North Star Pediatrics

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Fifteen Months to Eighteen Months

Please remember that every child grows and develops at his own rate and that no two children are exactly alike at a given age.

Motor Development

Toddler is now walking quite well alone using a rapid running-like walk with his feet spaced widely apart for balance. He is unable to turn around or stop suddenly. By 18 months, he will rarely fall. He can squat down smoothly and recover his standing position after stooping.
Toddler can walk sideways and does so when pulling a pull toy. When attempting to kick a ball, toddler steps on it instead of kicking it successfully.
Toddler is now able to creep upstairs on hands and knees. He is also quite a climber--on chairs, sofas, coffee tables, etc. He may even climb out of his stroller, crib or playpen.
You may observe your toddler constantly testing his own strength. He will see, for example, how big a box he can push or lift.

Fine Motor Development

Able to build a tower of 2-3 blocks.
Scribbles with a pencil or crayon in imitation.
Loves to turn pages in a book--often 2-3 pages at a time. He pats the pictures in the book and says “see, see!”
Can pick up a cup and put it down well. He uses a spoon well, but may still turn it upside down on the way to his mouth or as he puts it in his mouth.
May be able to put a round block into a round hole.

Language Development

At 15 months, your toddler may have a speaking vocabulary of 4-6 words, including names. By 18 months he may say 6-7 clear words and may start putting two words together (“stove hot”, “car bye-bye”). Toddler will continue to speak in jargon because his interest in naming objects gets ahead of his vocabulary. You may even hear him use actual words in the middle of his jargon speech.
At 15 months, toddler vocalizes and gestures to indicate his wants.
Later, in the next few months, you will notice a change in your toddler’s indication of wants. He becomes quite assertive and may use one word to make his want known (for example, “UP”).
Toddler is able to understand more than he can say. He can point to various body parts and familiar persons or toys when asked. He can follow simple commands or bring an object from another room on request.
When reading books with parents, toddler likes more to look at the pictures than to have the story read to him word for word. He prefers the reader to talk about the pictures.

Social Development

Toddler demands personal attention. He is still very anxious to interact with people if they follow him where he wants to go. If left alone for a short period of time (as in leaving the room), toddler will actively look for that adult for interaction.
Toddler is able to recognize the absence of familiar persons, but is easily diverted and entertained (as when left with a sitter).
Toddler likes to imitate adults by “reading” the newspaper and doing simple household chores (like dusting or folding laundry). He also enjoys imitating coughing, sneezing, blowing his nose.
Toddler responds appropriately to the emotional content of parents’ verbalization. When angry, he may start to hit parents, but doesn’t hit other adults. Toddler is not afraid to say no to his parents because the child trusts that the parents won’t retaliate. Toddler’s interpersonal skills are almost completely dominated by ideas of taking--not giving.
You may observe toddler becoming more demanding and assertive. Mood shifts will become noticeable. The same toddler who is happy, talkative and smiling at everyone one day may be willful, stubborn and negative the very next day.
Toddler enjoys chasing and being chased. He especially loves mild rough-housing.

Learning

Age Appropriate Toys

Toddler is still in the “put in, take out” stage. Therefore, nesting cups, boxes and bowls are still popular as well as stacking rings
Push/pull toys
Kiddie car or tyke bike
Rocking chair or rocking horse -- small enough for toddler
Shape sorting box
Dolls or stuffed animals to cuddle
Crayons -- large kindergarten size -- use with supervision
Word books
Hammer and peg bench
Rhythm toys
Hide and seek

Safety

Plug all unused electrical outlets with protective covers.
In the kitchen, keep hot foods and beverages, such as coffee or soup, away from table and counter edges.
Keep pot handles turned inward.
Keep objects from edges of counter tops.
Fry or boil foods on back burners.
Teach toddler that “hot” can hurt and be dangerous.
Outside: always supervise outside play. Toddler is able to wander great distances in short periods of time. He also innocently wanders into traffic and parking lots. Teach your toddler that streets are NOT playgrounds.
Block the top and bottom of stairs with gates. You may also want to use a gate in doorways you don’t want your toddler to enter.
Buy toys without small or moving parts that could come off and fit into toddler’s mouth.
Pull toys should have strong strings without loops that could slip over toddler’s head.
If child is able to climb out of his crib, consider moving him to a regular bed with a side rail to keep him from falling when climbing out of his crib.
If you have scatter rugs on bare floors, be sure they lie on skid-proof pads.
Cushion potentially head-splitting edges of low tables and fireplace hearths with foam tape.
Your child’s clothes dresser should be secured to the floor or wall to help prevent it from toppling over if your child climbs up the drawers.