Twelve Months to Fifteen Months

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Welcome to toddlerhood! Please remember that every child grows and develops at his or her own rate and that no two children are exactly alike at a given age.

Motor Development

• Toddler can now stand alone and some are even walking or beginning to walk. Over the next three months, you will observe your toddler adding maneuvers to his walking abilities -- such as stopping to wave or carrying toys in his hands while he walks.
• Toddler will begin to climb steps and back down them again, sliding down from one step to the next. If you have stairs in your house, a good safe way to teach toddler to descend them is to “sit down and turn around.” This way he can master sliding down the steps feet first on his stomach, thus minimizing the occurrence of falls. Of course, he should never be left unsupervised to perform this task and all stairways should have gates to protect your child.
• Toddler may begin to climb out of his playpen or crib.
• Because toddler is now able to move under his own power, he may become impatient to being held or cuddled. In fact, it is at this age that toddler shows dislike for all forms of restraint.

Fine Motor Development

• Mouthing objects has almost disappeared in your toddler. He now explores objects with his hands, poking, banging, turning and twisting them to study them at all angles.
• Toddler is able to offer toys and release them voluntarily. He enjoys putting small objects into a container and taking them out again. In fact, he’ll repeat this game for long periods of time.
• Toddler is able to draw straight lines with a crayon or pencil.
• He can hold his cup and spoon and is able to feed himself fairly well, if he has been allowed to practice.
• Toddler may be able to pull his socks off.
• Toddler likes to open things and empty them to discover everything that is inside. He can empty anything he can get into (drawers, cabinets, bookshelves, hampers, purses, trash cans, etc.). Now parents become conscious of the “strange silence” which signals to them that toddler is quite fascinated with something he has gotten into and that something is usually a “NO NO!” Rule of thumb: You name it and toddler will find it if it is within his reach.

Language

• Toddler is very receptive to language and understands much more than he is able to express. Toddler looks in the appropriate place when asked “Where is Daddy?” or “Where is Doggie?” etc.
• He says 3-6 words other than Mama or Dada and uses them with meaning (no-no, bye-bye, baby, hi) and jabbers with expression.
• By 15 months, toddler will be attempting to say any word he hears and will try very hard to make himself understood. He may even try nonverbal communication to get his ideas across. (Bringing a toy to his parent to indicate his desire to play).
• Toddler may now indicate his wants other than by crying, pointing and grunting.

Social Development

• Toddler is losing his fear of strangers and is alert and responsive to them if parents are near. However, he reacts quite sharply to separation from his mother and will then fear these strangers (eg. leaving him with a new sitter).
• Toddler loves an audience and enjoys applause. He will repeat an action over and over if it elicits this response from those around him.
• Toddler can express many emotions and recognizes them in others. He is affectionate to familiar people and reacts to each of his parents in a special way. He likes to interact with his parents and may observe him calling out to you early in the morning to be taken out of his crib or you may notice that he is dropping objects from his high chair intentionally to get you to interact with him.
• Toddler likes to look at books and is beginning to enjoy nursery rhymes. Pictures catch his attention but only briefly. Toddler likes the pages to keep turning and likes to help turn them. This tests YOUR skill in editing story lines!
• Toddler may help when getting dressed by pulling off his socks and shoes--sometimes a never-ending “game” throughout the day!
• Toddler enjoys experimenting with movable objects in his environment such as light switches, knobs and buttons. He has not yet learned to recognize danger. He is now able to begin to understand “NO NO.” Don’t be afraid to use it in a loud tone to get the point across, but be selective in its use so toddler learns its true meaning.

Learning

• Scribbles spontaneously with pencil or crayon
• Imitates housework
• Bounces to music
• Points to and names body parts
• May scream to show his power
• Fears may begin to develop
• Begins to dream--may awaken in the night crying
• Continue to talk to toddler about his environment. Point out and identify objects in his environment to increase his vocabulary. (Point out body parts while bathing or dressing him, name his clothing as you dress him, name the foods on his plate at mealtimes, etc.)

Age Appropriate Toys

• Push toys and pull toys
• Stacking rings, nesting cups, first set of blocks
• Toy telephone
• Soft drum
• Music--likes to listen and dance

Safety

• Your child should still be in a carseat for all rides in the car, however he may face the front if he is at least 20 pounds AND over one year.
• A child who can walk is apt to walk into streets--watch him closely in parking lots or yards not guarded by fences. Place gates at stairways.
• If still in a crib, mattress should be in its lowest position and all toys and bumper pads that can be used as steps to climb out should be removed.
• Make sure child cannot reach bottles, jars or containers with substances that are harmful to him. Keep your purse out of reach--especially if you keep medications inside.

Dental Care

• Now is the time to begin a regular program of careful dental care for your child. Your doctor can refer your child to a pedodontist for his first regular dental check-up to be done before age two-three years.
• At home, limit toddler’s intake of sticky sweets for snacks. Instead, offer fresh apple wedges or oranges.
• Brush your child’s teeth regularly. Now toddler loves to mimic you, so set a good example. You may want to incorporate toothbrushing into his bedtime and morning routine.
• Your child should be weaning from bottles to help protect his teeth.

Nutrition

• Following the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, you may now switch to WHOLE milk. Avoid using lowfat milk until after two years of age.
• By now toddler is eating three meals a day and may insist on self-feeding. He drinks from a cup with little assistance and is able to chew solid foods. It is after one year of age that your child can now be offered corn, honey, eggs and citrus fruits.

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