When should I worry about my child's speech delay?

Worry less about worrying too early - with speech, earlier is always better. The CDC's developmental milestones give you the concrete yardsticks: by 18 months most toddlers are trying to say several single words beyond mama and dada; by 2 years they are linking two words together, like "more juice"; by 3 years strangers should understand them most of the time and conversations go back and forth. Missing those marks is a reason to act, and acting means two things: tell the pediatrician, and contact your state's early intervention program. That second step is the one parents miss. The CDC notes children under 3 can get a free or low-cost evaluation from the early intervention system, and kids 3 and older can get a free evaluation through the school system - and you do not need a doctor's referral to start either one. You can self-refer today. Also request a hearing test. Hearing problems are a common, fixable contributor to speech delay, and checking hearing is standard whenever speech lags. And keep speaking up if your gut says something is off even when milestones look borderline - the CDC's whole campaign is literally called Learn the Signs, Act Early, because parents' observations are the trigger that starts help. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text. It can walk you through the milestones for your child's age and help you prepare for the pediatrician visit.