A physical growth spurt around this time might result in a surge of energy and an increase in temper tantrums. Your toddler enjoys taking things out and putting them back. While she isn’t able to kick a ball yet, she’ll have fun rolling one. Your child may begin to show interest in playing alongside (though not directly with) other children. A combination of babbling, two-word sentences, expressive tone, and body language communicates a lot for your toddler.
Physical Development
A Growth Spurt
This month, you may notice a significant growth spurt in your toddler’s physical development. Your child is likely to become more confident on his feet, enjoy climbing on furniture, and be able to throw a ball underhand. He can also retain a clear memory of an object even after it’s out of sight, making games like hide-and-seek with a favorite toy particularly engaging.
On days when your toddler’s abundant energy feels overwhelming, try embracing it instead of resisting. Turn on some music, dance together, and create new dance steps. For more ideas, check out our list of toddler activities.
Solving Puzzles and Increasing Dexterity
Your toddler is curious about what’s behind, under, and inside everything. Unlike a few months ago, he now wants to put items back after emptying closets and cupboards, attempting to see how everything fits (though it may not look exactly as it did before).
Currently, gross motor skills develop faster than fine motor skills because an 18-month-old typically doesn’t stay still long enough for activities requiring significant dexterity. However, a few activities will capture her attention: scribbling with crayons or finger-painting, stacking blocks, turning knobs on doors and cupboards, and pushing buttons on phones, TVs, and stereo equipment. She might also enjoy sliding large wooden beads onto a string.
An 18-month-old is fascinated by fitting things inside other things. Shape sorters, nesting boxes, and simple wooden puzzles (where whole objects fit into matching slots, not jigsaw puzzles) will captivate him. A sign of increasing dexterity is the ability to hold a cup and drink from it without spilling.
Keep some toys in the back of your car to make park trips more enjoyable. A large beach ball or a bigger exercise ball is fun to roll across the grass and play with. At this stage, toddlers can’t quite kick balls—they try but usually end up walking into them. Your toddler might also be able to push or pull a small wagon or similar toy and pedal a tricycle or “big wheel.” In winter, channel some of his energy by stomping in puddles or having a snowball fight, aiming the snowballs at trees or telephone poles instead of each other.
Language and Cognitive Development
Toilet Training
Many experts suggest that 18 months is too early to start toilet training, while some grandparents claim, “We potty trained you at 1!” Who’s right? It depends on the child. Some might be ready to start the process now. However, before initiating this significant transition, look for signs of readiness.
The sensory awareness necessary for a toddler to recognize the need to empty his bladder and bowels and “hold it” until reaching the bathroom is complex. The understanding 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 relaxed approach is best. Toddlers learn by imitation, so let your child copy what you do in the bathroom. Allow her to sit fully clothed on an adult or toddler toilet seat to get used to the idea of sitting on the potty. If your toddler has a favorite doll or stuffed animal, pretend it’s using the bathroom too, which may encourage your child to try it out. Keep your expectations realistic; it may be another year before she’s ready for full toilet training.
Building Vocabulary and Communication
Your 18-month-old likely still engages in a lot of babbling, imitating adult conversations, but her vocabulary will expand rapidly over the coming months. You’ll increasingly hear clear words amid the chattering.
He has begun to realize that every toy, animal, person, and object has a name, and he relies on you for labels. He frequently points at pictures in books and asks, “What’s that?” or points repeatedly until you name it for him. He understands many more words than he can say and is storing this information for later use.
At 18 months, most children can speak a dozen or more words clearly. Besides “Mama” and “Dada,” favorite words often include “bye-bye,” “milk,” “cookie,” “car,” “oh!,” and “my.” Many 18-month-olds can also link two words together to form simple sentences like “All gone,” “Want ball,” or “Me up.”
Tone is very expressive, and your 18-month-old quickly learns its significance. Since his vocabulary is limited, he uses a mix of simple words, inflection, and body language to communicate. For instance, when he says, “COOKIE,” you know by his tone that he means, “I want a cookie – now!”
