We live in Chicago, Illinois. Our son wa
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We live in Chicago, Illinois. Our son was born full term and just turned 2 years old (24 months).
ight now, he has about 15 to 20 individual words (like mama, dada, ball, car, dog, juice, bye-bye). However, he does not put two words together spontaneously on his own (like "more milk", "big ball", or "go car")—he only repeats two words if we explicitly prompt him right after us.
He understands almost everything we tell him, points to things he wants, and runs and kicks balls happily.
My in-laws keep telling us: "Stop worrying, boys just talk later than girls. Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was 4 years old! Just wait until he turns 3 before you even think about speech therapy."
His 24-month well-child checkup is scheduled for next week.
1. On the CDC 24-month developmental milestone checklist (75%+ baseline), what are the specific language and communication milestones? Is the advice to "just wait until age 3 because he is a boy" supported by evidence?
2. What concrete, dated notes should we bring to his 24-month pediatrician visit next week, and should we request a formal developmental screening?
Answer
Here's where things stand, in plain language.
## What the 24-month CDC checklist actually says
The CDC lists what 75%+ of children do at 24 months. For language and communication, the checklist expects, at this age:
- Points to things in a book when asked
- Says at least two words together ("more milk")
- Points to at least two body parts
- Uses more gestures than just waving (kiss, nod)
You describe a 24-month-old who has 15–20 single words, understands almost everything, points, and runs and kicks — but only puts two words together when prompted right after you, not on his own.
The "two-word combinations on his own" line is the one the CDC card flags at this age. Single-word count, pointing, and comprehension are not on that list. So this is one item on the checklist that the family is asking about, not a count of words.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/2-years.html
## On the "boys talk later / wait until 3" advice
That advice is not what the AAP or the CDC recommend. The relevant points, in plain language:
- The AAP/CDC schedule is **autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months** and **general developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months** — and **also whenever a parent is concerned**. The "also whenever concerned" part is the one that matters here.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/about/developmental-monitoring-and-screening.html
- Children develop on a range, but research does not support the popular "boys just talk later" rule as a reason to skip the 24-month screening. The Einstein-late-talker story is a single anecdote, not evidence, and it does not apply to children whose 24-month checklist item is missing.
- "Wait and see until 3" is the older guidance. Current guidance is to screen at 24 months when an item is missing, and act on the screening result. Early intervention before age 3 is the part of the system that has the strongest evidence behind it.
The fact that his 24-month well-child checkup is **next week** is the right timing — the AAP puts autism-specific screening right at this visit, and the "whenever concerned" clause fits a family that is concerned.
## What to bring to the visit, dated
Write these down with today's date, 2026-09-16:
- **Language:** 15–20 single words (list a few: mama, dada, ball, car, dog, juice, bye-bye); two-word combinations only when prompted right after an adult, not on his own.
- **Comprehension:** follows what you tell him; points to things he wants.
- **Gestures:** pointing yes; waving yes (bye-bye); check whether he also nods, kisses, or shows you things by bringing them.
- **Hearing check (quiet room):** date + whether he turned when you called his name.
- **Motor / play:** runs, kicks a ball, holds something in one hand while using the other.
- **What you and he do together / what he likes.**
- **Anything that concerns you** — write that down as a sentence, not a label.
- **Anything he used to do that he has stopped doing.**
- **Born at term, no special healthcare needs.**
## What to ask the pediatrician, in plain words
- "Please do the **24-month autism-specific screening** (the AAP one is the M-CHAT-/F) and the **general developmental screening** today."
- "Based on the screening result, please refer us for a **formal speech-language evaluation** and to **Illinois Early Intervention** if appropriate. In Illinois, the program is called **Child and Family Connections (CFC)** — a doctor's referral is not required, and a family can self-refer."
Source: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30321 (verified 2026-09-16)
- "Please document the screening result, the referral, and the date, so we have it in writing."
Illinois Early Intervention serves children under 3; a family can self-refer, no doctor required. After 3 it shifts to the local public school's special-education preschool.
## One question
Which two-word combinations has he said on his own recently — and was any of them something he had not heard an adult say just before?