Is there an 18 month growth spurt
18 Month Old: Milestones and development
A physical growth spurt around this time may mean lots of extra energy and more temper tantrums. Your toddler likes to take things out – and put them all back. She can't kick a ball yet, but she'll enjoy rolling one. Your child may show interest in playing alongside (though not quite with) others now. A mixture of babbling, two-word sentences, a telling tone, and body language conveys a lot for your toddler.
Physical development
A growth spurt
You may observe a spurt in physical development this month. Your toddler is likely to be more sure on his feet, may love to climb all over the furniture, and can probably throw a ball underhand. He can also hold in his mind a clear memory of an object long after it's out of sight. Take advantage of this new capability by playing hide-and-seek with a favorite toy.
There may be days when all that physical energy is more than you can handle. Rather than fight it – after all, you can't change it – turn on some music, grab your little one, and invent some new dance steps together. For other ideas, see our list of toddler activities.
Solving puzzles, increasing dexterity
Your toddler wants to know what is behind, under, and inside of everything. But unlike a few months ago, he doesn't want to just empty closets and cupboards of their contents. Now, after he clears out your kitchen cabinets, your toddler will probably try to put everything back to see how it fits (though it won't look like it did before).
For now, gross motor development outpaces fine-motor development, but that's only because a typical 18-month-old doesn't want to sit still long enough to do many activities that require significant dexterity. There are, however, a few things that will hold her interest: scribbling with crayons or finger-painting, stacking blocks, turning knobs on doors and cupboards, and pushing buttons on telephones, televisions, and stereo equipment. He may also enjoy trying to slide large wooden beads onto a length of string.
An 18-month-old is very interested in fitting things inside of other things. Shape sorters, nesting boxes, and even some simple wooden puzzles (puzzles in which a whole object fits inside a matching slot – not jigsaw puzzles) will absorb him. One sign of increasing dexterity is the ability to hold a cup and drink from it without spilling.
Keep a few toys handy in the back of your car to make trips to the park even more fun. An extra-large beach ball (or an ever bigger ball, like those used in exercise classes) is fun to roll across grass and to roll on. (At this stage, toddlers can't quite kick balls. They attempt to, but they don't have the coordination to do it and end up sort of walking into the ball.) Your toddler may also have the skills to push or pull a small wagon or similar toy, and to pedal a tricycle or "big wheel." If it's winter, channel some of his energy by stomping in puddles or having a snowball fight, throwing the snowballs at trees or telephone poles instead of each other.
Language and cognitive development
Toilet training
Many experts say that 18 months is too young to start toilet training; many grandparents say, "We potty trained you at 1!" Who's right? Of course it depends on the child, and some are in fact ready to begin the process now. But before you start trying to make this enormous transition, look for some signs of readiness.
The sensory awareness that allows a toddler to recognize the need to empty his bladder and bowels and then "hold it" until he gets to the bathroom is sophisticated. And the concept that everything has its place – including pee and poop – and the desire for orderliness usually begins around age 2 (though some children don't potty train until much later).
At this age, a low-key approach is best. Toddlers learn by imitation, so start by letting your child copy what you do in the bathroom. Let her sit fully clothed on an adult or toddler toilet seat so she can get used to the idea of sitting on the potty. If your toddler has a favorite doll or stuffed animal, you can pretend that it's going the bathroom too, a tactic that may entice your child to try it out for herself. Keep your expectations in check, however. It may be another year before she's ready to get down to business.
Building vocabulary and communication
Your 18-month-old probably still does a lot of babbling, imitating adult conversations she hears, but her vocabulary will grow by leaps and bounds over the coming months. With increasing frequency, you'll hear clear words amid all the chattering.
He's begun to realize that every toy, every animal, every person, and everything has a name. And he relies on you for labels. He constantly points at pictures in books and asks, "What's that?" Or he just points repeatedly at the picture until you name it for him. He comprehends many more words than he can easily say and is filing the information away for later.
