18-month-old baby milestones: Development, growth, speech, language, and more

At 18 months, your little one is undergoing rapid development, becoming more independent, and displaying new skills almost daily.

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This stage is filled with excitement and curiosity as they explore their world with newfound confidence.

 From mastering motor skills to expanding their vocabulary, understanding what to expect can help you support your child’s growth and celebrate their milestones.

Your 18-month-old baby's development

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At 18 months, your toddler’s development is rapidly progressing, with significant milestones in cognitive, physical, and emotional areas. This stage is filled with excitement as your 18-month-old child begins to explore their environment with greater independence and curiosity.

Cognitive development

At this age, your child’s brain is growing at an incredible rate. They are becoming more adept at problem-solving and critical thinking. Here are some key aspects of your child’s development to look out for.

Problem-solving skills: Your 18-month-old is learning to understand cause and effect. They might experiment with different actions to see the outcomes, such as pressing buttons on toys to make sounds or opening and closing doors. Simple puzzles and interactive toys can enhance these skills.

Understanding instructions: They can follow simple instructions like “bring me the ball” or “sit down.” This ability shows their growing comprehension and cognitive abilities. Encouraging your toddler to follow simple commands can help develop their listening and understanding skills.

Imitative play: Toddlers at this age love to imitate adults. They might mimic your actions, like pretend play by talking on the phone, cooking food, or cleaning. This imitative play is crucial for their social and cognitive development, helping them learn about their environment and social roles.

Memory and recognition: Your toddler’s memory is improving. They can recognise familiar people, objects, and routines. They might also remember where their favourite toys are kept and bring them to you when asked. Memory games and repetition of activities can further enhance their memory skills – they might be able to match objects!

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18-month-old physical milestones

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At 18 months, toddlers make significant strides in both gross and fine motor skills, reflecting their rapid physical skills and development. Here are some of your toddler’s developmental milestones.

Gross motor skills

Walking and running: By 18 months, most toddlers can walk independently and are starting to run, which enhances their balance and coordination. This is a critical period for developing muscle strength and motor control. Encouraging walking and running in safe environments can support these physical skills.

Climbing: Toddlers often love to climb furniture and playground equipment, and can seat themselves in a small chair. This activity helps build leg muscles and coordination. It’s important to provide supervised opportunities for safe climbing to support their physical development.

Kicking and throwing: Around this age, many 18-month-old toddlers begin to show interest in kicking balls and attempting to throw objects. For instance, they might throw a ball from a standing position.

Dancing and movement: Encouraging dancing and movement to music can help improve balance, coordination, rhythm and other developmental milestones. Music and movement activities also promote physical fitness and emotional expression.

Fine motor skills

Scribbling: At 18 months, toddlers often show interest in scribbling with crayons or pencils. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination and supports early writing skills.

Using utensils: Many toddlers at this age are improving their ability to use a spoon and fork, which promotes independence and self-feeding skills. It’s common for them to still need some assistance, but they are getting better at controlling utensils.

Building and stacking: Activities such as stacking blocks or fitting objects into corresponding holes are excellent for fine motor development and spatial awareness. At this point, your child may be able to make a 4 cube tower.

Manipulating objects: Toddlers can begin using everyday objects correctly, such as brushing their hair with a brush or using a fork. These actions demonstrate their growing understanding of the world and ability to mimic adult behaviours.

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Language development at 18 months

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At 18 months, your toddler is making great strides in language and communication skills. This period is crucial for building a foundation for future language development. Here’s what you can expect and how to support their development milestones.

Word acquisition: By 18 months, many toddlers can say two-word phrases or several words and may even start to combine words into simple phrases like “more water” or “big truck.” They typically have a vocabulary of about 10 to 25 words, which will rapidly expand in the coming months.

Understanding and following commands: Your toddler is likely to understand and follow simple instructions such as “sit down,” “come here,” or “give me the ball.” They also start recognising and responding to their name and familiar words used regularly in their environment.

