Child development 18 month old

Your toddler's developmental milestones at 18 months

Explainer

Everything you need to know about your growing 18-month-old.

UNICEF

Your 18-month-old toddler is now walking and using basic words. At this age, children love to play and explore. They begin to show some independence and may play pretend and point at objects they want. They also begin to understand what things in the house are used for, such as a cup or spoon. Your toddler may have temper tantrums around this age, when she/he grows frustrated trying to communicate how she/he feels.

Social and emotional milestones at 18 months

Some of the ways you’ll see your little one learning to connect with the people around her at 18 months.

• May be afraid of strangers but will show affection to familiar people.
• Points to show interest in something.
• Likes to play by handing things to people or playing simple pretend.
• May have some tantrums.
• Might cling to caregivers in new situations or explore alone but with a parent close by.

Tips for parents

• Create joint play opportunities with your toddler. 
• Praise your toddler when she shows signs of empathy by sharing her toy, taking care of toys or giving a caring gesture to others. All of these things help support social and emotional development.

Language and communication milestones at 18 months

How your toddler is expressing his needs.

• Shakes his head “no.”
• Can say several single words. 
• Points to show what he wants.

Tips for parents

• Pay attention to what your toddler is pointing to and make it a language development opportunity by naming the object he is pointing to.  

Brain development milestones at 18 months

Your child’s brain is growing!

• She recognizes everyday objects.
• Points to get attention.
• Pretends to feed her favourite stuffed animals.
• Can point to a body part. 
• Can follow one-step commands without gestures.

Tips for parents

• Provide your toddler with toys for pretend play.

Movement and physical development milestones at 18 months

How he’ll move through his environment.

• Can walk alone.
• Can help undress himself.
• Uses utensils when feeding.
• May start walking up stairs.
• Pulls toys while walking. 

Tips for parents

• Encourage your child to participate in everyday routines like getting dressed.

Food and nutrition milestones at 18 months

What mealtimes look like at 18 months.

• Tries more chopped solid foods like chicken or squash. 
• Can hold and drink from a cup.

Tips for parents

• Give her plenty of time to eat. She will be able to eat most of the same foods as adults and more easily uses utensils.

Things to look out for

While all children develop differently, you should speak to your paediatrician if your 18-month-old:

• Can't walk.
• Doesn’t point.
• Doesn’t try to copy others.
• Isn’t learning new words.
• Can’t say at least six words.
• Doesn’t notice when a parent leaves or returns.
• Loses skills he once had. 

True or False?

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Toddler development at 18-24 months

Toddler development at 18-24 months: what’s happening

Feelings
At this age, toddlers starts to experience new emotions like anger and frustration, guilt, shame, possessiveness and excitement. These ‘big’ emotions can be hard to deal with for your child, and you might see some temper tantrums as a result.

Although your child’s separation anxiety peaks at around 18 months, by 2 years it should start to settle down.

Your child is also beginning to think about how they feel and might link feelings with words – for example, your child might tell you they’re ‘sad’. They might show affection by giving you a kiss or hugging a doll, which is also part of developing empathy.

Everyday skills
Around this time, toddlers are keen to do more things independently.

For example, your child is learning to feed themselves using a spoon and cup, and maybe even a fork – there might even be fewer spills than before!

Your child might try to help when getting dressed and undressed. At this age, it’s easier for your child to take off socks, shoes and clothes without buttons.

Generally, your child might show signs that they’re ready for toilet training from 2 years on. But it’s not unusual for some children to show signs of being ready earlier, at around 18 months.

Playing and learning
Play is important because it’s how children learn.

At this age, your child will start imagining and creating through pretend play – for example, pretending to drink from a cup. As your child grows older, pretend play gets more complex, and you might find your child doing things like sweeping the floor with a tree branch. Your child will enjoy spending time with siblings and other children, even if they don’t play directly with others.

Talking
Toddlers enjoy talking at this age. Your child’s words might even have up-and-down tones, just like an adult’s. You’ll most likely hear a mix of ‘babble’ and real words.

At 18 months, your child is learning words all the time – usually 1-2 words a week, or maybe even a word a day. Your child might name and point at familiar objects, people and body parts – for example, ears, nose or toes. Your child might also make animal sounds like ‘moo’ or say the same sound or word over and over.

Your child knows their own name and the idea of ‘mine’. They’re getting better at understanding simple sentences and instructions like ‘Bring it to Mum’ or ‘Let’s go for a walk’. You’ll be able to understand more of what your child says to you.

