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For UK parents

Worried your child isn't talking yet?

You're not alone, and you don't have to work it out by yourself. This guide gives you clear answers from the NHS, speech and language therapists and research, with every fact linked to its source.

When to get help Talking milestones
Built only from trusted sources NHSRoyal College of Speech and Language TherapistsUK Government guidancePublished research See all sources

Three things you can do

  1. See what's typical for your child's age. Children learn to talk at different speeds, so ages are a rough guide. Milestones
  2. If you're worried, ask early. Talk to your health visitor or GP. In many areas you can also contact children's speech and language therapy yourself.[1] How to get help in the UK
  3. Start helping at home today. Research shows that when parents learn simple ways of playing and talking, children's language improves.[2] What helps at home

Our son is three and still finds talking hard. Finding information we could trust was hard: it was scattered, it disagreed, and some of it was selling something. So we gathered the trusted answers in one place, to save other parents that struggle.

Read our story

Find what you need

Talking milestonesWhat many children understand and say from 1 to 5 years. When to get helpSigns to talk to someone about, late talkers, hearing and stammering. Getting help in the UKHealth visitor, speech therapy, nursery support and EHC plans. What helps at homeEveryday ways to help your child talk, and screen time. Two languages at homeWhich language to speak, and why it doesn't cause delay. Speech delay and autismWhat professionals look at, and how to ask for an assessment. Common myths"Boys talk later", "he'll grow out of it" and other things parents hear. All sourcesEvery NHS page, guideline and study this guide uses.

Coming soon

Our app: a little play every day

We're developing an app to help with your child's communication. It turns this guide into short daily play ideas, made to fit your family's week.

  • A day-by-day plan: what to play, for how long, and how to start
  • Games built around what your child loves, like spinning toys, songs, water or cars
  • Quick notes after each game, and a word diary you share with your partner
  • Every game linked to the same trusted sources as this guide

The app isn't available yet. These pictures are from our early version.

Start screen with a Start button Today's plan with short games A game opened, showing how to play A short form: how did it go?
  1. Open and tap StartYour day, and who's at home with your child.
  2. See today's gamesA few short games, with the minutes each one takes.
  3. Tap "How to play"What you need, how to start, the steps, and words to say.
  4. Tell us how it wentA few taps after each game, so next month's plan fits your child.

Sources for this page

  1. Help your baby learn to talk · NHS
  2. Roberts & Kaiser (2011). The effectiveness of parent-implemented language interventions: a meta-analysis · American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

Every source was opened and checked on 2 November 2026. All sources