During the toddler years, development milestones will vary widely from child to child. Unless your toddler lags in several areas or is more than a few months behind in any one area, there is little need for concern. Also remember that premature babies may reach milestones slightly later than a child who is born full-term, and that by age two, they will even out developmentally. Below is a list of general developmental guidelines for an average healthy child between the ages of 18 and 24 months old.
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By month 18
Most toddlers are able to:
look at books on their own
scribble well
run well
say at least 20 words
feed self with spoon
become picky about certain foods
Some toddlers are able to:
string words together to make phrases
talk more clearly
brush teeth with help
stack four blocks at a time
A few toddlers are able to:
throw a ball overhand
take off clothes
climb out of crib and high chair
take apart toys and put them back together
show signs of potty training readiness
By month 19
Most toddlers are able to:
run well
string words together to make phrases
feed self with spoon or fork
brush teeth with help
throw a ball underhand
“help” with household chores
Some toddlers are able to:
say up to 50 words
form recognizable sentences (two or three words)
understand up to 200 words
know when something is incorrect (calling an apple a banana)
take clothes off
A few toddlers are able to:
show signs of bladder control
brush teeth and wash hands with help
draw circles and lines
name several parts of his or her body
By month 20
Most toddlers are able to:
pretend to feed dolls
take off clothes
run well
imitate new actions (throwing garbage away)
Some toddlers are able to:
learn words at a rate of 10 or more a day
say up to 50 words
walk up stairs
enjoy helping around the house
start setting small goals (putting a toy in a certain place)
A few toddlers are able to:
name several body parts
show better signs of bladder control
draw a straight line
By month 21
Most toddlers are able to:
walk up stairs
set simple goals
make structures out of toys or blocks
Some toddlers are able to:
learn more than 10 words a day
show good signs of bladder control
throw a ball overhand
stack six blocks at a time
A few toddlers are able to:
name simple pictures in a book
walk down stairs with some help
open and close doors
By month 22
Most toddlers are able to:
kick a ball forward
imitate behavior of others
show good signs of bladder control
start to learn more than 10 words a day
Some toddlers are able to:
do simple puzzles
identify several parts of the body
draw a straight line
walk down stairs with some help
form short but complete and understandable sentences
A few toddlers are able to:
get dressed and undressed alone
understand opposites (hot vs. cold, etc.)
form three or four-word sentences
By month 23
Most toddlers are able to:
name pictures in books
walk down stairs with some help
use 50-70 words
identify their own body parts
do simple puzzles
Some toddlers are able to:
open and close doors
sing simple songs
dress and undress themselves
A few toddlers are able to:
walk down stairs without help
start asking “why”
speak understandably most of the time
talk about likes and dislikes
By month 24
Most toddlers are able to:
name at least five body parts
speak understandably more than half the time
form two to three-word sentences
dress and undress themselves
Some toddlers are able to:
walk down stairs without help
talk about likes and dislikes
arrange things in categories
A few toddlers are able to:
jump
begin to understand concepts (better or worse, etc.)
All information on ParentingWeekly is for educational purposes only. The place to get medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment is your health care provider. If you have personal concerns about your health or the health of your baby, we recommend that you consult with your health care provider at once. ParentingWeekly respects your privacy and promises to keep any information you give to us confidential. Please e-mail any questions regarding our site to:
