I don't think I'd worry just yet. Our daughter did have a couple words by that point, but literally just 2-3 words. She didn't get what I call the "word explosion" till about 17-18 months. And we've learned since then that she's unusually verbal, even for a girl, so that might have been on the early side too.

Some kids do have issues, but there are also a lot of kids who are just on the quieter side. I worried because my daughter crawled way after her peers, but it didn't seem to make any difference, long-term.

I believe the first true expressive language delay is not meeting 10 words spoken by 18 months, which can include crude approximations (Buh for Ball,) animal sounds (which could just be Muh for Moo,) and onomonopia (vroom.)

Our ped says an avg of 3 words at 15 mths. DC1 had 2 at that age and now is 4 without any developmental delays and now 14 mth DC2 has way more. I wouldn't worry at all until more like 18 mths.

OP here - thanks to all who have weighed in. I'm taking away a message of watchful patience -- assume everything's fine, relax (or try - hard for a Type A FTM), while still keeping an eye out in the 3/6/9 months to come.

DS is almost 17 months and not really talking. He's definitely said mama and dada with meaning, and one of our dogs' names, but that happens on a weekly basis, not an hourly or even daily one.

Pediatrician said that expressive language alone is not an indication of delay. Because DS clearly understands us ("go hug mommy," "put this in the trash," "give this to [dog]," "go upstairs for a bath," and he does them all), and is on track in all the other social and physical milestones, he said there was nothing to worry about. He also is clearly picking up intonation and speech patterns--his babbling is quite conversational.

So I don't worry. Much as I wish we could move past his communicating with grunts and squeals.

The rule of thumb our pediatrician used was 5-15 words at 15 months.

OP are you joking? My 14 month old son and my friend's 16 month old son do not say any words. They babble and scream and say "nanananaa" or "dad dada dad" and that is it.