Is My Child’s Speech on Track? A Guide by Age (1–5 Years)

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “Is my child talking enough?”, “toddler speech delay”, or “when should my child start talking?” you are not alone.

As a paediatric speech pathologist in Point Cook, this is one of the most common questions I’m asked by families across Melbourne’s West.

Because when it’s your child, it’s not just curiosity, it’s that quiet thought in the back of your mind:
“Is this normal… or should I be worried?”

After more than 10 years supporting children and families, I want to reassure you that there is a wide range of ‘normal’.

Let’s walk through what to expect at each stage and when to seek support.

12–18 Months: First Words & Early Communication

This stage is all about connection and not just words.

What you might see:

• Responding to their name

• Understanding familiar words and simple phrases

• Using gestures (pointing, waving, reaching)

• Babbling with different sounds

• Saying a few words (by ~18 months, often around 6–20 words)

• Copying sounds and words

• Beginning simple pretend play

When to look a little closer:

• Not using words by around 16–18 months

• Limited babbling or sound play

• Not responding to their name

• Not pointing or using gestures to communicate

18–24 Months: Vocabulary Growth

This is often when parents start to feel unsure, especially if words aren’t coming as expected.

What you might see:

• Using at least 50 words by around 2 years

• Copying words frequently

• Beginning to combine two words (e.g., “more milk”)

• Following simple instructions

• Pointing to familiar objects or pictures

When to look a little closer:

• Fewer than ~20–50 words by 2 years

• Not combining words

• Difficulty understanding simple instructions

• Limited attempts to communicate

2–3 Years: Putting Words Together

Language often grows quickly during this stage.

What you might see:

• Combining words into short phrases

• Using 3–5 word sentences by closer to 3 years

• Asking simple questions

• Talking about things that have happened

• Following two-part instructions

• Being understood by familiar people most of the time

When to look a little closer:

• Not combining words regularly

• Very limited vocabulary

• Difficulty following instructions

• Speech difficult to understand, even for familiar people

3–4 Years: Expanding Language & Understanding

This is when communication becomes more detailed and interactive.

What you might see:

• Using longer sentences

• Retelling simple events or stories

• Answering questions about familiar situations

• Understanding concepts like “in”, “on”, “under”

• Using words like “and”, “but”, “because”

• Speech becoming clearer to others

When to look a little closer:

• Speech is difficult for unfamiliar listeners to understand

• Difficulty forming sentences

• Trouble answering simple questions

• Frustration when trying to communicate

4–5 Years: School Readiness Skills

This stage is key for preparing for school and learning.

What you might see:

• Speaking in longer, more detailed sentences

• Telling simple stories with a beginning, middle, and end

• Following multi-step instructions

• Understanding “before” and “after”

• Taking turns in conversation

• Being mostly understood by others (though some sounds may still develop)

• Beginning early literacy skills (rhyming, recognising letters)

When to look a little closer:

• Ongoing difficulty being understood

• Trouble expressing ideas clearly

• Difficulty understanding questions or instructions

• Challenges with early literacy skills

Is My Child’s Speech Normal?

Here’s the honest answer:

There’s a wide range of normal but there are also clear signs when support can help.

And something I say to parents every day:

You don’t need to “wait and see” and you’re not overreacting by asking questions

In fact, early support is one of the best things you can do.

When Should I See a Speech Pathologist?

You might consider reaching out for a speech therapy assessment if your child:

• Isn’t meeting key communication milestones

• Is difficult to understand

• Isn’t combining words by around 2 years

• Becomes frustrated when communicating

• Has been flagged by childcare, kindergarten, or school

Looking for Speech Therapy in Point Cook or Melbourne’s West?

At Sprout Learning, we support families with:

• Speech and language assessments

• Toddler speech therapy

• School-aged communication support

• Play-based, family-centred therapy

Book an initial consultation with our speech pathologists in Point Cook today

We’d love to support your child to communicate with confidence.