What are typical speech and language milestones 12-18 months?

At 12-18 months, most toddlers enjoy playing with familiar adults and they often find this easier than playing with other children, who can be a bit more unpredictable! They are keen to share their enjoyment and smile when others smile at them. During this stage toddlers will frequently take part in back and forth ‘conversations’ with you in whatever way they can!

At this stage, toddlers start to be able to focus their attention on activities of their own choosing (as well as some motivating adult-led activities like interactive books or nursery rhymes). Toddlers can often only attend to one thing at a time, so you might need to make sure you have their attention first before you try to chat to them!

By this stage, toddlers can understand many single words. They can also understand simple instructions with 1-2 steps to find things or point to various body parts (e.g. “get your bag and shoes”; “show me your nose”).

Toddlers love to copy others and often copy sounds and words at this stage! Toddlers also use a combination of babble, sounds (e.g. animal sounds), single words (which might be difficult to understand at first) and gestures to share their thoughts and ideas. They are learning new words rapidly at this stage, with most toddlers using around 20 single words by the time they reach 18 months.

At this stage toddlers do not use the full repertoire of speech sounds and it is common that a familiar adult might have to ‘interpret’ for them. Children often miss of the ends of words (e.g. “bu” for ‘bus’) and miss off part of the word (e.g. “nana” for ‘banana’).

It’s important to remember that every toddler develops at their own pace, and variations in speech and language milestones are common. However, if you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, discuss your observations with their GP, Health Visitor or Childcare Setting. Early intervention can make a significant difference in addressing any potential delays and supporting your child’s communication skills.

Watching your toddler’s journey through speech and language development is an incredible experience filled with wonder and excitement. By understanding the typical milestones and providing a supportive environment, you can help nurture your toddler’s communication skills and lay the foundation for a lifetime of meaningful interactions. Celebrate each small achievement along the way, knowing that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Through responsive and loving interactions, you can foster a strong bond with your toddler while empowering them to explore the world of language and communication with confidence.