Toddler Developmental Milestones: 14 to 36 months

A toddler’s newly learned skills – such as walking, running and climbing – are considered to be developmental milestones, and these can vary significantly from child to child. For example, it is quite natural for a premature child to reach milestones slightly later than a child who was born at full-term.

So when you are reading this, please don’t take it as gospel! These are “rules of thumb” and you shouldn’t be concerned if your child isn’t hitting these milestones like clockwork. However, by the age of 2, differences should have evened out so if by then your toddler is extremely irritable, seldom smiles or makes few gestures or sounds then there is reason to be concerned. I imagine, though, that regular visits to the paediatrician will have already spotted early developmental problems by this stage anyway.

Back to these milestones. Once your toddler reaches the age of two, as hand-eye coordination improves, most toddlers enjoy activities such as puzzles, building bricks, scribbling and colouring. By the age of three, language skills develop rapidly. Reciting nursery rhymes, singing songs and reading books are especially suited to and exciting for a child of this age. Now let’s break it down a little further.

By the end of month 14 a child typically:

Takes two or three steps unassisted or may walk
If walking, may be learning to run
Stands alone well
Puts an object into a container
Stacks two bricks
Responds to one-step spoken commands without gestures
Speaks one to six words other than ‘ma-ma’ and ‘da-da’
Uses jargoning (sounds like a foreign language)

By the end of month 16 a child typically:

Walks well
Drinks from a cup
Scribbles
Points to items wanted
Communicates affection, pleasure and excitement
Begins to understand limits
Imitates activities

By the end of month 18 a child typically:

Runs
Enjoys climbing
Understands some sentences
Points to nose, eyes and mouth
Walks while carrying toys
Says at least a dozen words besides ‘ma-ma’ and ‘da-da’
Feeds self with a spoon or fork
Begins to join words
Bends over easily to pick up toys
Gains some control over bowel and bladder
Enjoys small riding toys
Shows a preference for certain toys
Finds it difficult to share
Explores away from parents and carers

By the end of month 20 a child typically:

Walks up steps
Speaks between six and 50 words
Refers to him/herself by name
Shows interest in caring for him/herself
Builds a tower of two to four bricks
Points to one or more body parts when asked
Points out pictures in a book
Removes some clothing

By the end of month 24 a child typically:

Jumps and runs well
Kicks and throws a ball
Goes up and down stairs by him/herself
Builds tower using six bricks
Identifies two to four pictures in a book by pointing
Identifies one item in a book with words
Speaks around 50 words (some variation is normal)
Can be understood half the time when speaking
Uses some two-word combinations
’Feeds’ dolls
Identifies some body parts
May brush teeth (with help)
Puts on a piece of clothing

By the end of month 30 a child typically:

Points to four identified pictures
Uses more than 50 single words
Combines words often
Follows a two-step verbal command
Names six body parts
Identifies one to four pictures verbally

By the end of 36 months a child typically:

Alternates feet when walking up and down steps
Dresses and undresses self (with marginal success)
Uses a pedal tricycle
Follows a two- or three-part command
Communicates with four- or five-word sentences
Uses pronouns
Most spoken words are comprehensible to others
Understands most speech
Interested in ‘pretend’ play
Socialises well with others
Is often ready to begin toilet training

Remember that your toddler is developing at an incredible rate. During these months and years you will watch him go from a tentative toddler to a confident kid with a growing awareness of his/her environment. He/she will gain new cognitive, emotional and physical skills as they transition from a dependent baby to an independent child. It’s an exciting time filled with new adventure… above all else, make sure you enjoy it as much as your toddler will!