Toddler Development Milestones

A general guide for what most toddlers learn to do from 1-2 years old in terms of social, communication and physical skills, and how you can best support their development.

MILESTONES

By 15 months, most toddlers will be able to:

• Give you a hug.
• Point to different body parts.
• Point to familiar items, people or toys when you name them.
• Drink from a cup, with some spills.
• Use a spoon.
• Follow basic instructions, such as “stand up” or “shoes on”.
• Try to help you when you are getting them dressed.
• Hold a pencil, crayon or pen and do some scribbles.
• Stack two blocks.

By 18 months, most toddlers will be able to:

• Understand their own name.
• Walk on their own and possibly run.
• Turn the pages of a book and point at the pictures.
• Stack three or four blocks.
• Use 10 or more common words but may have difficulty with pronunciation.
• Try to help you when you are undressing them.
• Sit in a small chair or try to get up into your chair.
• Go and get a toy from another room when asked.
• Pick up tiny objects like crumbs.
• Throw objects, like a ball.

By 24 months, most toddlers will:

• Start having tantrums.
• Display some separation anxiety when they are separated from you.
• Begin to feed themselves with a spoon.
• Be able to drink from a cup.
• Say 2-3 word sentences.
• Ask for “more”.
• Say “no” when asked a question.
• Copy you.
• Be able sit on their own in a small chair.
• Kick a ball.
• Walk around carrying larger objects.
• Possibly be able to walk backwards.
• Be climbing.
• Be starting to engage in pretend or imaginary play.

THINGS TO WATCH FOR

Speak to your GP if you notice that by 15 months your child:

• Doesn’t make eye contact with you.
• Has a lazy-eye (an eye that turns in or out), crossed eyes, or a squint.
• Doesn’t follow objects with their eyes.
• Isn’t interested in or responsive to sounds.
• Doesn’t respond to their name when called.
• Isn’t babbling.
• Isn’t using single words.
• Doesn’t make gestures like waving and pointing.
• Doesn’t seem to understand you.
• Doesn’t show emotions or feelings – is always ‘good’.
• Is unable to stand, even with support.
• Uses one hand noticeably more than the other.

Speak to your GP if you notice that by 18 months your child:

• Doesn’t say any single word with meaning.
• Has no interest in cause and effect games, such as shaking a toy to hear the sound or knocking over blocks to see them fall.
• Is not walking.
• Can’t follow simple instructions, like “come here” or “please sit down”.
• Doesn’t make gestures like waving and pointing.
• Doesn’t like to make eye contact with you or give you cuddles.
• Uses one hand noticeably more than the other.

Speak to your GP if you notice that by 24 months your child:

• Seems to have trouble seeing or hearing things.
• Doesn’t say any single word with meaning.
• Doesn’t make gestures like waving and pointing.
• Can’t follow simple instructions, like “come here” or “please sit down”.
• Doesn’t like to make eye contact with you or give you cuddles.
• Doesn’t display feelings or emotions.
• Doesn’t copy actions or repeat words.
• Doesn’t engage in pretend or imaginary play.
• Is unable to walk up and down stairs, even with support.
• Isn’t walking on their own.
• Can’t run.
• Finds it difficult to handle small objects, such as a pencil or crayon.
• Isn’t scribbling.
• Uses one hand noticeably more than the other.