“Should we wait a little longer?”
It is one of the most common questions families ask when they have concerns about their child’s communication or feeding development.
Perhaps your child is using fewer words than other children their age. Maybe their speech is difficult to understand, they become frustrated when trying to communicate, or mealtimes have started to feel stressful. You may have been told that they will grow out of it or that every child develops differently.
While both of those things can be true, waiting without support can leave families feeling uncertain about what to do next.
At A Growing Understanding, we encourage families to take a “support and see” approach. This means giving your child helpful strategies, seeking advice when something does not feel right, and watching how their skills develop with the right support around them.
Seeking advice does not automatically mean your child will need ongoing therapy. Sometimes it provides reassurance that development is progressing as expected. At other times, it may help identify an area where early support could make everyday communication easier.
Developmental Milestones Are Guides, Not Deadlines
It is important to remember that developmental milestones are helpful guides, not strict deadlines. They give families a general idea of the skills children may begin to show at different ages, but every child develops in their own way and at their own pace.
Some children begin talking earlier, while others take a little longer. Some develop language quickly but find certain speech sounds challenging, while others communicate confidently but need more support understanding language, following instructions, or interacting with others.
This variation is completely normal. Milestones are not about comparing children or expecting every skill to appear at exactly the same time. Instead, they help us notice strengths, understand emerging skills, and recognise when extra support may be helpful.
There are also times when it is worth asking questions rather than simply hoping concerns improve with time. Seeking advice can provide reassurance, practical strategies, or a clearer understanding of the support your child may need.
When Might it Help to Speak with a Speech Pathologist?
There is no single reason that brings families to speech pathology. Some parents have one clear concern, while others simply feel that something is not progressing as they expected.
It may be helpful to seek advice if your child:
- is not reaching expected communication or feeding milestones
- uses fewer words or shorter sentences than expected for their age
- is difficult for familiar or unfamiliar people to understand
- becomes frustrated when trying to communicate
- has difficulty understanding questions or following instructions
- is stuttering or showing changes in the fluency of their speech
- has a hoarse, husky, or unusual-sounding voice
- finds it difficult to engage or communicate with other children
- has difficulty chewing, swallowing, or managing different foods
- has lost communication or feeding skills they previously used
- has prompted concerns from an educator, GP, or another professional.
Parental concern is also an important reason to check in. You know your child well, and you notice the small changes in their communication, play, and everyday routines. You do not need to wait until a concern becomes significant before asking for guidance.
Why Early Intervention (Support) Can Make a Difference
Early childhood is a period of rapid growth. Children are constantly learning from the people, experiences, and routines around them, and communication develops through thousands of everyday interactions.
Early intervention makes use of this important developmental period by helping families understand how they can support emerging skills as part of daily life. A speech pathologist may suggest changes to the way you play, talk, read, or respond to your child, creating more opportunities for communication throughout the day.
This does not mean rushing a child or expecting them to develop in a particular way. Early support is about understanding where your child is now, recognising their strengths, and identifying what could make communication or feeding easier for them.
In some cases, early advice may prevent frustration from building. It can also help families feel more confident about how to respond, rather than spending months wondering whether they should wait or seek help.
Support Does Not Always Mean Ongoing Therapy
Families sometimes delay contacting a speech pathologist because they assume the only option will be regular therapy appointments.
In reality, support can look different for every child and family.
For some families, the most useful first step may be learning a few practical strategies to use at home. For others, it may be a First Appointment to discuss concerns, understand their child’s development, and decide whether an assessment would be helpful.
Depending on your child’s needs, support may include:
- information about communication or feeding milestones
- practical resources to use at home
- parent or caregiver coaching
- a speech, language, or feeding assessment
- a short block of targeted therapy
- collaboration with educators or other professionals
- ongoing therapy and review.
The aim is not to provide more intervention than your child needs. It is to identify the type of support that is most useful for your family right now.
Practical Strategies Can Begin at Home
Small changes to everyday interactions can create meaningful opportunities for communication.
For children who are developing early vocabulary, strategies such as modelling and recasting can be particularly helpful.
Modelling involves showing your child the words or phrases they could use without asking them to repeat you. For example, if your child points to a car, you might say, “Fast car,” or “The car is going.”
Recasting involves gently repeating what your child has said while adding information or correcting the sentence naturally. If your child says, “Dog run,” you might respond, “Yes, the dog is running.”
These strategies allow children to hear language connected to something they are already interested in. They can be used during play, meals, bath time, getting dressed, or any other familiar routine.
Other simple ways to support communication include:
- following your child’s lead during play
- talking about what you and your child are doing
- reading books together and discussing the pictures
- singing familiar songs and leaving pauses for your child to join in
- giving your child time to respond
- celebrating all forms of communication, including gestures, sounds, signs, pictures, and AAC.
You do not need to turn home into a therapy room. The most useful strategies are often the ones that fit naturally into your existing routines.
Start with a Resource
If you are beginning to wonder whether your child may benefit from support, our free Understanding Communication and Feeding Milestones and When to Seek Support guide can help you take the first step.
The guide includes:
- communication and feeding milestones from birth to five years
- indicators that may suggest additional support would be beneficial
- common scenarios and recommended next steps
- practical ideas for supporting communication and feeding at home
- space to record your own observations and concerns.
Milestone information cannot replace an individual assessment, but it can help you better understand what you are noticing and prepare for a conversation with a professional.
Or Begin with a First Appointment
If you would prefer personalised advice, a First Appointment gives you the opportunity to talk through your concerns with one of our speech pathologists.
For many families, this is initially a parent-only appointment. It allows you to share information openly about your child’s development, strengths, routines, and any challenges you have noticed.
Based on the information provided during your intake process, the speech pathologist may recommend beginning an assessment straight away or using the appointment to gather more information and plan the most appropriate next step.
You may leave with reassurance, practical strategies, a recommendation for assessment, or a clearer plan for ongoing support. The purpose is to help you understand where your child is up to and what may be helpful from here.
You are Not Wasting Anyone’s Time
Many parents worry that their concern is not significant enough or that they should wait until someone else recommends support.
You do not need to have all the answers before contacting a speech pathologist. You also do not need to know exactly what type of service your child requires.
Asking questions is a proactive step. It does not place a label on your child or assume that something is wrong. It simply creates an opportunity to better understand their communication and feeding development.
We would rather help a family feel reassured early than have them spend months wondering whether they should have reached out.
That is what “support and see” means to us: offering useful support now, observing how your child responds, and making thoughtful decisions together as their needs become clearer.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Download our free Understanding Communication and Feeding Milestones and When to Seek Support resource to explore milestones, practical tips, and common reasons families seek support.
You can also book a First Appointment to discuss your concerns with one of our experienced speech pathologists. Whether your family needs reassurance, strategies to try at home, an assessment, or a longer-term plan, we will help you understand the options available.
