Most 13-month-olds say between zero and three words, and many say none at all. At this age, your child is right at the very beginning of spoken language, and the range of normal is wide. The CDC milestone checklist expects children to try saying one or two words besides “mama” or “dada” by 15 months, not by 13 months, so your child still has time before that benchmark even applies.
What Counts as a “Word” at This Age
A 13-month-old’s first words won’t sound like adult speech. They might say “ba” for ball, “da” for dog, or “nah-nah” for banana. What matters isn’t pronunciation but consistency: if your child uses the same sound to refer to the same thing repeatedly, that counts as a word. Animal sounds count too. If your toddler says “moo” every time they see a cow, that’s a word in their vocabulary.
“Mama” and “dada” are often the earliest words, but they only count as true words once your child uses them to refer to a specific person rather than babbling them randomly. You’ll notice the shift when your child looks at you and says “mama” with clear intent, rather than repeating the syllable while playing alone.
The Normal Range Is Wider Than You Think
Vocabulary data on toddlers shows that at 14 months, the average (50th percentile) child is just beginning to produce words. Girls and boys follow roughly the same timeline at this stage, with both starting to climb from near zero around 14 months. Some children at the 90th percentile start producing words as early as 10 months, while others who are perfectly on track don’t say much until closer to 18 months.
In 2022, the CDC revised its developmental milestones so that 75% of children are expected to meet each benchmark by the listed age, up from the previous standard of 50%. This means the current milestones are designed to catch the children who genuinely need help, not to set an aspirational target. If your 13-month-old isn’t hitting a 15-month milestone yet, that’s expected for most children.
What Your Child Understands Matters More Right Now
At 13 months, receptive language (what your child understands) is a more telling indicator of development than the number of words they say. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, children between 13 and 18 months should be able to look around when you ask “where” questions like “Where’s your blanket?” They should follow simple directions such as “Give me the ball” or “Come here,” and they should be able to identify at least one body part when you ask.
Gestures are another major piece of the puzzle. By this age, your child should be pointing to request things, to show you something interesting, or to get information. They may shake their head for “no,” nod for “yes,” clap when excited, or give high-fives. These gestures are early forms of communication and strong predictors that spoken words will follow. A child who understands a lot and communicates with gestures but doesn’t say many words yet is typically developing normally.
Signs That Deserve Attention
The red flags at this age are less about word count and more about social communication. Be aware if your child doesn’t use any gestures like waving or pointing by 12 months, or doesn’t respond to their name by 12 to 15 months. These behaviors suggest your child may not be engaging with the back-and-forth of communication, which is the foundation spoken language is built on.
A child who babbles, makes eye contact, points at things, and seems to understand what you’re saying is showing all the right building blocks, even if actual words haven’t arrived yet. A child who is quiet, doesn’t gesture, and doesn’t seem to understand simple requests is worth bringing up with your pediatrician sooner rather than later. Early intervention for speech and language delays is most effective when it starts early.
How to Encourage First Words
You don’t need flashcards or special programs. The most effective strategy is simply talking to your child in natural, everyday moments using short sentences, clear speech, and lots of repetition. Narrate what you’re doing: “I’m cutting the banana. Here’s your banana. Yummy banana.” This kind of repetition gives your child multiple chances to hear a word in context, which is exactly how vocabulary builds.
When your child attempts a word, even if it comes out wrong, repeat the correct version back naturally without correcting them. If they say “gog” while pointing at the dog, you might say “Yes, the dog! Big dog. The dog is running.” This technique, called modeling and recasting, gives your child the right pronunciation without interrupting the flow of conversation or making them feel criticized. It works best when you revisit the same words multiple times throughout the day.
Respond to your child’s gestures and sounds as if they’re talking to you, because in their mind, they are. When they point at something, name it. When they babble with clear intent, answer them. This teaches them that communication gets results, which motivates them to keep trying.
Bilingual Families
If your household speaks more than one language, count words from both languages when tracking your child’s vocabulary. A bilingual toddler who says five words in Spanish and three in English has eight words total, not three. By 18 months, most children can say 50 to 100 words, and for bilingual children that total typically includes words from both languages. Bilingual toddlers sometimes start speaking slightly later, but they catch up and gain the long-term advantage of knowing two languages. There is no reason to limit your child to one language out of concern about speech delays.