18-Month Speech Milestones: What “Says Several Single Words” and “Points to Show” Mean

Where “says several single words” and “points to show” come from

If you searched a phrase like “says several single words, points to show someone what they want,” you have almost certainly met the older version of the CDC’s 18-month checklist — wording that still circulates on worksheets, quiz sites and parenting handouts. Both phrases describe real 18-month skills. The CDC simply revised how it says them.^4,1

What changed in the 2022 CDC revision?

In 2022 the CDC, working with the American Academy of Pediatrics, rebuilt its milestone checklists. The new lists place each milestone at the well-child visit age by which about 75% or more of children would be expected to show it, drop vague or duplicated items, and are explicitly described as conversation tools for families and professionals — not screening or diagnostic instruments. The 18-month language items now read: tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada,” and follows one-step directions without any gestures.^4,1

What to expect at 18 months

By 18 months most toddlers understand far more than they can say. ASHA’s milestones for 13 to 18 months include looking around when asked “where” questions, following simple directions such as “Give me the ball,” pointing to make requests or to comment, shaking the head for “no” and nodding for “yes,” using words for common objects, actions and people, identifying one or more body parts, and mixing long strings of sounds with real words in speech-like patterns.⁸

Words: what “several” looks like in real life

Early words are usually the names of familiar people, favourite possessions and body parts, and they are often only understood by the people closest to the child, because early talkers drop or swap sounds — getting the first consonant and vowel right and losing the end of the word is typical. The American Academy of Pediatrics also notes wide normal variation: even among children with typical hearing and intelligence, some do not talk much during the second year.¹¹

Gestures: why pointing matters so much

Pointing does two different jobs. A toddler points to ask for something out of reach, and — from around 18 months — points at things simply because they find them interesting, looking back and forth between the object and you to check you are sharing the moment. That second kind of pointing, sometimes called joint attention, is a building block for later social and language skills, which is why both the CDC and paediatricians watch for it.^14,1

Understanding runs ahead of talking

Between one and two years, most toddlers follow simple commands — first with a gesture, later with words alone — fetch objects from another room when asked, point to a few body parts, and bring you things to show you. A child who understands well but says little is a common pattern, and still worth mentioning at the next check-up.^12,17

Red flags at 18 months

The CDC’s instruction is plain: if your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills they once had, or you have other concerns, act early — talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns and ask about developmental screening. Losing skills at any age is the one sign that should never be watched and waited on.^1,6

• No attempts at words besides “mama” or “dada.”
• Does not follow a simple one-step direction without a gesture.
• Does not point — to ask for things or to show you something.
• Does not respond to their name most of the time, or does not seem to notice you in the room.
• Has stopped using words or gestures they used to have.

Late language emergence — talking late without an obvious cause — is common, and some late talkers catch up on their own, but ASHA is clear that there is no reliable way to know in advance which children will. Screening is quick and low-stress, which is why the advice is to check rather than wait.^10,7

What parents can do at 18 months

This is an age for talking, playing and reading together, not for drilling sounds. The CDC’s own tips for 18-month-olds include encouraging pretend play, asking simple questions about what your child sees, giving simple choices, and limiting screen time to video calls with loved ones — because toddlers learn by talking, playing and interacting with people.¹

1. 1Narrate the day. Name what your child looks at, touches and wants — the CDC suggests responding with words when your baby points: “You want the cup? Here is the cup.”
2. 2Build on attempts. If your toddler says “ta,” answer “Yes, a truck” — expanding a sound into the real word.
3. 3Read together every day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends shared reading from infancy for language and lifelong benefits.
4. 4Play, and follow their lead. Pretend feeding a toy, taking turns, and silly games are language work in disguise.
5. 5Point at interesting things yourself — a bus, a dog — so your child learns what pointing is for.

Play is not a break from development; it is how toddlers build language and social skills, which is why paediatricians treat it as a core part of early childhood rather than an extra.^16,15,2

When to act, and who to talk to

Developmental screening is more formal than a checklist: it uses research-based questionnaires, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it for all children at the 9-, 18- and 30-month well-child visits, with a specific autism screen at 18 and 24 months. The 18-month visit is therefore exactly the right moment to bring a completed milestone checklist and your questions.⁷

Raise concerns directly. The AAP’s advice is to describe what you see, ask for a developmental screening, and — if you or the doctor are still concerned — ask for a referral to a specialist and contact your area’s early intervention programme, which in the United States can evaluate a child under three without a referral.^13,6

You are not overreacting by asking. About 1 in 12 U.S. children has had a disorder related to voice, speech, language or swallowing, and the point of the milestone system is to find those children early, when support helps most.^18,5

Check the milestones now

Our free milestone checker asks about the 18-month skills above and tells you plainly which are met and which to mention to your doctor. It is not a diagnosis and it is not a test — it is the conversation-starter the CDC checklists are designed to be. From here, the next age page covers what changes by 2 years, when two-word phrases arrive.^4,9

Frequently asked questions

References

18 sources from authoritative bodies. Last reviewed September 2026.

1. 1.CDCMilestones by 18 Months — Milestone guidance.
2. 2.CDCMilestones by 1 Year — Milestone guidance.
3. 3.CDCMilestones by 2 Years — Milestone guidance.
4. 4.CDCKey Points about CDC’s Developmental Milestone Checklists — Milestone explainer, 2022.
5. 5.CDCCDC’s Developmental Milestones (Learn the Signs. Act Early.) — Milestone guidance.
6. 6.CDCConcerned About Your Child’s Development? — Parent guidance.
7. 7.CDCDevelopmental Monitoring and Screening — Reference page.
8. 8.ASHACommunication Milestones: 13 to 18 Months — Developmental milestones.
9. 9.ASHACommunication Milestones: 19 to 24 Months — Developmental milestones.
10. 10.ASHALate Language Emergence — Practice Portal page.
11. 11.AAPLanguage Development: 1 Year Olds — Age-stage parent article (HealthyChildren.org).
12. 12.AAPLanguage Delays in Toddlers: Information for Parents — Parent guidance (HealthyChildren.org).
13. 13.AAPHow to Raise Concerns about a Child’s Speech and Language Development — Parent guidance (HealthyChildren.org).
14. 14.AAPEarly Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders — Parent guidance (HealthyChildren.org).
15. 15.AAPBeyond Literacy: Shared Reading Starting at Birth Offers Lifelong Benefits — Parent guidance (HealthyChildren.org).
16. 16.AAPThe Power of Play: How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive — Clinical report (HealthyChildren.org).
17. 17.NIDCDSpeech and Language Developmental Milestones — Fact sheet.
18. 18.NIDCDAbout 1 in 12 Children Has a Disorder Related to Voice, Speech, Language, or Swallowing — News release, 2015.