Sub-navigation

• Next »
• Back to features list »

Developmental milestones from 12 to 18 months

What’s happening at 12 months?

• At 12 months, about three quarters of toddlers are walking on their own, but it may still look a little unsteady. However, some children are as old as 17 or 18 months old before it happens.
• Your child’s growth rate is now slowing considerably and she’s eating less and losing baby fat.

What’s happening at 13 months?

• She’s now starting to communicate with you, using some words like “dada,” and “mama” or pulling at your clothes when she wants something.
• She’ll be experimenting with different objects and finding things out, like what happens when she drops the plastic cup or if she throws food on the floor.
• Without much memory, she’s still fascinated by repetition.
• Between the ages of 12 and 15 months your GP will offer immunisation for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and group C meningitis.

What’s happening at 14 months?

• By this age your toddler has mastered waving bye-bye, and activities like rolling a ball back and forth with an adult.
• Around 50% of toddlers are drinking from a cup.
• She’s very active and curious now, so cover plug sockets, lock low cupboards, and keep fragile items out of reach.
• Eating at this stage can be very messy, and she’s busy finding out what happens when she throws a spoon or a grape.
• Items like blankets and toys become a great source of comfort to your toddler at this age. They’re called “transitional objects,” and their use is positively encouraged by paediatricians.

What’s happening at 15 months?

• She likes playing games such as taking objects in and out of containers, and fitting things together, like building blocks.
• Her personality is becoming increasingly evident, so try and work out how she may be likely to respond to different circumstances.
• She now recognises that it’s her in the mirror and not ‘another baby’.
• Saying ‘no’ is a big developing theme at the moment, so try not using the word yourself too much to try and also reduce her usage of the word.

What’s happening at 16 months?

• At 16 months your toddler may have developed a range of abilities like scribbling and helping you around the house.
• She’ll enjoy games of peek-a-boo, stacking blocks, and body part games like “Where’s baby’s nose?”.
• She’s probably now happy to co-operate with dressing and has developed an interest in going up and down stairs, although she may not use them on her own for a few more months.
• Your toddler will still struggle to judge distances and dimensions, and may find this frustrating.
• Tantrums may also start to happen around this time, but remember it’s the only way she has to let off steam about the feelings she still finds it hard to articulate.

What is happening at 17months?

• Your toddler may now be achieving word combinations and brushing her teeth with your help.
• It’s a good time to start to work on your toddler’s manners, so demonstrate what you want to do.
• Say please if you want her to do something, and thank you if she does it.
• Toddlers at this stage are usually quite picky eaters, so keep your cooking simple and focus on bite-sized portions.
• She’s probably only sleeping once per day now.

What’s happening at 18 months?

• At 18 months your baby will probably be a very proficient walker, and can get up stairs and climb over your furniture.
• She’s developed physical co-ordination, so she’ll now try to kick a ball and will dance to music and push and turn buttons and knobs.