Your baby 18 to 24 months

By now your toddler will be walking, talking and taking in everything around him. He will run faster, speak more clearly and think for himself. You will see a rapid development in his ability to reason and work things out for himself.

•   What your baby can do
•   Language development
•   How you can help
•   Toys for this stage
•   Developmental tests

•   Understand that other people and even toys like his teddy are different and therefore enjoy play that involves make believe and pretend
•   Begin to understand the concept of time and ideas like later, tomorrow, soon, after tea
•   Begin to help dress himself but not yet able to deal with buttons or zips. To avoid frustration dress him in the simplest clothes he can pull off himself
•   He may want to brush his own hair or try to clean his own teeth
•   He can help you and often likes to do the same as adults; he will try to sweep up a mess with his own dustpan and brush
•   Turns pages in a book, three or four at a time
•   He may now discover he can run as well as walk. Prepare for scraped knees!

Language begins to develop rapidly now and he will take pleasure in learning and saying new words.

•   He will put two words together such as ‘daddy gone’ or ‘shoes off’
•   He may have his own idiosyncratic words that you and he understand but others don’t
•   He will begin to use language in make-believe play

•   Accept and respond to his nonsense words, but repeat the word correctly in response. For example, Baby: ‘Geddy’. You: ‘Here’s your teddy’
•   Ask questions when you are looking at books together: ‘Can you see the dog?’, ‘What’s this here?’
•   Send him on simple errands; he’ll enjoy getting it right and being helpful. ‘Can you find your hairbrush over there and bring it to me?’

•   Make believe toys: imitating and pretending will encourage language skills, thinking through and sorting out ideas and social skills. Toy versions of adult household tools are fun but toddlers are usually happy to use imaginary props or to borrow yours - you’ll need to check for safety first
•   Role play toys: toys which allow your toddler to be in charge of his world. For example a bus with people to put in and take out, a doll to put in a buggy, a few plastic plates and cups to feed the teddies. This organising allows him to experiment with how the world works and to be in control for a while
•   Crayons: chunky wax crayons are easy to grip and they make a mark no matter how they are held. Initially your toddler will grab a crayon in his fist and make lines from side to side. Up and down lines, dots and circles all come later. It’s the joy of producing a mark, not what it looks like, that matters
•   Balls: large soft balls to kick or throw. A beach ball or foam ball is ideal. Just as with everything else, the more fun practice he has, the quicker he’ll develop his skills
•   Dressing up clothes: dressing up is a fun way of exploring what it’s like to be someone else. Old hats, scarves, bags and jumble sale finds are enough to inspire a good game
•   Ride on toys: he will now be able to sit astride a four-wheeled riding toy and maintain his balance while he pushes himself along with his feet

The timing and the range of these tests varies from one health authority to another. Your health visitor will be able to tell you what happens where you live.

The 18 to 24 month test includes:

•   Hearing and speech tests
•   Tests of dexterity possibly including the use of building blocks
•   An assessment of social development

Some health visitors will formally ‘test’ your baby, others will watch him at play and ask you questions about his development.

In addition to these reviews your health visitor will encourage you to have your baby’s height and weight measured regularly at your local child health clinic. These measurements give you and your health visitor a good indication of how your baby is developing, so that any problems can be identified early on, and the appropriate help sought if necessary.