Somebody at playgroup mentions that their daughter has "about a hundred words now". You smile, go home, and try to count yours. You get to eleven, then argue with yourself about whether "ba" for ball counts.
That count is worth doing properly, and the number you are comparing it to has changed. So let us start there.
The short answer
By their second birthday, most children put two words together, like "more milk" or "daddy gone". That is the current milestone from the CDC, and it does not give a word count for age two at all.
The word count comes later. By 30 months, most children say about 50 words and combine two or more of them with an action word, like "doggie run".
If you grew up with "50 words by two", you are not misremembering. That was the old checklist.
Why the number moved
In 2022 the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics rewrote their milestone checklists. The old lists described what about half of children could do at a given age. The new lists describe what 75% or more can do.
That sounds like a small technical change. It is a big practical one. Under the old rule, a child who was simply average might "miss" a milestone. Under the new rule, missing one means your child is behind most of their peers, and that is a clearer signal to act on.
The change also caused confusion. Some speech therapists worried that moving 50 words to 30 months would make parents wait longer. That worry is fair, and it is why the rest of this article matters more than the headline number.
Current CDC checklists for two years: Milestones by 2 Years and Milestones by 30 Months.
How to count your child's words properly
Most parents undercount. Here is what goes on the list:
What does not count: words your child only says straight after you (copying is a good sign, but it is not the same as using a word to mean something), and sounds used for everything.
Put the list on your phone. One line per word, with the date you first heard it. Give it two weeks. Most parents find the real number is higher than they guessed, and a dated list is also the most useful thing you can hand a speech therapist later.
What matters more than the number
Word count gets all the attention because it is easy to measure. Clinicians look at a wider picture, and so should you.
Understanding. Can your child point to the dog in a book when you ask "where's the dog?" Can they bring you their shoes when asked, without you pointing? A child who understands a lot and says little is in a much better position than a child who struggles with both.
Gestures. Pointing to show you something, waving, nodding, shaking their head, holding their arms up to be lifted. The CDC list for age two includes "uses more gestures than just waving and pointing". Gestures are the scaffolding words get built on.
Wanting to communicate. Does your child bring you things to show you? Look at you to check your reaction? Pull you by the hand to what they want? A child who is working hard to get a message across, with or without words, has the engine running.
Steady growth. A child with 15 words who adds new ones every week is in a different situation from a child who has had 15 words since last spring.
No lost words. If your child used words and then stopped, tell your doctor straight away. Do not wait for the next check-up.
What a "late talker" is
A late talker is a toddler whose understanding, play and social skills are on track, but whose spoken words are behind. It is a description, not a diagnosis.
Plenty of late talkers catch up. Some do not, and at two nobody can tell you with confidence which group your child is in. That is the real reason "wait and see" is poor advice. Waiting is only safe if you already know the answer.
An evaluation costs you an afternoon. If your child is fine, you have lost nothing. If they are not, you have saved months.
When to ask for help
Talk to your child's doctor, and ask for a speech and language evaluation, if at 24 months your child:
Or if at 30 months your child has well under 50 words, or is not combining words at all.
In the US, children under three can get a free evaluation through your state's early intervention program. You do not need a doctor's referral to call them. From age three, the evaluation goes through your local school district, also free.
What to do at home this week
You do not need special equipment. You need a few habits.
1. Talk about what your child is looking at. Not what you want them to look at. If they are staring at a bird, say "bird. Big bird. Bird flying." Short, simple, and about their interest.
2. Leave gaps. After you say something, wait. Count to five in your head. Toddlers need longer to respond than adults expect, and a gap is an invitation.
3. Offer choices. "Apple or banana?" Hold both up. A choice gives your child the word they need right before they need it.
4. Add one word. If your child says "car", you say "blue car" or "car go". One step ahead, not five.
5. Stop asking "what's this?" Test questions put pressure on. Comments ("that's a cow!") invite talk without demanding it.
More techniques, with examples, are in how to help your toddler start talking.
FAQ
My 2-year-old understands everything but says very little. Should I worry?
Good understanding is a strong sign. It is still worth an evaluation if they are not combining words by two, because expressive delays often respond well to early help.
Boys talk later than girls, right?
On average boys are a little slower with early words, but the gap is small. It is not a reason to wait if your son is clearly behind the milestones.
Does learning two languages cause a delay?
No. Bilingual toddlers may have fewer words in each language, but their total across both languages is usually in line with other children. Count both.
Is there a quick way to see where my child stands?
Our free developmental assessment takes about ten minutes and gives you something written down to take to your doctor. It is a starting point, not a diagnosis.