Gestures and nonverbal communication: Gestures are still an essential part of communication. Your child might point to objects they want, shake their head for “no,” or wave goodbye. These nonverbal cues are crucial to their communication toolkit.

Imitation: At this age, toddlers often imitate sounds, words, and actions they observe. They could imitate environmental sounds like animals. This mimicry helps them learn new words and understand how language works in social contexts.

Receptive language skills: Even if they do not speak many words, toddlers at 18 months have a strong receptive language ability. They can understand many more words than they can say and can follow along with stories and conversations.

Self-control and emotional regulation at 18 months

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At 18 months, your toddler begins to practise self-control and social and emotional development skills, which are crucial for their social and emotional growth. Here’s what you can expect from their development milestones.

Temper tantrums and frustration: It’s common for 18-month-olds to experience temper tantrums and frustration as they struggle to express their feelings and desires. These are normal development milestones and indicate they are learning to navigate their emotions.

Developing empathy: At this age, toddlers show early signs of empathy. They might try to comfort a crying friend or bring a toy to someone who seems upset. Encouraging these behaviours can help nurture their social and emotional skills.

Understanding boundaries: Toddlers are learning about boundaries and limits. They may test these boundaries frequently to understand what is acceptable. Consistent and gentle reinforcement of rules helps them feel secure and understand expectations.

Imitation and social learning: Your child will imitate the emotional responses of adults and older children. Modelling calm and positive behaviour can teach them appropriate ways to manage their emotions.

Separation anxiety: Many toddlers at this age experience separation anxiety. They might become upset when a caregiver leaves, but they will gradually learn to feel more secure with consistent routines and reassurances. Try using tools like a favourite stuffed animal for soothing.

How much sleep does an 18-month-old need?

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At 18 months, toddlers typically need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep daily. This includes both nighttime sleep and daytime naps. Ensuring your child gets adequate sleep is crucial for their overall health, development, and well-being. Here’s a detailed look at what to expect and how to support healthy sleep habits for your 18-month-old.

Nighttime sleep

• Total nighttime sleep: Most 18-month-olds need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can help signal to your toddler that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep.
• Bedtime routine: A calming bedtime routine might include a warm bath, reading a book, and cuddling. Consistency is key to helping your child understand and anticipate bedtime, which can lead to better sleep.
• Sleep environment: Ensure the sleep environment is conducive to rest. This means a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature. Consider using white noise machines or blackout curtains to create a peaceful sleeping space.

Daytime naps

• Nap duration: At 18 months, toddlers usually take one nap per day, which typically lasts 1.5 to 3 hours. Some children may still need two shorter naps, depending on their sleep needs and patterns.
• Nap timing: Ideally, the nap should occur in the early afternoon. This timing helps ensure that the nap does not interfere with nighttime sleep. Watch for signs of sleepiness, such as rubbing eyes or crankiness, to determine the best nap time for your child.
• Transitioning naps: If your toddler is transitioning from two naps to one, be patient and flexible. There might be days when two naps are still needed. Adjust their schedule gradually to help them adapt. At this age, you can start considering transitioning your child into a toddler bed.

Managing sleep challenges

• Consistent sleep schedule: Maintain a regular sleep schedule with the same bedtime and wake-up time each day.
• Self-soothing: Encourage your child to self-soothe by providing a comfort object like a soft toy or blanket.
• Night wakings: If your child wakes up, give them a few minutes to settle back down on their own. If they need reassurance, keep interactions brief and calm.

18-month-old baby weight and length

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As your baby reaches the 18-month mark, tracking their growth in terms of weight and length can provide valuable insights into their development. Here’s a look at the typical growth measurements for the 50th percentile of 18-month-olds based on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards.

Typical weight and length

Boys:

• Weight: On average, 18-month-old boys weigh about 10.9 kilograms.
• Length: Typically, they measure around 82.3 cm.