At a year and a half, most children speak a dozen words (or more) clearly. Besides "Mama" and "Dada," favorite words include "bye-bye," "milk," "cookie," "car," "oh!," and "my." Many 18-month-old toddlers can also link two words together to form rudimentary. She may say, "All gone," "Want ball," or "Me up."
Tone speaks volumes, and your 18-month-old is rapidly figuring that out. Because his vocabulary is limited, he uses a combination of simple words, inflection, and body language to get his point across. In fact, you may be surprised by how much he can tell you with a just a few words. When he says, "COOKIE," he's not merely ruminating about her favorite treat. You know by his tone that what he's really saying is: "I want a cookie – now!"
For every chatterbox, though, there's a child who's relatively quiet. It's still too early to worry about a late talker, although if your child doesn't speak at least 15 words by now, it's a good idea to consult your doctor, who may recommend seeing a speech therapist to rule out any problems.
Many 18-month-old toddlers also begin to refer to themselves by name. It will be a few months before your child can use pronouns (other than the ubiquitous "my").
At this stage, it's better to applaud what your toddler can say rather than try to correct "mistakes." For instance, if your child says, "Want cacka," don't correct him by saying, "No, say 'cracker.'" Say, "Okay! Here's a cracker!" Modeling the correct use of a word yourself helps kids learn faster than if you correct them. And not being constantly corrected will help boost your 18-month-old’s self-confidence and her eagerness to learn and try out new words.
Listen to children's music together; it's a great way to hone your child's listening skills, and you may be surprised by how many words she picks up from the songs.
Memory
Sometime between 18 and 24 months, toddlers begin to be able to think about things that aren't present. He knows that his shoes are in his closet, and will fetch them if you ask him to. Or he stands in front of the pantry and asks for a cracker, which he knows are there even though he can't see them. If you want to test him on this ability, play a very basic version of the game Concentration. Hide a favorite toy under two or three blankets. He won't be foiled when he removes the first layer and the toy isn't visible – he'll keep searching. In fact, he'll have fun looking for things that you hide.
Behavioral health and development
Temper tantrums, sharing, and comfort objects
Some days it may seem as though the littlest things set your toddler off. You serve her morning milk in the "wrong" cup and she throws it at you. Or she wants to go barefoot, even though it's raining outside, and screams her head off when you insist on putting boots on her. What's going on? Sometimes the triggers will be more obvious than others. She may be tired or angry. Or she may be frustrated by her inability to complete a task that she is determined to do, like putting a round peg into a square hole.
Tantrums tend to occur at the worst possible time for you. It seems like whenever your toddler blows a fuse, you're either in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, at the grocery store with half the shopping done, or in the waiting room of the doctor's office. What do these situations have in common? They are times that a typical toddler might feel emotionally overloaded, and also like he doesn't have your full attention.
If you're aware of the situations that trigger tantrums, you may be able to prevent many of them with minor adjustments or a little advance planning. Get out of bed 15 minutes earlier in the morning so you're not rushing around the house. If you must grocery shop with your child, do it when she is well rested and fed. Carry a favorite book or stuffed animal to doctor visits – anything you can do to keep her calm will help. Also remember that the occasional tantrum is a normal byproduct of toddlerhood and development. When your child is upset, stay calm, stay close, and use simple phrases to help name the child's feelings, such as, "You feel sad," or "You feel mad that we have to leave the park."
An inability to share doesn't help matters. But there is no "yours" in a toddler's vocabulary – everything is "mine!" So your car keys, a sibling's beloved stuffed dog, his dad's boots, the slide at the local playground – all these things are, in the eyes of an 18-month-old, his. Children this age can't really share, take turns, or understand why their behavior might upset someone else.
