar directions. The directions they follow are the ones that they have gotten to practice over and over again. For example, “Get your shoes” and “Bring me your cup.”
18 Month Development Checklist - Communication Skills
Expression Skills
How does your child expresses their wants and needs?
▢ Says at least 18-20 different words on their own
▢ Babbles and speaks in their own language (gibberish/jargon)
▢ Repeats words, even if it doesn’t sound perfect
▢ Makes sounds and talks when they play alone and with others
▢ Lets you know what they need most of the time, even if they don't always know the words
Understanding Skills
What words does your toddler know?
▢ Looks towards me when I say their name or call to get their attention
▢ Understands what "no" means.
▢ Understands new words quickly; when I say the name of a familiar object they look towards it
▢ Follows several commands they've done many times without help: come here, give me, stop, wait, or throw it away
▢ Can follow new commands with help, close the fridge (as you gesture/ show them what to do)
Pronunciation Skills
Which sounds should you be listening for?
▢ Consonant Sounds: P, B, D, M, N, H, W
▢ Vowel Sounds: Ah, Aye, E, Oh, Oo, I
▢ Laughing, Babbling, and Talking in their own language/ speaking gibberish (jargon)
▢ Changing tone of voice when happy/upset
▢ Will leave sounds off the ends of words (“dah” for dog)
Social Communication Skills
How does your little one play and interact with others?
▢ Smiles and laughs when playing with parents
▢ Tries to get your attention to show you something
▢ Watches people who are talking to them
▢ Enjoys playing with toys
▢ Is curious about what other people are doing
▢ Enjoys listening to music and may try to dance along
Download the checklist now ↓
At Home Language Activity for 18 Month Olds
Grow Your Toddler's Communication During Snack Time
Snack Time Prep
Practice with new directions as you are preparing a snack. Tell your child to: mix, open, pour, or close. Show your child what you want them to do as you introduce new commands.
Showing your child what to do and repeating the commands can help your child learn faster.
Eating Snack
During snack time, talk about what is happening with your toddler. “We’re eating an apple. The apple tastes so sweet. - Crunch Crunch Crunch - That was a bit bite of apple. Yum-Yum!” Label the utensils you use, foods you eat, drinks you drink, and actions you are taking.
And here’s a pro speech tip - pick 5 words that you think you can repeat at least 10 times each during snack. Repeating a few words 10+ times in a single activity is more helpful for toddlers learning new words as compared to saying a hundred different words.
Learn why talking about what’s happening can help your child learn new words in our free lesson about focused stimulation.
As you eat your snack, you may also teach your child to answer some simple questions, like "Do you want more?" and "Do you want apple or pear?"
Clean Up
Finally, as you clean up from snack, you can secretively assess the words your child understands. When you tell them, "Bring me your napkin." Do they bring it to you? If not, this is a great opportunity for learning.
Show your child what you're talking about by pointing to it or holding it. Then say its name at least 3 times.
Toddlers learn through repetition, so the more opportunities to practice with the same words, the better.
When practicing during snack time, look for your toddler to:
▢ Follow a variety of directions (you may help!)
▢ Answer simple questions
▢ Use words and phrases to talk about snack and ask for more
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Parents Also Asked:
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18 month olds should say at least 20 different words; but there are no particular words an 18 month old should or shouldn’t be saying.
As a general rule of thumb listen for your little one to be saying words for the things that they see or do every day. Toddlers are most likely to say words to get something they really like or avoid something they don’t want.
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3 common signs of speech delay at 18 months are:
Not talking yet
Not following directions
Doesn’t enjoy playing with others
Watch this video to learn 10 signs of speech delay at 18 months.
If you suspect a speech delay be sure to talk to your child’s pediatrician.
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There are several speech therapy strategies you can use at home to encourage your 18 month old to talk, including: focused stimulation, face-to-face, and following your child’s lead to get in more practice.
Written By: Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP
© 2020-2023. Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP. All Rights Reserved.The content offered on ToddlerTalk.com is for informational purposes only. Toddler Talk is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children or families. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor, speech language pathologist, or other health professional. By accessing the content on ToddlerTalk.com, you acknowledge and agree that you are accepting the responsibility for your child’s health and well-being. In return for providing you with information related to home speech and language practice, you waive any claims that you or your child may have as a result of utilizing the content on ToddlerTalk.com.