By 2 years, your child might be able to say ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘me’ and use sentences with 2-3 words – for example, ‘Mummy car’ or ‘me do it’.

Moving
Toddlers usually walk on their own by 18 months and begin to run. Your child will probably walk up and down stairs or climb furniture with your help. Throwing and kicking a ball, scribbling with pencils or crayons, and building small towers of blocks might be some of your child’s favourite things.

It’s a good idea to look at how you can make your home safe for your active child to move around in.

At this age, your child might also:

• ask for ‘more’ and say ‘no’ when asked to do something
• copy you – for example, they might help you sweep the floor
• sit themselves in a small chair
• walk around carrying larger objects
• use one hand more than the other by 2 years.

When your child learns a new skill, celebrate the achievement with plenty of praise and positive attention. It’s also a good idea to help and encourage your child to keep doing the things they’ve learned, even if those things are difficult.

Helping toddler development at 18-24 months

Here are some simple things you can do to help your child’s development at this age:

• Be there for your child: If you’re nearby while your child plays and explores, it gives your child confidence to try new things on their own. This can help your child to be independent and self-confident later on.
• Give your child the chance to play with others: play is a great way for your child to make friends and learn how to be with other children. But don’t expect sharing and taking turns just yet – toddlers often think that everything belongs to them.
• Encourage everyday skills like using a spoon, drinking from a cup and taking off a hat. These skills involve both small and big muscle movements, as well as your child’s ability to think about what they’re doing.
• Talk with your toddler: naming and talking about everyday things – body parts, toys and household items like spoons or chairs – helps develop language skills. At this age, you can teach your child that a ‘chair’ can be a ‘big chair’, ‘red chair’ or even a ‘big red chair’.
• Give meaning to your child’s talking by listening and talking back. If your child says ‘Mama milk’, you might reply by saying ‘You want Mum to get you some milk?’ This encourages conversation and helps your child build communication skills. It also makes your child feel valued and loved.
• Read with your child: you can encourage your child’s talking and imagination by reading together, telling stories, singing songs and reciting nursery rhymes.

Parenting toddlers at 18-24 months

As a parent, you’re always learning. It’s OK to feel confident about what you know. And it’s also OK to admit you don’t know something and ask questions or get help.

When you’re focused on looking after a child, you might forget or run out of time to look after yourself. But looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally will help your child grow and thrive.

Sometimes you might feel frustrated, upset or overwhelmed. It’s OK to take some time out until you feel calmer. Put your child in a safe place like a cot, or ask someone else to look after your child for a while. Try going to another room to breathe deeply, or call a family member or friend to talk things through.

Never shake a toddler. It can cause bleeding inside the brain and likely permanent brain damage.

It’s OK to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for your child, call your local Parentline. You might also like to try our ideas for dealing with anger, anxiety and stress.

When to be concerned about toddler development at 18 months

See your child and family health nurse or GP if you have any concerns or notice that your 18-month-old child has any of the following issues.

Seeing, hearing and communicating
Your child:

• has trouble seeing or hearing things
• doesn’t say any single words
• doesn’t point, wave or use other gestures
• doesn’t follow simple instructions – for example, ‘Please give me the ball’.

Behaviour and play
Your child doesn’t enjoy eye contact or cuddles with you or isn’t showing their feelings.

Movement and motor skills
Your child:

• isn’t walking on their own
• uses one hand a lot more than the other (usually children don’t use one hand more than the other until closer to 2 years).

When to be concerned about toddler development at 2 years

See your child and family health nurse or GP if you notice your 2-year-old has any of the following issues.

Seeing, hearing and communicating
Your child:

• has trouble seeing or hearing things
• isn’t using two words together – for example, ‘red car’
• can’t follow simple instructions – for example, ‘Please give me the ball’.

Behaviour and play
Your child:

• isn’t showing their feelings
• doesn’t come to you for affection or comfort
• doesn’t copy actions or words – for example, when singing ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’
• doesn’t pretend during play – for example, doesn’t pretend to talk on the phone.

Movement and motor skills
Your child:

• can’t walk up and down stairs, even if holding on to you or a rail
• can’t run
• finds it hard to handle small objects – for example, a pencil or crayon
• isn’t scribbling.

You should see a child health professional if you notice your child is losing skills they had before.