You can help your child begin to understand what sharing means by praising her when she does give a toy to another child or lets another toddler go down the slide first. When reading a book or watching a video, point out examples of sharing. Try to avoid scolding her when she doesn't want to; sometimes just acknowledging how difficult sharing is will make her more willing to do so. You will have to be patient and take comfort in the knowledge that other parents of toddlers are going through the same thing.
For a toddler, a favorite stuffed toy is a great source of comfort. He might also have some habits that soothe him – like twirling his hair, rocking, or sucking his thumb. Most children naturally outgrow these behaviors by the time they're 4, so there's probably no need for you to intervene now.
Crib or bed?
There's no optimal time to move your child to a big-kid bed. Some families need to make the switch to free up the crib for a younger sibling. (If that's your situation, start the process several months before your due date so your toddler doesn't associate the arrival of his sibling with being kicked out of his bed. ) Others stick with the crib until their child is 3 or so.
Don't be too quick to make the move if you can avoid it. Keep in mind that your child, who slept so well in her crib, is likely to start waking you up again. And once your child is in a bed, she can get up whenever she likes during the night. That's why many experienced parents advise keeping a child in a crib for as long as possible.
When you have a tiny escapee on your hands, you also have a safety problem to deal with. So make sure his room is safe, and toddler-proof the rest of the house. You may want to consider installing a doorknob cover so he can't leave the bedroom, or putting a safety gate at the bedroom door.
Among your choices for sleeping arrangements:
- Have your child sleep on the crib mattress on the floor. This way your child won't fall and get hurt.
- Move your child to a toddler bed. It's smaller than a twin bed and low to the floor. If you have a crib-to-toddler convertible bed, just lower the mattress and remove a side rail.
- Move your child to a regular bed. You can replace the crib with the bed, along with a bed rail, if you're worried that your child will fall out. Or ease the transition by placing a twin mattress on the floor and adding the frame later. This option may be good for active sleepers (squirmers and thrashers) and taller children who find toddler beds uncomfortable.
New challenges, saving the worst for you, public tantrums
- An 18-month-old's top priority is to succeed at various tasks. So she constantly tests herself – and you. Her failure to succeed – either because she's incapable of, say, putting on her own shoes, or because you stop her, like when you forbid her from climbing onto a chair near the stove so she can help you – is frustrating for her. This is a phase when "no" seems to be the word that you both use more than any other.As his confidence in his own abilities increases, so does his willfulness. Your job is to gauge when you must prevent him from trying to reach a goal – for instance, because it's not safe for him to be near a hot stove – and when you should let him go ahead and try. So what if it takes you a few extra minutes in the morning while he tries to put on his sneakers? Discouraging him from trying many of the things he attempts will only make him unwilling to try new things in the future.
- Avoid public tantrums by keeping your outings low-key. Don't try to squeeze too many errands into a single trip with your toddler, especially as nap time or mealtime approaches.
- If you're someplace that's filled with stimulation and temptations, such as a store, keep your visit short. Dash in and out – don't meander through the mall. If your child does throw a tantrum and it's impractical (or too stressful) to wait it out, scoop her up and head for the car.
- If you and your partner both work outside the home, your toddler is probably used to saying goodbye to you in the morning: He rarely protests your departure the way he did a few months ago. But when you arrive to pick him up at the end of the day, you may be greeted with a screaming, throw-down tantrum. On the other hand, this age begins a phase when many toddlers begin to behave in both cooperative and caring ways.
Favoring the other parent
If it hasn't happened to you or your partner yet, it will: One day you're your toddler's best buddy. The next day, you're rejected and only the other parent will do. It can hurt, but try not to take it personally. Toddlers snub one parent and favor the other for no apparent reason.
Sometimes a business trip or other separation is behind the favoritism – a snub is your child's way of saying, "I don't like it when you do that." Don't make a big deal out of it or insist that your child kiss and make up. You also don't want to go out of your way to win back favor with gifts, which sets a bad precedent.
Your best bet is to simply let favoritism run its course. Before you know it, this phase will be forgotten.