Girls:

• Weight: On average, 18-month-old girls weigh about 10.2 kilograms.

Length: Typically, they measure around 80.7 cm.

18-month-old feeding milestones

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At 18 months, your toddler’s feeding habits and nutritional needs continue to evolve. Encouraging a balanced diet and fostering good eating habits are essential during this stage.

Your 18-month-old should be eating three balanced meals and two healthy snacks each day. Their diet should include a variety of foods from all the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Toddlers’ portion sizes are about one-quarter to one-third of an adult’s portion. Offer small, manageable portions, and allow your child to ask for more if they are still hungry. Aim to give your child about 240 ml of whole milk daily if they don’t get calcium from other sources. Whole milk provides essential fats needed for brain development.

Example eating schedule

• Breakfast: Small bowl of porridge with fruit slices, a cup of whole milk.
• Morning snack: Sliced bananas with yoghurt.
• Lunch: A small serving of chicken pieces, steamed vegetables (carrots, peas), a small piece of whole-grain bread.
• Afternoon snack: Cheese cubes and apple slices.
• Dinner: Mini turkey meatballs, brown rice, steamed broccoli.
• Bedtime snack: A small cup of whole milk.

Development tips for your baby this month

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Supporting toddler development involves a mix of play, learning, and nurturing their growing independence. Here are some tips to help your toddler thrive:

Encourage exploration: Create a safe environment for your child to explore. Baby-proof your home so that your toddler can roam freely and discover new things.

Interactive play: Engage in interactive and play pretend with toys that stimulate thinking and creativity. Activities like stacking blocks, sorting shapes, and simple puzzles can enhance cognitive and fine motor skills.

Read together: Reading daily is crucial for language development. Choose books with bright pictures and simple stories, and involve your child by pointing to objects and asking questions.

Promote independence: Encourage self-feeding with child-friendly utensils and involve your toddler in simple daily routines like brushing teeth or picking out clothes.

Outdoor activities: Spend time outdoors to support physical development. Activities like playing in the park, walking, and climbing build strength and coordination.

Social interaction: Arrange playdates with other children to help develop social skills. Supervised interactions can teach sharing, empathy, and communication.

Language development: Talk to your child throughout the day, narrating your actions and encouraging them to name objects and express their needs.

Emotional support: Offer comfort and understanding during tantrums. Help your child name their emotions and find appropriate ways to express them.

Providing a nurturing environment filled with love, patience, and opportunities for learning will support your 18-month-old’s development.

Checklist for this month

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• Schedule a doctor or Child and Family Nurse visit for a check-up.
• Ensure your child receives their 18-month-old vaccines (MMR, DTPa, Hib, Varicella).
• Baby-proof new areas as your toddler’s exploration increases.
• Introduce new fruits and vegetables to diversify their diet.
• Encourage self-feeding with child-friendly utensils.
• Read daily with your child to support language development.
• Plan outdoor activities for physical exercise.
• Arrange playdates to foster social skills.
• Establish a consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine.
• Provide a variety of interactive and educational toys.
• Monitor and support emotional expression and tantrums.
• Ensure your child gets enough calcium, possibly with whole milk or alternatives.
• Keep track of your child’s growth and milestones.

Sources

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18th month old sleep schedule: bedtime, naps, and how to get your toddler to sleep through the night, The Baby Sleep site. Available at: https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/18-month-old-sleep-schedule-bedtime-how-many-naps/

Milestones for toddlers 18 months to 3 years – Parent Easy Guide, Government of South Australia. Available at: https://parenting.sa.gov.au/easy-guides/milestones-for-toddlers-parent-easy-guide

Healthy Food for Babies & Toddlers, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Available at: https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Health%20Promotion/Cookbook_160x160mm_LR.pdf

Child development 1-2 years, Healthy Western Australia. Available at: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Child-development-1-2-years