Your 22-month-old is becoming more independent and experimenting with new activities. However, when things don’t go as planned, she may become frustrated. Expect frequent interruptions! Instead of feeling annoyed, use these moments to teach polite words like “please.” Some toddlers may attempt to climb out of their cribs at night, signaling that it might be time for a toddler bed. To reduce germs around your home and make your life simpler, start teaching your child proper handwashing techniques.
Physical Development
Moving faster and kicking a ball
Your toddler likely has the physical ability to kick a large ball forward without falling. If balancing on one foot and making the connection is challenging, demonstrate by kicking the ball yourself. Then, roll it towards her foot and encourage her to kick it back. She’ll likely try to mimic you, and even if the ball just touches her foot, praise her with “Nice kick.” This helps her understand that a kick is when the ball hits and bounces off her foot. Soon, she’ll start attempting to kick the ball on her own.
Your toddler is also probably getting better at transitioning from standing to running, but may still struggle with stopping or turning corners once in motion. Expect some bumps and bruises until she develops the coordination to slow down as easily as she speeds up. Wide-open spaces, like a backyard or a park, are ideal for allowing toddlers to run freely.
Nimble fingers
Looking for distractions? Your toddler’s fine motor skills are improving, and those little fingers are getting better at building block towers, snapping plastic beads together, or weaving shoelaces through holes in felt or cardboard. Poking and pinching moldable compounds like Silly Putty, Play-Doh, or clay are also favorite activities. These precise movements with the thumb, fingers, hand, and wrist support other physical and mental skills. For instance, to build a block tower, your toddler needs to know what to do with the pieces and then plan how to construct the tower.
How to help: Set aside an area in your home—such as a toddler-sized table in a playroom or a corner of her room—for crafts. Keep a few plastic storage containers stocked with moldable compounds, washable markers, crayons, paper, string, cardboard, and beads nearby, so you’ll always have supplies on hand.
You can make moldable dough at home: Combine 2 cups white flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, and a drop of food coloring in a saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture is smooth, let it cool and give it to your toddler to play with. Store it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
Toddler toys
Wondering what kind of toys to get for your child’s upcoming birthday? Whatever you choose, check the boxes or labels to ensure they are safe for children under 3.
Toys labeled for ages 3 and up pose choking hazards or other risks to younger children. (See more tips for toy safety.) Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Toys that let kids pretend: play cash registers, brooms and dustpans, phones, toy dishes, toy food, dress-up clothes, trucks, trains and cars, dolls, doll strollers, and cradles.
- Toys to manipulate: dolls with buttons and zippers, blocks of all types, and toddler versions of colorful plastic building bricks.
- Action toys: ride-on vehicles, wagons, balls, climbing structures, and carts.
- Musical toys: drums, tambourines, xylophones, and cymbals.
- Books: A child can never have too many!
Language and Cognitive Development
Listening and labeling
A typical 22-month-old’s vocabulary includes about 20 words, and most toddlers can combine a few words to ask questions or make statements. Before counting the words your child uses, remember that toddlers understand far more words than they can say. Comprehension is a significant part of language learning, so her actual vocabulary is likely much larger than you realize.
You may also notice your toddler mimicking the tone of your speech. When you exclaim, “Oh my goodness!” or “Stop that!” or “Thank you!” she’ll repeat the phrases with similar inflection.
If you point to body parts on your child or a doll and ask her to identify them, she should be able to name five or more. If you ask, “Where is your foot?” or “Where are your ears?” she should be able to point to the correct places. She’ll also enjoy singing nursery rhymes with you. Even if she can’t say all the words, she’ll try to repeat some of the song and attempt to carry the tune.
Listening is crucial at this stage. To encourage your child to listen as well as talk, read books with repetitive words or phrases and ask her to fill in certain words as you go along. “Have You Seen My Cat?” by Eric Carle is a simple one for a 22-month-old to follow.
Singing nursery rhymes repeatedly is another excellent way to improve listening skills. Your child will naturally want to sing along with you, and she’ll need to remember the words to do that. The melodies in these rhymes can make it easier for her to remember the words.
Pretending to read
Most toddlers love looking at books, and you might see your child holding a favorite book and pretending to read it, labeling familiar objects. If you hold a book upside down, she should know it’s not in the right position, but she’ll likely recognize some pictures even when the book is flipped over.