For every chatterbox, there is a relatively quiet child. It’s too early to worry about a late talker, but if your child doesn’t speak at least 15 words by now, consider consulting your doctor. They might recommend seeing a speech therapist to rule out any problems.
Many 18-month-olds also start referring to themselves by name. It will be a few months before your child can use pronouns (other than the common “my”).
At this stage, it’s better to praise what your toddler can say rather than correcting “mistakes.” For example, if your child says, “Want cacka,” don’t correct him by saying, “No, say ‘cracker.'” Instead, say, “Okay! Here’s a cracker!” Modeling the correct use of a word helps kids learn faster than correction. Not being constantly corrected will boost your 18-month-old’s self-confidence and eagerness to learn and try out new words.
Listening to children’s music together is a great way to enhance your child’s listening skills, and you may be surprised by how many words she picks up from the songs.
Memory
Between 18 and 24 months, toddlers begin to think about things that aren’t present. He knows his shoes are in the closet and will fetch them if asked. He might stand in front of the pantry and ask for a cracker, knowing they are there even though he can’t see them. To test this ability, play a basic version of Concentration. Hide a favorite toy under two or three blankets. He won’t be deterred when he removes the first layer and the toy isn’t visible—he’ll keep searching and enjoy the game of finding hidden objects.
Behavioral Health and Development
Temper Tantrums, Sharing, and Comfort Objects
Some days it might feel like the smallest things trigger your toddler’s tantrums. Serving her morning milk in the “wrong” cup might lead to it being thrown at you. Or insisting she wear boots when it’s raining could result in a screaming fit because she wants to go barefoot. The triggers may vary; she could be tired, angry, or frustrated by an inability to complete a task, such as trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.
Tantrums often occur at inconvenient times, such as when you’re in a hurry to leave the house, in the middle of grocery shopping, or waiting at the doctor’s office. These situations typically emotionally overload a toddler and make them feel like they don’t have your full attention.
Being aware of tantrum triggers can help you prevent many of them with minor adjustments or a bit of planning. For example, wake up 15 minutes earlier to avoid rushing in the morning. Schedule grocery shopping when your child is well-rested and fed, and bring a favorite book or stuffed animal to doctor visits to keep her calm. Remember, occasional tantrums are a normal part of toddlerhood. When your child is upset, stay calm, stay close, and use simple phrases to name her feelings, like, “You feel sad,” or “You feel mad that we have to leave the park.”
Sharing is another challenge at this age. Toddlers don’t grasp the concept of “yours”; everything is “mine!” They struggle with sharing, taking turns, or understanding why their behavior might upset others.
You can help your child learn to share by praising her when she gives a toy to another child or lets another toddler use the slide first. Point out examples of sharing in books or videos. Avoid scolding her when she doesn’t want to share; acknowledging how difficult it is can sometimes make her more willing. Patience is key, as other parents of toddlers face the same challenge.
A favorite stuffed toy can be a great comfort to a toddler, along with soothing habits like twirling hair, rocking, or sucking a thumb. Most children outgrow these behaviors by age 4, so there’s usually no need to intervene now.
Crib or Bed?
There’s no perfect time to move your child to a big-kid bed. Some families need to make the switch to free up the crib for a new baby. If so, start the process several months before the baby arrives so your toddler doesn’t associate the new sibling with losing his bed. Others keep the crib until their child is about 3.
Avoid making the move too early if you can. Your child, who slept well in the crib, might start waking up during the night in a bed and getting up whenever she likes. Many experienced parents recommend keeping a child in a crib as long as possible.
If your child starts climbing out of the crib, you have a safety issue. Make sure his room is safe and toddler-proof the rest of the house. Consider installing a doorknob cover or a safety gate at the bedroom door to keep him secure.
Here are some options for transitioning to a bed:
- Crib mattress on the floor: This prevents falls.