You should also see your child and family health nurse or GP if you or your partner experiences the signs of postnatal depression in birthing mothers or postnatal depression in non-birthing parents. Symptoms of postnatal depression include feeling sad and crying for no obvious reason, feeling irritable, having difficulty coping and feeling very anxious.

Children grow and develop at different speeds. If you’re worried about whether your child’s development is ‘normal’, it might help to know that ‘normal’ varies a lot. But if you still feel that something isn’t quite right, see your child and family health nurse or GP.

18-24 months / Baby Development Calendar

Newborn 1 month 2 months 3 months 4 months 5 months 6 months
7-9 months 10-12 months 12-15 months 15-18 months 18-24 months

18-24 months

motor, speech and intellectual abilities of the child begin to develop rapidly. Now he runs faster, speaks more clearly and thinks better. Before doing something, the kid can imagine it in his mind. By the end of the second year, the child understands almost any phrases related to everyday affairs and can even help his mother around the house.

Boys in 24 months

Low
lower than the average
average
higher than the average

growth, cm
76.9
79.6
82.3 85.03 87.7

, kg 9000

9000 9000 9000.9 12.2
13.7

of the head, cm
44.7
46.0
47.4
48.7
50.0

Girls in 24 months

low0003 High

growth, cm
74. 9
77.8
80.7
83.6 9000
47.6
49.0

Physical development

• Runs, plays catch-up.
• Jumps in place, jumps off steps.
• Jumping for joy.
• Kicks the ball without missing.
• Climbing stairs without the help of an adult; descending may be difficult.

By the age of two, the baby can ride a tricycle, get out of the crib on his own, climb onto a chair, open and close doors. Keep dangerous objects away and do not put the cup on the table closer than 30 cm from the edge!

Main skills

The main skill of the end of the second year is the constantly improving mental abilities of the baby. Thanks to them, the child begins to communicate better, speak, movements become more coordinated. Clumsy walking gives way to a fast and fast run, as if someone gave him a jet engine and new wheels. And of course, the kid wants to use them to the fullest!

Speech development

• Vocabulary increases to 20-50 clear legible words. Every day a child learns at least one new word.
• Can form three-word sentences "I want more."
• Purrs under his breath and sings.
• By 24 months, the favorite phrase becomes the question "What is this?"
• Loves and tries to pronounce difficult words: "dinosaur", "helicopter", distorting them in his own way.
• Can give his first and last name.
• Understands and remembers two-step requests: "Go to the kitchen and bring an apple to mom."

Some children still do not speak by the age of two, but are more silent. Do not worry if at the same time they understand well the speech addressed to them, fulfill requests, and show logical thinking. They just have that kind of character. A little time will pass and the child will begin to speak no worse than his peers.

It is necessary to visit a doctor if by the age of two the child cannot understand the speech addressed to him, does not meaningfully use the words "mom" and "dad", does not repeat the words after adults.

Behavior

The baby spends most of the time in motion. Running, jumping, playing - these are his favorite activities, and you should not deprive him of this opportunity. Skills and abilities are improving, he can already:

• Build a tower of 6 cubes.
• To sit down independently at the table.
• Throw the ball over the head.
• Tumble, likes to do gymnastics.
• "Read" picture books by turning one page at a time. Some children who are prone to mental activity already like to make simple puzzles.
• Many children at this age can learn how to use the potty.

Normal behavior: tantrums, whining, biting, squealing. Helps around the house. Maybe standing on a stool, helping mom wash the dishes.

Early development

Children's centers

Zaitsev cubes

What to read? Every child wants to know where the pheasant is sitting

Balance games

Drawing

Drawing with ear sticks

Imagination in children

Developing toys with your own hands

Health of baby

flu and SARS

Patient Patient Party

Table of Child

How to brush your child's teeth

Prevention of colds in children

Problems in children

Atopic dermatitis

Attention age

Rickets

Chicken pox

Immunization schedule

20 months
Second revaccination against polio.

Possible problems

Speech violations

Child not saying

Bad habits

Children's fears

Crisis of two years

Frequent urination

food and feeding

Closer to the parents often facing the problem: the child refuses food. You should not worry too much about this and force your child to stuff the entire contents of the plate into himself at all costs. Such a decrease in appetite has a completely scientific justification.