Even though your child’s attention span is still relatively short, don’t feel compelled to read quickly to finish a story. In fact, the faster you read, the quicker she’ll lose interest. Instead, read slowly so she understands what’s happening, and let her scan the pages and point to objects she can label. You can stop when she gets tired. Spending time reading carefully is much more important than finishing the story.
Body talk
Pee or wee or tinkle? Poop or BM? Every family chooses its own lingo for potty training. Choose words that feel natural to you—or, to avoid confusion, use the terms your child’s daycare uses.
Regarding body parts, some families introduce terms like “penis” and “vagina” from the start, while others choose to wait. Eventually, you’ll want your child to learn the official names for body parts, whether you use them regularly or not.
Behavioral Health and Development
Trying new foods
What’s the best way to get your 22-month-old to try new foods? Keep serving them! Even if he refuses to touch or taste what’s on his plate, persistence is key. Nutritionists say it can take 10 to 20 exposures to a new food before a toddler will agree to try it.
Keep portions small to make them less intimidating. Try serving refused foods in different formats: A broccoli spear looks very different from broccoli in cheese sauce or a soufflé. Never force your child to taste something or clean his plate. You want him to develop positive associations with mealtimes. Besides, nobody likes everything!
Don’t expect table manners at this age. Smelling, handling, and smearing food are ways your child gets acquainted with new foods.
Waking up at night
If your toddler has started waking up in the middle of the night, it might be due to an overly long afternoon nap. You may need to limit his after-lunch nap and experiment to find the right amount of sleep. Ensure you have a short, calming bedtime routine, such as a bath followed by a song or story, and that your child falls asleep on his own. Children who are used to falling asleep independently go back to sleep more easily than those who are rocked to sleep or need someone next to them.
Between 18 and 24 months, many children begin climbing out of their cribs. This can be dangerous, as even a short fall can lead to broken bones or head injuries, especially if the area around the crib isn’t carpeted. It also disrupts your sleep. However, even if your 22-month-old can get out of his crib, he may not be ready for a toddler bed.
Depending on your toddler’s size and determination, setting the crib mattress on its lowest level may keep him in the crib for now. Be sure to remove the bumper and any toys or blankets he could use to boost himself over the side rails.
If that doesn’t work, you might try a crib tent (an attachment that prevents climbing). Or it may be time to transition to a toddler-size bed with side rails (some cribs convert to a toddler bed), or onto a futon or mattress on the floor. Initially, you might have a hard time keeping your toddler in bed. However, once the novelty of his new sleeping arrangements wears off, it should get easier.
Social and Emotional Development
Goals, frustration, and challenges
This month, you may notice a cognitive leap in your toddler: goal-setting. Your child is beginning to have clear ideas about what he wants to accomplish, like riding his tricycle down a specific path or completing a puzzle in one sitting. He’ll be invested in these activities, feeling pleased when successful and frustrated when not.
Praising his attempts, not just accomplishments, helps him learn to cope with disappointments. If he’s struggling and on the verge of tears, you might say, “I know it’s hard to get that shoe on, and you’re trying really hard,” or “You look mad. Can I help you?” Mix challenging activities with those that boost your child’s sense of pride, such as stacking chunky blocks or helping you water plants.
Try not to rush to your child’s rescue if he’s mildly frustrated. Jumping in too quickly can foster dependence and diminish his confidence. Your challenge is to balance your natural desire to help and protect your child with his need to tackle new tasks independently.
Due to your child’s willpower and strong opinions, power struggles seem to lurk around every corner. How can you avoid them or at least make them more manageable?
Distraction is key. Since your 22-month-old’s attention span is probably only ten minutes or less, redirecting him or injecting silliness into a standoff can help him move on to something else with minimal fuss. Sometimes, picking up your child and moving to another room — especially outdoors — can quickly change his mood.
An especially stubborn toddler might go along with the distraction but then remember the original issue and pick up right where he left off. Even so, the ploy can buy you time to calm yourself and think about how to handle the situation.
Interrupting and ordering
Interruptions are your child’s way of asking for your attention. They’re annoying but effective! A toddler most often interrupts when parents seem to disappear for long periods, such as during a phone call. Saying “just a minute” rarely works because your 22-month-old has no concept of time, and even a minute can feel like an eternity.