- Toddler bed: Smaller and lower to the floor, it’s a good transition from the crib. If you have a convertible crib, just lower the mattress and remove a side rail.
- Regular bed: Replace the crib with a bed, using a bed rail if you’re concerned about falls. You can also place a twin mattress on the floor initially to ease the transition. This is good for active sleepers and taller children.
New Challenges: Public Tantrums and Willfulness
An 18-month-old is focused on succeeding at various tasks, which often involves testing herself and you. Failure, whether due to her own limitations or your intervention, can be very frustrating. “No” becomes a frequently used word for both of you.
As your child’s confidence in her abilities grows, so does her willfulness. Your job is to discern when to stop her for safety reasons (e.g., being near a hot stove) and when to let her try, even if it takes extra time (e.g., putting on sneakers). Discouraging attempts can make her unwilling to try new things in the future.
To avoid public tantrums, keep outings low-key. Don’t try to pack too many errands into one trip, especially near nap or meal times. Keep visits to stimulating places, like stores, short. If a tantrum occurs, and it’s too stressful to wait it out, take her to the car.
If both parents work outside the home, your toddler might be accustomed to morning goodbyes and rarely protests. However, picking him up at the end of the day might result in a tantrum. Despite these challenges, this age also marks the beginning of more cooperative and caring behaviors in many toddlers.
Social and Emotional Development
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, and the next, you’re rejected and only the other parent will do. This can be hurtful, but try not to take it personally. Toddlers often snub one parent and favor the other for no apparent reason.
Sometimes, a business trip or other separation might trigger this behavior—a snub can be your child’s way of saying, “I don’t like it when you go away.” Don’t make a big deal out of it or insist that your child kiss and make up. Avoid trying to win back favor with gifts, as this sets a bad precedent.
Your best approach is to 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 might have your toddler in constant motion, resisting stopping even for sleep. Yet, sometimes, a child who can walk perfectly well will want to be carried—a lot.
Consider the circumstances. In public, your child may feel small and vulnerable or fear getting lost. He might be genuinely tired or crave attention and affection. Carry him if you want, 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 by holding your hand, which can make her feel more secure. Negotiate a bit: “Let’s walk holding hands until the next stoplight.”
Making Friends
Now that your child is walking and talking, you can expect her to show more interest in establishing relationships with other people, especially children her age. However, though she wants to interact with peers, she still regards them more as curiosities than playmates. If your child pushes, pokes, or hits her playmates, don’t worry that she’s anti-social. Be patient and expose her to a variety of social situations—the more opportunities 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 around the same age as yours and plan regular meetups. Fun outings for kids this age include trips to hands-on children’s museums, playgrounds, petting zoos, and any place where toddlers can run around freely. Just remember that for at least the next few months, even when your 18-month-old has playdates, he’s more likely to engage in parallel play than play directly with his friends.
Health
Sun Protection
Early sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life, and all sun exposure damages and ages the skin. Therefore, it’s crucial to protect your child’s skin regardless of the weather. Use sunscreen, dress her in lightweight clothing, ensure she wears a hat and sunglasses, and keep her in the shade as much as possible.
Choose a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher that offers broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays (check the label for this information). Some experts recommend using “physical block” or “chemical-free” sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These types of sunscreen provide broad-spectrum coverage, are not absorbed by the skin, and offer protection immediately upon application. If you opt for a chemical sunscreen, which requires absorption by the skin to work effectively, apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure for optimal protection.
Reapply sunscreen every couple of hours when you’re outdoors and every time your child comes out of the water, regardless of what the label says.
Calcium
Don’t worry if your child suddenly decides she dislikes milk. This behavior is often a way for toddlers to assert their independence. Continue offering milk without forcing her to drink it. Ensure she’s getting enough calcium by including other dairy products in her diet, such as cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. You can also disguise milk in shakes or puddings (in moderation).
Fortified soy milk is another option. Check with an expert to determine the best type of soy milk for toddlers.
