Dr. Sharon Gainforth* | NeuroAI Team

(Understanding when to act, what’s a red flag, and early steps to support communication at home and in the community)

If you’ve ever found yourself whispering the question, “My child isn’t talking yet… what should I do?” please know you’re not alone.

Parents notice these things long before anyone else does. Maybe your little one babbled early on and then slowed down. Maybe they seem to understand everything — the word “snack,” the sound of the bath running, the crinkle of the treat bag — but rarely say anything. Or maybe verbal communication has never seemed like their go-to way of connecting.

Whatever your child’s journey looks like, one thing is true: your concern comes from care, not panic. And acting early isn’t overreacting — it’s opening doors.

First, take a breath. Children develop in wonderfully uneven ways. Some toddlers start chatting before their second birthday, while others take their time and quietly soak in the world before they try out words. But language milestones aren’t just about vocabulary; they’re about connection. Around the first birthday, many babies babble, point, wave, show you things and say ‘first words’. By eighteen months, lots of toddlers have a handful of real words and can make their needs known with gestures. Around age two, many combine words like “more juice” or “Daddy go,” and by three, you can usually understand most of what they’re trying to say, even if the grammar is delightfully creative.

If your child isn’t moving through several of these moments — or if they used to do some of them and then stopped — it’s a good time to check in with someone who can help you make sense of it.

Some signs especially deserve attention. A child who isn’t babbling or using gestures by their first birthday may need a closer look. A toddler who isn’t using any words by eighteen months, or isn’t putting two words together by age two, can benefit from early support. Losing skills — especially language or social interaction — is always something to bring up. And a child who rarely makes eye contact, doesn’t respond to their name, or seems more tuned into objects than people may need extra help connecting.

But here’s what often happens in the quiet moments after these concerns show up: parents start replaying every scene, wondering if they missed something or did something wrong. Please hear this with a full heart — you didn’t cause this. Language delays happen for so many reasons. Sometimes it’s a hearing issue. Sometimes it’s related to motor planning. Sometimes it’s part of a developmental difference like autism. And sometimes it’s simply a brain that’s building skills in a different order. None of this is a reflection of your parenting.

What matters most isn’t blame — it’s support.

And support doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the most powerful strategies fit right into the life you already have. Start by joining your child in whatever has their attention — whether that’s rolling cars, banging pots, or looking at the same page of a book for ten minutes. Speak in short, simple phrases that match what they’re doing, then pause and wait. Those pauses are magic; they give your child room to respond in their own way — with a look, a sound, a gesture, anything. Instead of asking them to “say cookie,” you can simply model the word as they point to the snack. Use gestures, pointing, showing, signing — anything that supports understanding and connection. And celebrate every tiny moment of communication, not just spoken words.

You also don’t have to do this alone. Most communities have early intervention services, speech-language clinics, or public programs that support children under five — and you don’t need a diagnosis to start. Reaching out early doesn’t label your child; it gives them more ways to learn, grow, and connect. It gives you support too, which is just as important.

In the quiet moments, it helps to remember that a child who isn’t talking yet is still reaching out — through their eyes, their gestures, their laughter, their presence.

Words will come when they’re ready. Your job is simply to be there, steady and responsive, offering a bridge built from curiosity and love.

You’re already creating the space where language can bloom. You’re already following your child’s rhythm. And you never have to navigate any of this on your own.

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* Dr. Sharon Gainforth is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 35 years of expertise as a subject matter expert on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is also the Chief Business Development Officer, Chief Content Officer and Co-Founder of NeuroAI.

>>> Download the free resource she just published: A Parent´s Handbook