Wanting to be carried
The thrill of learning to walk and run may have launched your toddler into perpetual motion. She just doesn't want to stop – especially to do something as unexciting as sleep! Then again, sometimes a child who is perfectly capable of walking on her own two feet wants to be carried – a lot.
Consider the circumstances. In public, your child may feel small and vulnerable, or fear getting lost. He may truly be tired. He may crave attention or affection. Carry him if you want to, but if you're going more than a block or two from home or the car, bring a stroller to save your back.
Your child might be coaxed into walking just by holding your hand, which could make her feel more secure. Negotiate a little: "Let's walk holding hands until the next stoplight."
Making friends
Now that your child is walking and talking, you can also expect her to be more interested in establishing relationships with other people, especially children her age. But though she wants to interact with peers, she still regards them as curiosities more than as playmates. If your child pushes, pokes, or hits her playmates, don't worry that she's anti-social. Just be patient and willing to expose her to a variety of situations – the more chances your toddler has to interact in group settings, the sooner she'll develop social skills.
Try to connect with the parents of two or three other children who are about the same age as yours and make plans to meet on a regular basis. Fun outings for kids this age include trips to hands-on children's museums, playgrounds, petting zoos, and anywhere your toddlers can run around freely. Just remember that for at least the next few months, even when your 18-month-old does have playdates, he's more likely to engage in parallel play than play together with his friends.
Health
Sun protection
Sunburns early in life are the most likely to cause skin cancer later, and all sun exposure damages and ages the skin, so protect your child's skin whatever the weather. Use sunscreen, cover her up with lightweight clothing, and have her wear a hat and sunglasses and stay in the shade as much as possible.
For sunscreen, choose one with SPF 15 or higher that provides broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays (check the label to be sure). Some experts recommend a "physical block" or "chemical-free" sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because they offer broad-spectrum coverage, are not absorbed by the skin, and provide protection as soon as you put it on. If you use a chemical sunscreen, which works best once it's absorbed by the skin, apply it 30 minutes before going out for the best sun protection.
Reapply sunscreen every couple of hours (no matter what the label says) when you're outside and anytime your child comes out of the water.
Calcium
Don't make a big deal out of it if your child suddenly decides she hates milk. It's one of those small ways toddlers exert their independence. Continue to serve milk, but don't force her to drink it. At the same time, make sure she's getting plenty of calcium by providing plenty of other dairy foods, such as cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Disguise milk in shakes or puddings (in moderation).
Fortified soy milk is another option. See what our expert says about which kind is best for toddlers.
Look ahead to 19 months
Yes, Toddlers Have Growth Spurts. Here's What Happens
How to tell if your toddler is hitting their growth milestones
By Vin D'Eletto
Life is never boring when you have a toddler! The toddler stage is full of new challenges and exciting developmental milestones that see them changing at a rapid pace. Because of all these changes, it can be hard to keep up and you may find yourself wondering if your toddler is growing at a normal rate.
Contents
- When do growth spurts happen?
- How much do toddlers grow?
- Common signs your toddler is about to experience a growth spurt
Even though your pediatrician probably went over the stages of toddler growth spurts, you might want to know specific details involved in your child’s development and what changes you should be looking for to ensure they’re on track. All kids are different and the ages at which they hit growth spurts will definitely fluctuate, but there are some general guidelines you can watch for to know if you should be concerned. Here’s what you need to know about toddlers and growth spurt ages.
When do growth spurts happen?
Your toddler’s growth spurt will happen anytime between the ages of 2 and 4. Some children grow at a steady pace throughout their toddler stage, while others can gain a couple of inches over the course of a few months. The same is true of weight gain. You might see your child gain a few pounds over a short period before their physical development slows down for a while.
Every child is different when it comes to growth. On average, toddlers will grow 2 to 3 inches a year. It can happen gradually or in shorter spurts. Genetics also plays a role in how quickly your child develops, so don’t worry if it looks like your toddler is moving at a slower pace. They will probably catch up to their peers later.
