Your Child’s Second Year

Your child is growing and changing rapidly during their second year of life! It may seem like just yesterday they were a tiny bundle of joy completely reliant on you for all their needs. But now your baby is growing up, and they’ll be excited to show you all the brand-new skills they learn as they get more and more independent.

It can be hard to keep track of all the different milestones they are hitting. That’s why we have put together this handy guide, outlining the developmental milestones your child should reach between their first and second birthdays. Plus, we’ll give you some tips on how you can help your child achieve their milestones.

And remember, every child is different. What comes easily to one child may take another child a little bit more practice, and that’s okay! If your child isn’t reaching their milestones by the ages listed below, they may just need a little more time and support. You can always talk to the caring pediatric therapists at More to Say, LLC if you have any concerns about your child’s development.

Your Child by 15 Months

After the exciting changes during your child’s first year, they’ll be ready to put their new skills to the test and learn even more about the world around them.

By fifteen months, your little one is on the move, eagerly exploring the world around them. As your 15-month-old becomes more mobile, they might start to:

  • Walk well without holding on to things for balance.
  • Try to climb things like stairs or furniture.

Around fifteen months, babies often turn into little chatterboxes, trying to express their needs and curiosities. During this stage, listen closely, as your child may start to:

  • Follow simple directions when you use words and a gesture (like saying “Give me the ball,” and holding out your hand).
  • Point to things to ask for them or ask for your help.
  • Use a couple of words beyond “mama” and “dada” (such as “bye-bye” or “uh-oh”).
  • Look at an object (like a favorite toy or food) when you call it by name.

By fifteen months, your child’s brain is buzzing with activity as they try to understand the world around them. Your little one’s brain is rapidly developing, and they might now begin to:

  • Enjoy stacking small objects like blocks.
  • Imitate the way you hold things like a book or a toy phone.
  • Understand routines that you have in place, such as getting a bath after dinner.

Your child is developing a deeper sense of self and relationship with others. At 15 months, it’s a joy to observe as your toddler possibly starts to:

  • Clap when they are excited or happy.
  • Show affection to you and other trusted people through hugs and kisses.
  • Hug stuffed toys, dolls, or other comfort objects.

By fifteen months, mealtimes might be a mix of messy fun and new flavors for your child. At this stage, your child may:

  • Show comfort with using a cup instead of a bottle.
  • Be able to successfully drink from a straw.
  • Try to bite utensils and cups.
  • Show interest in trying new foods like fruits, yogurt, noodles, etc.

Your Child by 18 Months

After the first year and a half of excitement, your child has a better understanding of how things around them work and will try to handle more things on their own.

By eighteen months, your child’s motor skills are blossoming, allowing them to interact with their environment in new and exciting ways. They may:

  • Like to scribble with large crayons, markers, or chalk.
  • Walk without holding on to the furniture or your hands.
  • Like to press buttons and turn knobs.

Around this age, the world of language expands significantly for your child, giving them more ways to express their thoughts and feelings. At this stage, your child may:

  • Know and use more than fifty words.
  • Start stringing words together (like “my ball” or “blue truck”).
  • Follow simple directions without hand gestures, like “Put that down.”
  • Point at things to show you and even try to name the thing they’re pointing at.

With their ever-growing curiosity, eighteen-month-olds are starting to approach problems with a newfound level of determination and ingenuity. As your child reaches this stage, they may:

  • Copy the things you do, like wiping down surfaces or talking on the phone.
  • Start playing more complex pretend games, such as feeding their favorite stuffed toys with a spoon or sharing their snacks.
  • Point to things that are close by in answer to your questions (such as “Where are your toes?” or “Where is your teddy bear?”).

Your eighteen-month-old is becoming more aware of their own emotions and those of others, leading to richer interactions and relationships. At this stage, you can expect your child to:

  • Hold out their hands for you to wash.
  • Start saying “no” to things they don’t like or don’t want.
  • Look at you for reactions when they do something.
  • Mimic your facial expressions and body language as a game.

Mealtime is becoming a more intricate dance of flavors and techniques as your child gets more involved in the process of feeding themselves. They may:

  • Show a lot of interest in eating with a spoon and fork and may be successful at feeding themselves with little or no mess.
  • Refuse some foods while enjoying others.
  • Enjoy a wider variety of foods.

Your Child by 21 Months

Your child is almost two, and they have come a long way since their first birthday! At this stage, your little one’s on the move, and their vocabulary and emotional intelligence is flourishing.

