Most 13-month-olds say between one and three words, though some say none at all and are still developing normally. The CDC’s developmental milestones don’t have a specific checkpoint at 13 months, but by 15 months, a child should be trying to say one or two words beyond “mama” and “dada.” At 13 months, your child is right in the middle of the transition from babbling to true first words, so there’s a wide range of normal.
What “Words” Count at This Age
A word at 13 months doesn’t need to sound like an adult word. If your child consistently says “ba” for ball or “da” for dog, those count. What matters is that the same sound is used intentionally and repeatedly for the same thing. “Mama,” “dada,” “hi,” “uh-oh,” and animal sounds used with purpose all qualify. Many children at this age have one or two of these consistent sound-meaning pairs, and that’s perfectly on track.
Some 13-month-olds haven’t produced any recognizable words yet but are babbling with varied sounds and inflections that mimic the rhythm of conversation. This “jargon babbling” is a strong sign that real words are coming soon. A child who babbles expressively, points at things, and clearly understands what you’re saying is building the foundation for speech even if the words haven’t arrived yet.
Understanding Matters More Than Speaking
At this age, what your child understands is a far better indicator of language development than what they say. Receptive language (comprehension) always runs ahead of expressive language (speaking) in toddlers. By the time children reach their first birthday, they typically understand words for common items like “cup,” “shoe,” and “juice,” and they can respond to simple requests like “come here.”
Between 12 and 15 months, you should notice your child looking at familiar objects when you name them and following simple directions when you pair a gesture with words. For example, if you hold out your hand and say “give me the ball,” a child in this age range should be starting to respond. These signs of comprehension tell you the language system is working well, even if your toddler isn’t saying much out loud yet.
The Normal Range Is Wide
Language development in toddlers varies enormously. Some children say 10 words by 13 months. Others say zero and then suddenly start talking in bursts a few weeks later. Girls tend to hit verbal milestones slightly earlier than boys on average, but individual variation within each group is much larger than the difference between them.
If your child is growing up hearing two languages, expect the same timeline. Bilingual children start speaking around the same age as children raised with one language. The key is to count words from both languages together. A child who says “agua” and “dog” has two words, not zero words in each language. Total vocabulary across all languages is what matters.
Signs That Speech Is on Track
Even without many words, a 13-month-old showing healthy communication development will typically:
- Point to ask for things or to get your attention
- Babble with varied sounds and conversational patterns
- Respond to their name consistently
- Make eye contact during interactions
- Understand simple words and look at named objects
- Imitate sounds or gestures you make
Pointing is especially significant. It signals that your child understands communication is a two-way exchange, which is a cognitive leap that predicts later language growth.
Signs Worth Monitoring
There’s no reason to panic if your 13-month-old isn’t talking yet, but certain patterns are worth paying attention to. By 15 months, the CDC expects children to be trying at least one or two words besides “mama” and “dada,” to look at familiar objects when named, and to point to ask for something or get help. If your child isn’t doing any of these things by 15 months, it’s reasonable to bring it up with your pediatrician.
More concerning than a low word count at 13 months is a lack of nonverbal communication. A child who doesn’t point, doesn’t follow your gaze, doesn’t respond to their name, or seems uninterested in interacting with people may benefit from an early evaluation. These social communication skills are the scaffolding that spoken language is built on.
How to Encourage More Words
The single most effective thing you can do is narrate your day. Talk to your child while you’re changing a diaper, making lunch, or walking through the grocery store. Describe what you’re doing, what you see, and what your child is looking at. This constant stream of language gives your toddler raw material to work with. You don’t need to use simplified baby talk for this. Normal, clear sentences work well.
When your child does say a word or word-like sound, expand on it. If they say “mama,” respond with “Here’s mama. Mama loves you.” This models how single words fit into fuller language without putting any pressure on the child to repeat longer phrases. It also reinforces that their attempts at communication are working, which motivates them to keep trying.
Treat babbling like real conversation. When your child makes sounds, look at them, respond, and take turns as if you’re having a chat. Reading simple books together and pausing to let your child point at pictures builds joint attention, the shared focus between you and your child that is one of the strongest drivers of early language learning. Songs and rhymes with repetitive patterns are also effective because the predictability helps toddlers anticipate and eventually fill in words.
What doesn’t help is quizzing. Constantly asking “What’s this? Say ball. Can you say ball?” tends to create pressure rather than natural communication. Children learn language best through relaxed, playful interaction where words are connected to things they already care about.