How much do toddlers grow?
The toddler years are one of the stages where your child will go through significant changes. While babies grow and gain weight at a rapid pace, growth can slow down during the second year of their lives when compared to their first few months.
Before age 2
Witnessing toddler growth spurts may be common in one family and not another. Between your child’s first and second birthdays, it’s normal to see an average growth of 5 inches and 5 pounds. You will notice that your child’s head grows in size and should reach 90% of their adult head size by the time they turn 2.
Between ages 2 and 3
From 2 to 3, your child should gain around 4 pounds and grow by 2 to 3 inches. They’ll become more active and comfortable with walking and running. Your toddler’s silhouette will change a lot during their third year. They will get longer legs, lose their round tummy, and you’ll notice structural changes in their face. Your little one will no longer look like a baby by the time they turn 3.
Between ages 3 and 4
Between the ages of 3 and 4, your child will gain anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds and should grow by 2 to 3 inches.
Remember that growth can happen at a steady pace or in shorter spurts. You might notice short growth stages where your child gains 3 inches and puts on weight over the course of a few months before growth slows down for a while. Your toddler’s personal pace is normal as long as they grow an average of 2 to 3 inches and gain 4 to 5 pounds a year. Ask your pediatrician if you need help to determine if your child is growing at a normal pace.
Common signs your toddler is about to experience a growth spurt
The following signs can indicate that your toddler is about to go through a growth spurt:
- Increased appetite. As your toddler’s body grows, so will their caloric intake. Seeing your child’s appetite increase is normal because toddlers tend to be very active, but can also signify that your toddler is going through a growth spurt.
- Cravings. It’s not uncommon for toddlers to have a favorite food. However, growth spurts can cause cravings for foods that contain the vitamins and minerals your child needs.
- Growing pains. Children often experience dull aches and soreness when they grow. Your toddler might be grumpy, tired, or fussy because their limbs feel sore due to growing pains. Be ready to give tiny leg rubs.
- Sleepiness. Growing up can be exhausting! You might notice that your toddler is more tired than usual. Make sure they get the sleep they need since their body releases the growth hormone while they sleep.
- Outgrowing clothes and shoes. A common sign that your toddler is going through one of their growth stages is that their clothes don’t fit anymore. Toddlers outgrow pants at a fast pace as their legs get longer.
- Clumsiness. All toddlers are clumsy, but their limbs growing rapidly creates an additional coordination challenge.
- Mood shifts. We know — toddlers are always moody. But going through physical changes makes your toddler feel extra tired and grumpy. Changes in hormonal levels affect their mood.
- New skills. Brain development is one of the many aspects of the growth spurts toddlers go through. You will see your kid make progress in areas like language and motor skills at a dizzying pace.
Every child is different and will grow at a different pace. While some children go through faster growth spurts, others grow at a steadier rate. We recommend using a chart to plot your child’s progress and meeting with your pediatrician regularly to track your child’s height and weight gain, along with developmental milestones. Take lots of pictures, chart every milestone, and be amazed at how quickly your little one grows up in between a few blinks of your eyes.
Editors' Recommendations
- Some babies want to be held while sleeping: Here’s why
- How to stop food obsession in children
- Real talk: How much wine can you safely drink while pregnant? (We’re surprised)
- Sleep sack vs. swaddle: What’s the safest option for putting your little one to sleep?
- Can you get your nails done while pregnant? These are the factors to consider
06/06/2016
1448813
Tatyana Chkhikvishvili
Tatyana Chkhikvishvili
Head of the Online program, psychologist, consultant on a consultant on a consultant on a consultant on a consultant on a consultant on a consultant on a consultant sleep and breastfeeding
mother of two children
For the first 1.5 years of life, the child changes fantastically! Height, weight, physical skills and mental abilities - never again in his life will his development be so rapid.