By 21 months, your little one’s motor skills are refining, and they’re becoming more agile and coordinated in their movements. By now, your little one might be showing some new physical abilities and be able to:

  • Kick a ball without falling over.
  • Run short distances without falling over.
  • Jump with both feet off the ground.
  • Climb on play structures.

At this stage, your child’s vocabulary is blossoming, and their curiosity about the world is evident. They may start to:

  • Tell you stories or talk about their day.
  • Adding new vocabulary words to their repertoire every day.
  • Listen to and sing along with familiar songs.
  • Ask for things by name.

Your 21-month-old’s brain is like a sponge, soaking up information and making connections about the world around them. Around this time, you’ll likely notice them start to:

  • Recognize familiar things in books and pictures.
  • Sort items by type (like all the toy cars together, all the stuffed animals together).
  • Recognize patterns, like the order of colors on a toy or the sequence of a familiar song.
  • Imitate you or other people they know when playing.

Emotionally, your child is growing more complex, seeking both independence and reassurance from you. At this stage, your child is beginning to:

  • Play with other children, rather than just next to them.
  • Show a wider range of emotions, such as frustration, excitement, jealousy, or affection.
  • Understand and try to follow simple rules.

Mealtimes with your 21-month-old might be messy, but they’re also a time of growing independence and exploration. When it comes to mealtime, expect them to:

  • Use utensils with more control and less mess.
  • Want to help you with meal preparation or baking.
  • Have favorite meals or snacks and ask for them by name.

Your Child by 24 Months

By the age of two, your child has accomplished so much! It’s amazing how fast they grow and learn.

By 24 months, your little one is becoming more physically active and coordinated. They may surprise you with their newfound mobility and agility. At 24 months, many toddlers showcase impressive physical feats and:

  • Go up and down stairs while holding onto the railing.
  • Try to balance on one foot.
  • Throw and catch a ball.
  • Try to dress and undress themselves with minimal help.

As your child approaches 24 months, their vocabulary and communication skills are rapidly expanding, paving the way for more interactive conversations with you. Around this age, your child’s verbal skills are blossoming, and they might:

  • Use more words than you can count.
  • Say two-word sentences or questions most of the time, like “More juice?” or “Big truck!”
  • Start to understand more abstract ideas, like “later” or “after dinner.”
  • Enjoy talking about what they see and do.

At 24 months, your child’s cognitive abilities are blossoming, allowing them to understand and explore their environment in more complex ways. As your child’s mind continues to develop, you’ll likely notice them:

  • Follow two-part directions, like “Get your coat and bring it here.”
  • Enjoy puzzles and games that involve matching or sorting.
  • Start to understand the concept of time, like “morning” versus “night.”

Nearing the age of two, your child is becoming more socially aware and is developing deeper emotional connections with those around them. Emotionally and socially, your two-year-old may:

  • Try to share and take turns, with some guidance.
  • Show affection and understanding towards pets or younger siblings.
  • Understand and talk about their own feelings.
  • Show a sense of humor and enjoy silly games or jokes.

With two years under their belt, your child is becoming a more independent eater, ready to explore a diverse range of foods and flavors. In the realm of eating, expect them to:

  • Eat most foods, but still require supervision to avoid choking hazards.
  • Use utensils with confidence.
  • Communicate when they are hungry or full.
  • Help with simple cooking or baking tasks.

How You Can Help Your Child Reach Their Two-Year Milestones

Guiding your two-year-old through the thrilling, sometimes challenging, developmental leaps is an incredibly rewarding task. At this age, they’re curious explorers, keen learners, and are building independence at every turn. To best foster their growth and confidence, consider these tips:

  • Maintain a consistent daily routine for a sense of security.
  • Engage in meaningful conversations, fostering their expanding vocabulary.
  • Allow them some autonomy during meals to recognize hunger and fullness cues.
  • Ensure they get a good night's sleep, aiming for 11-14 hours.
  • Promote outdoor activities to enhance physical and cognitive development.
  • Introduce simple chores, nurturing a sense of responsibility.
  • Encourage creative tasks like drawing or building, supporting motor skills.

Remember, your child is growing and changing every day, and every child will have their own timeline for reaching their milestones. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, always consult the trusted pediatric specialists at More to Say, LLC.

Thank you for letting us be part of your child’s journey to growth and learning. Here’s to many more milestones in the years to come!

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Are you worried about your child’s development? Fill out the form below or call us at (203) 828-6790 to schedule an evaluation at our Branford, CT, or Oxford, CT, clinic today!

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