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Your baby’s second year is an incredible journey of discovery and development – here’s what to expect as they grow from curious toddler to confident explorer between 12 and 24 months.
After the first birthday, your baby’s weight and height gain will slow down.
In the second year, your baby will develop skills that will help them to become more independent.
At 12 months
Your baby will start walking but will need to hold your hand for support. They will also be able to pick up objects using their thumb and forefinger, so this is a good time to give them finger foods and encourage self-feeding.
The word “no” will make them stop doing what they are doing at this stage – but they may soon go back to doing what they were doing and not always listen to you. You may hear them say words like “mama” or “dada” to call out to you. Talk to them about what is happening around them so that they learn more words. Build their brain by playing games like peek-a-boo. They will enjoy such games because they can now look for hidden objects. Wave at them so that they can imitate you and learn to wave.
At 15 months
Your baby will start walking independently and exploring. Fortunately, they will also have separation anxiety, so they will stay close to you. They will dislike strangers but will enjoy saying “Hi” and “Bye” to them. Give them crayons, shape sorters and a soft ball so that they can practice their newly acquired skills – scribbling, classifying, matching and throwing. Teach them the names of a few body parts and they will love pointing to them and making you happy.
At 18 months
Your baby will learn how to walk backwards. They will be interested in learning how to get dressed and do household chores. Allow them to help you, but be prepared for a mess because they will also begin to love messy play. Teach them new words and animal sounds. Play simple physical games and roll the ball with them. Don’t expect them to share because they will be extremely possessive at this age.
At 22 months
They will love scribbling on paper and playing with clay and paint. Fortunately, they will also be able to learn how to wash and dry their hands. Give them blocks to build towers and large beads to string. They will learn faster now because they can follow simple instructions. They will have 15 or more words in their vocabulary. Listen to them so that they can use the words they know. And speak to them so that they learn more words. Separation anxiety will decrease and they will want to play near other children. They will not play with other children but will love to watch them play.
24 months
By the 2nd birthday your toddler will be able to run, jump, climb and kick. Hand dominance will start appearing and your toddler will be able to hold thick crayons between their thumb and fingers and draw a vertical line. Their vocabulary will expand and they will start using two-word sentences to communicate their needs. They will also start singing simple songs.
Visit your paediatrician regularly to ensure that your baby’s growth and development is on track. Report major red flags in development like not understanding the meaning of “no” by 15 months, not speaking even at 16 months, not walking by 18 months, and other such issues to your doctor. Remember, learning new skills is not easy. Expect your toddler to get upset and throw tantrums. Be patient and supportive throughout.
By
Dr. Debmita Dutta MBBS, MD
This post is also available in: English