But the development of the child does not occur evenly, but in leaps. Suddenly, unexpectedly, some new skill appears in the crumbs, and then for some time nothing new seems to happen. In fact, a new skill has a preparatory period, about a week. And this week is a real crisis for both the baby and the parents.
These crises in the development of children are noticeable and natural, Dr. Hetty Vandereit and Professor Frans Ploy - psychologists, specialists in the field of early childhood development - even created a special calendar of child crises.
But don't be afraid! Each crisis is a consequence of the development of the child, so these crisis weeks are more likely to add up to a calendar of jumps in the development of the child. Each crisis is a jump in the development of the nervous system, a jump in the growth of the brain, the emergence of new abilities in a child. For a baby, this is comparable to the discovery of a new, completely unknown world. Of course, this worries the child. During a crisis, he can worry, act up, cry, sleep and eat worse.
Change is too fast. They are incomprehensible to the child, he is excited and frightened. During a crisis, the baby really needs your attention and help. Be patient. It is in your power to help your child go through every crisis, every growth spurt easier and faster.
The growth spurt table shows how developmental spurts are distributed over the weeks of a baby's life. Weeks highlighted in light green show crisis. Lightning and blue color indicates the most difficult time. The crisis is followed by weeks marked in white - this is a calm period, the end of the crisis. The child successfully survived another leap and mastered something new. Until the next developmental leap and a new crisis, there will be a rather calm time when the baby consolidates new skills.
Child crisis calendar
Developmental leaps in children occur at about the same age. Up to 1.5 years, the child experiences 10 such jumps. At first, each crisis is short, and they often succeed each other. Gradually, the intervals between crisis periods lengthen, but the duration of each jump also increases.
If the baby was born prematurely, see the growth spurt calendar from the due date (DOT). If the baby was born late, start counting earlier, also with the PDD.
BabySleep prepared a series of articles about growth spurts in children. Learn how to recognize the approach of each crisis, what your child will learn after it ends, what difficulties may arise and how to help your child cope with them.
A series of articles prepared on the basis of the book “The Wonder Weeks: How to Turn Your Baby's Eight Great Fussy Phases into Magical Leaps Forward”, Hetty Vanderijt, Frans Plooij (“Naughty? So developing!”, Hetty Vanderijt, Frans Ploy)
#surge
1448813
', nextArrow: '', responsive: [{breakpoint: 1199, settings: {arrows: !1, infinite: !1, slidesToShow: 1}}] }) })Growth spurts in children: what is important to know
02/06/2020
Growing up a child
In the first 1.5 years of life, children experience rapid growth and rapid development: physical, mental and emotional. This process takes place in waves and is characterized by the emergence of new skills in the child.
Each new skill is superimposed on the previous skill. For example, the baby learns to roll over first, then crawl and sit, pull up and stand at the support, and finally walk. A growth spurt is also a leap in the development of the nervous system and brain. Rapid changes, the emergence of new abilities sometimes scare the child. During such periods, he needs special attention and help from his parents.
It is possible to identify the same patterns and the order of their development in all children, despite the fact that each child is unique. In total, there are 10 periods of growth spurts in children under 2 years of age: 8 of them occur before 12 months, the last 2 - before 18 months.
Growth spurts
Signs
Sometimes a growth crisis goes unnoticed, but sometimes it lasts longer and quite clearly.
What signs will help you identify a growth spurt:
1. Changes in nutrition
It is more difficult to feed the baby, sometimes it is not clear to the mother whether he is really hungry - the baby may refuse breast and bottle, but show signs of hunger. The child wants to eat more often, but eats less during feeding. This behavior is typical when he tries to calm down at the expense of food.
2. Behavior
The child becomes more restless and capricious. You will see that he does not want to leave your arms and cries when you try to put him in the crib. Or you may notice that the baby is crying and not calming down when he is usually calm and relaxed. This behavior is associated with the accumulation of overwork, since the baby spends a lot of energy during growth crises. Also, if the baby is irritated or naughty, he may be on the way to mastering a new skill.
