You may be reading this because you keep getting that nervous feeling about your kids speech? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Watching your child grow and develop is one of the most beautiful experiences life can offer, but sometimes it causes us stress.

We love our babies and want their life to be as amazing as it possibly can, so I’m sure you’re willing to do what it takes to make sure your child has the most opportunity to live the a happy and fulfilling life.

So, you’re having trouble with speech? Maybe they’re three and still saying “wabbit” instead of rabbit, or maybe your friend’s toddler is chatting away while yours prefers pointing and grunting. Honestly it’s one of those parenting worries that can keep you up at night.

Most parents can admit they have experienced something like this, you’re at childcare pickup, and some other parent casually mentions how their two year old is already asking philosophical questions about the meaning of life while you’re still celebrating the fact that your little one finally said please instead of just grabbing something.

Here’s what CommuniKids have learned after years of working with families. Some kids are early talkers who surprise everyone by having full conversations before they can properly walk. Others take their sweet time, soaking everything in before adding their opinion.

But how do you actually know if your child’s just on their own timeline, or if there’s something that needs a bit of extra attention?

The Real Deal About Speech Development

Firstly lets clear something up, development isn’t just about whether your kid can say “helicopter” clearly. It’s actually this complex mix of understanding what people say to them, figuring out how to express their own thoughts and then getting their mouth and tongue to cooperate with what their brain wants to say.

Your kid might understand every word you say but struggle to get their own words out. Or they might be an absolute chatterbox whose words sound like they’re speaking a language only you can understand.

Actually here’s something that most people don’t realise about those speech milestones you see everywhere, they’re more like guidelines than hard rules. A child who says their first proper word at 15 months instead of 12 months isn’t automatically behind the eight ball.

But a kid who’s not using any words at all by 18 months? That may mean you should look into seeing someone, having a professional opinion can help give you piece of mind and also help you take the next steps

Warning Signs That Actually Matter 

Forget about comparing your child to the neighbour’s kid for a minute. Instead, here are the genuine red flags that speech pathologists actually pay attention to:

By 12 months, if your baby isn’t responding when you call their name consistently, isn’t doing that cute babbling thing with different sounds, not pointing at things they want or if they seem to be losing skills they once had then that’s worth keeping in mind.

By 18 months, you want to see at least 10 words. And yes, “mum” “dad” and “no” absolutely count, despite what your perfectionist sister in law may think. Those are real words in the vocabulary of a toddler!  They should be following simple instructions like go grab your shoes! and they should also have interest in books, even if that means eating them rather than reading them.

By 2 years, this is where it gets a bit more serious, you’re looking for around 50 words and some two word combinations like “more milk” or “daddy gone.” If close family members can’t understand most of what they are saying then that could be a warning sign.

By 3 years, strangers should be able to understand most of what your child says, they should be using sentences of 3 to 4 words and they should be able to handle basic questions like “what’s your name?”

Now before the panic sets in and you start googling away all the symptoms of development, remember that all children develop at different rates. These are milestones that should act as indicators or signs to investigate, not deadlines.

The “Wait and See” Trap

Oh how many times have I heard this one. “He’ll grow out of it.” “Einstein didn’t talk until he was four”, which just isn’t even true. “Boys are just slower than girls.”

Look this advice usually comes from a good place. People want to reassure you and make you feel better. But sometimes this can do more harm than good, if your child genuinely needs help with their language development, withholding that can be detrimental to their long term development, which can in turn affect their socialisation and relationships.

The earlier speech and language difficulties are picked up, the more effective treatment tends to be. A child’s brain is incredibly adaptable in those early years, which makes it the perfect time for intervention if it’s needed.

Think of it this way, if your child had trouble seeing, you wouldn’t wait until they were struggling at school to get their eyes checked, would you? Speech and language development deserves the same attention.

Actually, I came across a study recently that showed kids who get early intervention for speech issues often need less intensive help overall. If you catch things early you can help fix them before their brain is fully developed.

What You Can Do at Home

The good news? You don’t need to spend heaps of money on fancy toys or expensive programs to help your child’s speech development. You can implement simple activities and exercises you’re your childs daily playing routine to help them with their language development.

Talk to your children like they are actual people, don’t use baby talk or simple language just because they are a kid. Because afterall you are limiting them to the vocabulary you use with them. Describe what you’re doing: “I’m putting the washing in the machine.” “Now we’re making lunch.” It feels a bit silly at first but kids soak this stuff up like sponges.

Read together every single day. Even if they don’t seem to sit still, keep reading. Point to pictures, do silly voices, ask questions like “Where’s the cat?” Even if they don’t answer straight away they’re still processing everything.

Try to incorporate their interests. If they’re obsessed with trains, talk about trains. Make train noises. Count train carriages. Use their fascination as your teaching opportunity.

Give them time to respond too. We live in this crazy fast paced world, but children need processing time. Ask a question, then count to five or even ten before jumping in with the answer. Simple things like this allow your child to have time to think, process and formulate their own answer without the expectation you will cut them off before they even get a chance.

And here’s a big one don’t correct them constantly, but make sure they know how to speak properly. If they say “Me want juice” respond with “You want some juice!” This way, they hear the correct form without feeling like they’ve done something wrong.

When Professional Help Makes Sense

Sometimes, despite your best efforts at home, a bit of extra support is needed. And that’s completely fine, more common than you might think. Many households around the world struggle with language development.

Speech pathologists specialists who can work out whether your child’s development is tracking along okay and provide targeted support if it’s needed. They’re not just for kids with major difficulties either, heaps of them work with children who just need a bit of extra help to reach their potential.

The assessment process is usually quite fun for kids, to be honest. It might involve playing games, looking at picture books or doing puzzles. The speech pathologist watches how your child communicates, understands instructions, and interacts socially.

Don’t be surprised if they ask detailed questions about your child’s development, birth history, and family medical background. This information helps them build a complete picture of what’s going on with your kid.

Different Types of Speech Challenges

Not all speech difficulties are equal. They all have different challenges and ways to help them.

Articulation disorders mean kids have trouble making certain sounds clearly. They might say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” or leave off sounds at the end of words.

Language delays involve difficulty understanding or using language. A child might understand everything perfectly but struggle to express themselves or they might have trouble following instructions that seem simple to us adults.

Fluency disorders include stuttering which is where the flow of speech gets interrupted by repetitions or blocks. This one can be particularly frustrating for kids because they know what they want to say but just can’t get it out smoothly. This can cause confidence issues for young kids as well, when they want to express themselves but feel too embarrassed.

Voice disorders affect how the voice sounds, it might be too rough, too quiet, or sound unusual in pitch.

Each type needs different approaches, which is why professional assessment can be so valuable. Its important to speak to a professional before you try to diagnose anything yourself.

Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, you know your child better than anyone else. If something feels off, don’t let anyone and I mean anyone talk you out of seeking professional advice.

Having a second opinion from a professional and expert doesn’t mean you’re being dramatic or a helicopter parent, you genuinely care about your child and want the best for them. It doesn’t mean you’re being over the top, it means you’re being proactive about your child’s development.

Getting help early often means needing less help overall. A few months of support now might prevent years of struggle later on. And if it turns out your child is developing perfectly normally? Well, you’ll have peace of mind and some great strategies for supporting their continued growth.

Trust your instincts, stay informed and remember that getting support for your child’s communication development is good parenting, not failure. Your child’s voice matters, whatever form it takes.