13 - 24 Months of Age

13 Months | 15 Months | 18 Months | 24 Months

13 Months
By now, your baby should:

* pull to stand,cruise
* walk with support
* point
* say 1-3 words
* use "mama" and "dada" correctly

-Talk, read and play with your baby.
-Praise desired behavior.
-Set limits. Be firm.

-Prevent accidents.
-Safe-proof your house.
-Stair, water and car safety.
-Use fences, gates, latches.
-Keep Poison Control Center Telephone Number at hand.

15 Months
Now your child should:

* walk alone
* crawls up the stairs
* stacks 2 cubes
* self-feeds with fingers
* 3 - 6 words; jargon
* points to 1 - 2 body parts
* removes clothes
* understands simple commands
* gives and takes a toy

-Talk, read, sing and talk with baby.
-Show affection.
-Discipline.

-Prevent accidents.
-Poison-proof your home
-Protect against falls. Close windows. Use window guards.
-Never leave your baby alone near any body of water.
-Prevent burns.
-Be aware of danger of plastic bags.

18 Months
Now your child should:

* walks up stairs with one hand held
* sits in chair
* kicks and throws a ball
* stacks 3 - 4 cubes
* 4 - 10 words
* may tell 2 or more wants
* feeds self. Uses spoon
* imitates crayon stroke
* can pucker lips and kiss.

-Read simple stories to your child regularly.
-Play games.
-Praise. Show affection.
-Establish a regular bedtime.
-Have a short bedtime ritual.
-Night awakening and night fears not unusual.

-Protect against falls.
-Warn against unsupervised play near street, in driveway.
-Never leave the child unattended.
-Prevent electrical injuries.
-Water safety.

24 Months
Your child can

* climb and descend steps holding hand
* jump, run
* stack 5 - 6 cubes
* 50+ words
* 2 word phrases
* use I, me, you
* refer to self by name
* ask "What's that?
* imitate a circular stroke

-Use picture books.
-Talk at meals.
-Read regularly.
-Peers contact in play groups.
-Praise good behavior.
-Avoid struggles over eating.
-Discourage snacks.
-Move to a regular bed.

-Your child is very active now and has no idea of danger.
-Prevent falls, burns, toxic ingestions, electrical injuries, drowning.
-Supervision when playing near the street.
-Do not leave him alone at home or in the car.