3. Sleep
Before and during the growth spurt, children are more sleepy. Night awakenings become more frequent, and daytime sleeps become shorter. If you had a regimen before, it may deteriorate. It will seem to you that it is no longer suitable for the child and you need to change the schedule of sleep and wakefulness. But by the end of the growth spurt, you will notice that the old regimen has returned to normal.
Please note that growth spurts are sometimes confused with other problems. So, the baby is sleepy and moody due to the fact that he gets sick. And hunger is a sign of a mother's lack of milk.
4. The child learns one of the skills:
- learns new sensations and gets to know his body
- starts to roll over
- masters the position on all fours and begins to crawl
- learns to sit down and stand up from a sitting position
- tries to stand holding on to the support and take the first steps
- starts walking
- is actively learning speech
5. Changing the size of the legs and arms
After the growth spurt, you will notice how your toddler has grown.
Calendar of developmental leaps
The first leap begins at the end of the first month of a baby's life, the peak falls on the 5th week. The baby begins to study the phenomena that occur around him. The sense organs develop, and the child perceives the world much more clearly than before.
The second growth crisis is a continuation of the first one. His surge falls on the 8th week. The kid opens the world of patterns. He understands, for example, that he has two arms and two legs. And spends hours practicing the new skill of controlling their particular position. He is fascinated by the shadows from the falling light. You may notice how the child listens to himself by making various sounds. He also begins to show joy with his first smile.
The third growth spurt appears at 3 months. If before this the baby's movements were clumsy, now he has much better control over his body. There is also a further development of the senses. Now he notices the differences: he listens to the voices, watches how the light is replaced by darkness, how everything moves around. The world is becoming more organized.
The fourth developmental leap occurs around the 19th week. The child understands that each event has a certain sequence of actions. He begins to notice smooth transitions in sounds, movements, light, smells and textures.
Fifth developmental leap around 26 weeks. You will see how the baby tries to do many new things for him. The child improves coordination, he begins to understand the connection of things around. The main discovery at this age is the space around: there is a certain distance between people and objects. The world for the baby becomes huge.
The sixth crisis will clearly manifest itself at 37 weeks. During this period, you will notice that the baby is learning new activities, constantly experimenting. The baby is able to recognize certain objects, sensations, groups people and animals into categories. For example, he understands that a banana is different from an apple in shape, color and taste, but it is still food. Understanding the world of categories greatly affects your child's senses.
By the 46th week there will be a 7 leap in development . The baby will open the world of sequences. He will understand that in order to achieve his goal, it is necessary to act in a certain way. The child will learn how and in what sequence to put things together so that it is correct: a pyramid, cubes, etc.
The eighth leap of development will take place around the year at week 55. The kid will have a breakthrough in mental development and he will be ready to explore the world of programs. If before that the baby understood the sequence of events that follow one after another, now he understands that this does not always happen. And he also realizes that the result of an action sometimes depends on what happened now.
The ninth leap is the first growth crisis after a year, which peaks at 14-15 months. The child has grown up and now he is able to change the programs that he has mastered before. He will experiment with them:
- Meet other children at the playground
- imitate others
- Explore your emotions
- Think ahead
- Become aggressive to get what you want
- Throw the first tantrums
- Understand the difference between "mine" and "yours"
- Learning to do things together
- Experiment with "yes" and "no"
The last tenth leap of development will take about 17 months. The baby develops the ability to understand "systems" and their differences: my mother is not like that boy's mother, my scooter is not like my brother's. At this stage, he realizes that he decides how to behave. The child develops a sense of compassion.
How to help your baby during a growth spurt
- Create a physiological regimen to prevent overwork. Make your bedtime ritual longer. The baby needs more time to relax and fall asleep. Include more body contact in the ritual: carrying, hugging, kissing.