You might also notice she sounds bossy these days. Mostly, she’s experimenting with how her voice affects others. She might yell, “Stop!” when you start singing your favorite song. It’s not that she really wants you to stop singing; she may just be interested in your response. If she demands, “Help me!” when she’s playing with a toy, you’re seeing a significant developmental leap. Rather than just throwing a toy she can’t operate, she can now ask you to help her figure it out.
“Look!” is another frequent command. Usually, this signals a need for your approval. She may want you to compliment one of her scribbles or block towers, or simply recognize that she put on her own socks. Praising her achievements will give her the confidence to keep trying new things on her own — possibly minimizing those interruptions.
When you’re interrupted, do a quick check to make sure she doesn’t need anything besides attention, like a fresh diaper. If it’s just attention, don’t give in right away; it only teaches your child that interrupting is socially acceptable and effective. But do keep your expectations realistic. A two-minute phone conversation? Fine. Half an hour? Too long for a toddler.
Use your toddler’s bossy behavior as a way to teach her to say “please” and “thank you.” For example, when she says “Help,” teach her to say “Help, please!” When she says “Stop,” ask her to explain why she wants you to stop. Although your toddler probably doesn’t have the vocabulary to give you a real explanation, you may be surprised at how well she expresses herself.
To keep the attention-seeking at bay, try to remain present with your child by timing your social calls and screen time for when she’s napping or deeply engaged in play. When you’re busy, try to maintain contact by ruffling her hair and looking over and smiling at her.
Expressing love and cooperating
Your toddler may delight you and a few other special people in her life by showering you with affection, like freely hugging and kissing you. She may not fully understand cooperation, but she recognizes that it makes you happy when she does — she may come when called or help put away books and toys when you suggest it.
Other children go through a standoffish phase around this age. If yours isn’t particularly affectionate or cooperative, be patient. Keep in mind that this can be a confusing time for toddlers. They have many feelings but can’t always express them with words.
If your toddler has begun to reject your hugs and kisses or doesn’t want to cooperate, there may be a reason. Is there a new baby at home? Have you been working late or traveling? Your toddler may be overwhelmed by her feelings but unable to tell you. Try asking her questions about how she’s feeling (“Are you angry with Daddy about something? Do you not like your new daycare? Would you like to spend more time with me?”), even if her answers hurt you. She’s just trying to make sense of her emotions.
Whining and jealousy
If your child has started whining, it’s probably because he’s figured out that when he gets frustrated, he can get your attention with an increasingly cranky, high-pitched voice. He doesn’t mean to be annoying; he just wants attention or to get his way. Experience has probably taught him that whining works.
This is an age when toddlers feel possessive about their parents (even if there aren’t any other children in the house). It’s normal for toddlers to be jealous of a new baby in the house. Besides whining, your older child may revert to behaviors you haven’t seen in some time, such as thumb-sucking or using a pacifier. Your toddler may also enjoy pretending to act like a baby as his imagination skills are rapidly growing right now.
To change his whining and address his jealousy, try these strategies:
- Stay calm: When your child whines, keep your own voice calm and quiet. Children learn from imitation.
- Give attention: Whining is often a plea for attention. Take a moment to look your child in the eye, address his need, and let him know when you can attend to his request. Keep the wait reasonable for a toddler — just a few minutes.
- Avoid triggers: If your child begs for cookies in the supermarket, feed him a snack before you go.
- Spend one-on-one time: If you have a new baby at home, give your 22-month-old some one-on-one time to make him feel special.
- Involve your toddler: When you’re caring for the baby, let your older child hold towels or soap the baby’s tummy. You may be surprised by how much he can — and is willing to — help.
For more tactics that work, see our article on whining.
Hygiene: Washing Hands
Hand-washing is the most effective way to protect your family from illnesses such as coronavirus, colds, and flu. Teaching your child this crucial skill can reduce germs in your home and simplify life.
Place a step stool by the sink so your child can reach the faucet, and demonstrate how to turn it on and off. Since fine motor skills are still developing, your child will need assistance and supervision with this task for some time.
Show your child how to thoroughly lather their hands with soap and then rinse them. It takes 20 seconds of scrubbing to eliminate germs. To ensure your child soaps up long enough, have them rub their hands while you sing the alphabet song, rinsing when you finish. To prevent scalding, set your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, begin teaching your child to cough or sneeze into their elbow instead of the air or their hands, though mastering this may take some time.
