Q. My child is 18 months old and doesn’t even say mommy and daddy. Is this something to be concerned about?

A. Yes. Typically, a child's first words will be between 9-12 months of age; saying "mama" and "dada" meaningfully, using 1-2 words spontaneously, and imitating consonant and vowel combinations are also performed in this age group.

By 18 months of age, a child should be able to:

• Say 15 meaningful words
• Imitate words overheard in conversation
• Name objects upon request
• Ask "what's that"
• Ask for "more"