A child's growth slows down significantly by the age of one and a half. If in the first year of life his body weight increases by about three times, then from one to two years he grows by only 30 percent. Therefore, the baby needs less food. In addition, the growth of the baby in height is much greater than in width, and as energy reserves, the child spends fat accumulated in infancy. That is why children of this age begin to visually “lose weight”.

A baby's diet at this age should include approximately 1000-1300 calories per day. Protein requirement: 2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. Ideally balanced diet: 50-55% carbohydrates, 35-40% fats, 10-15% proteins. Frequent feedings are helpful. Sweet foods and sweets should be avoided.

It can be very difficult to fully balance the daily meals, because a child may eat more today and almost nothing tomorrow. Therefore, it would be reasonable to strive not for a balanced day, but for a “balanced week”.

Top 10 most nutritious foods: avocado, beans, cheese, eggs, fish (salmon, tuna, cod), nut butter, bran pasta, brown rice, tofu (bean curd), turkey.

How to get your child to eat

• Give up pressure on the child. The more you push, the worse it will eat. Force feeding can permanently instill a negative attitude towards food intake in the baby.
• Do not try at all costs to seat the child at the table. While he is mastering new interesting activities to the fullest, he has no time to waste time on food. If he "grazes", receiving small and frequent feedings, this will be a completely healthy and acceptable diet for him.
• Put the supplement in small portions. Do not startle your child with a full plate at once. Let him eat a little at first, and then, as he wants more, add a new portion.
• Prepare the sauce. Children from one to two years old are very fond of dipping food in sauces. In this way, you can disguise even unloved foods so that the baby eats them. What sauces can be used: yogurt sauce, cheese sauce, fruit puree, nutritious salad dressing, guacamole (avocado sauce), and others. Do not give your child ketchup, mayonnaise and any sauces with vinegar, a lot of salt and spices.
• Prepare a liquid lunch. If your baby is more inclined to drink than eat, let him not chew, but drink his portion. All kinds of "cocktails" made of yogurt mixed with fresh fruit are perfect. A straw can be inserted into it so that the child leaves less dirt.
• Prepare a "treat tray": take a plastic candy mold. Put into cells cut into small pieces (so that it is convenient to take with your hands) bright, tasty and nutritious foods that the child likes: cheese cubes, banana wheels, avocado boats, broccoli trees, small rings (breakfasts), sticks (boiled carrots or wheat bread with bran), shells, logs (pasta of various shapes) and so on - show your imagination. Such a tray perfectly matches the eating style of most children of this age: ran up, swallowed something and ran away. Please note that the tray must be on the table, and do not let the child run around with a full mouth so that he does not choke. If he cannot do this, he overturns the tray, then he is still very small, let him grow up.

Encyclopedia

Psychological problems in children

If something frightens or alarms you in a child's behavior, you should not wait until it "goes by itself".

Early development

All early development methods are based on the idea that during the first year of life, the baby's brain develops by 60%, by three years - by 80%.

Children's room

While the child is small, it is important for him to be closer to his parents, and when he grows up, depending on the area of ​​​​the apartment, you can move him either to a separate room, or allocate a "children's" territory in one of the rooms.

Child health

Everything you need to know about immunity, hardening and childhood diseases in order to properly take care of your baby's health.

How to potty train?

There are two methods of potty training. Supporters of "natural parenting" recommend planting a baby from birth. Pediatricians are advised to forget about potty training up to 1.5 years.

Separation from a child

Leave the baby for an hour, for a weekend, for a couple of weeks… At what stage of his development can this be done without fear?

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Turning points in development from the 12th to the 24th month of life - Mom's Club.

Babies aged 12 to 24 months are developing in the most exciting, exciting and amazing ways! Physically, socially, emotionally and verbally, they become more independent and able to express their nascent personality. A healthy, balanced diet supports this development and provides babies with the nutrients they need to learn and grow.

Your baby's physical development from 12 to 24 months

The period between your baby's first and second birthdays is a time of incredible and exciting mental and physical development. Improved motor skills and strengthened muscles allow the baby to become more mobile every day - walking with help from the side and walking independently become more confident. Improves the coordination needed for running and jumping. The bones of baby also develop rapidly, and the constant process of bone regeneration helps each of them to strengthen and grow.

Your baby is getting bigger and taller every day, he is starting to look more and more mature. The baby's eye-hand coordination and are constantly improving, helping him to manage his spoon and fork independently, although he will spill food for a while. This new skill also helps your little one build big towers and scribble - great things you can do together!