Your Toddler: How They Grow
Unless otherwise indicated the pronoun he or she refers to either sex. We have chosen to alternate.
13-15 months
Teeth
If your child has not been to the dentist yet, then take him in the next three months. Whether he has teeth or not, this the best precaution you can take against dental disease, now or in the future. By the time your baby is 12 months he could have no teeth, four or eight teeth. When your baby is teething, he might develop a fever, sore throat, skin rashes or bowel problems - don't just put it down to teething! There is no medical evidence that these symptoms are related to teething, even though some doctors might believe it. These are symptoms of an illness that needs appropriate treatment.
Growth: Weight gain
In early 2006, the World Health Organisation issued new baby growth charts based on the normal growth of breastfed babies. Previously, weight gain had been measured against charts based on the growth of bottle-fed babies who grow at a different rate to breastfed babies. Babies classified as normal weight under the older guidelines may actually be overweight under the new guidelines. If you are told your breastfed baby is underweight, don't panic. First, find out which growth charts are being used for the calculations. If your baby has six to eight wet nappies a day, is bright-eyed and alert, and is meeting other developmental milestones then it is unlikely that there is a problem.
Speech
The day your baby says her first word is a red letter day - it can happen any time up to the age of two. If your child is making sounds but not words by the time she is two and a half, then it is time to consult your doctor or a speech therapist. Many babies will be using the words "mama" or "dada" some time between the age of 12 and 15 months.
Moving along
By 15 months many toddlers will be using their hands to push themselves up onto their feet. Some may be able to walk alone using their arms for balance. Your childs walking skills will develop daily and he will soon gain enough confidence to walk alone and maybe even start running. He may be able to kick a ball and he should be able to drink from a cup. If at any time you are worried about your child's progress talk to your local child health centre or your doctor.
Immunisation reminder
Measles, mumps, rubella and meningococcal C are on the National Immunisation Program for babies at 12 months. Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b may also be part of your baby's schedule. Your doctor, council program or health system should send you a reminder. Use this Immunisation Calculator to help determine what immunisations are due. Don't forget to take your child's Personal Health Record when you go.
16-18 months
Teeth
Your toddler should have four teeth by now, if not then you need to visit your dentist. The average toddler will have eight teeth and will get four more sometime in the next three to six months. If teething is uncomfortable, try rubbing ice on his gums or give him a cold teething ring before you try teething gels or paracetamol.
Caring for toddler's teeth is very important. We know that toddlers with decayed teeth are likely to develop decay in their permanent teeth. Be sure you know how to clean your toddler's teeth and that you do it at least twice a day. Sit your toddler on your lap facing away from you and gently brush his teeth with a toddler toothbrush. Toddlers don't need toothpaste and they generally dislike the taste of it.
Growth: Not eating enough?
It is normal to worry that your toddler is not eating enough. In the second year there is so much else to do, they are learning new things every day and they are also learning to say "no!" Here are two simple nutrition guidelines: (1) offer a variety of healthy foods every day; (2) keep sugary snacks off the menu as much as possible, offer juice and milk instead. Doing this will mean that your toddler will want to eat nutritious food when she is hungry. Some parents worry about their toddler eating too much, not too little. Obesity can be a worry. But following these two simple suggestions will help you to keep your toddler's weight in check.
Speech
Like most of us, toddlers love music and they love singing. Make music part of your day by singing to your toddler in the bath, when you are out driving, when you are changing a nappy, when you are doing chores. Encourage your toddler to join in. A few popular children's CDs will give you some material and probably refresh your memory. You'll be surprised how many of the words come back to you from your own childhood!
Moving along
By 18 months most children can walk, climb onto low levels, push a toy such as a brick trolley, put one block on top of another, make marks or scribble with a pencil and pick up small objects. If at any time you are concerned that your child may have a problem it is reassuring to seek expert advice from your doctor or your local child health centre.
Sleep: Naps
Many toddlers are not getting enough sleep, according to a study published in March 2006 by the University of South Australia's Sleep Study Centre. Toddlers of this age still need their daytime naps, though by the time they are 15 months many may no longer have a morning sleep. If your toddler only needs an afternoon nap, it's best to have it soon after lunch to minimize the effect on sleeping at night. Read more about Infant and Children's Sleep here. (http://www.sleepnet.com/children2000.html)
Vaccination
At 18 months your child may need to have his chickenpox vaccine.
19-21 months
Teeth
As your toddler becomes more adventurous his risk of accidents increases. Falls are the most common cause of injuries to a toddler's teeth. If your toddler damages or breaks a tooth then it is important that you save the tooth, or piece of tooth, and arrange a dental appointment immediately. Just because they are first teeth does not mean they are not important.
Growth
Healthy babies and toddlers will all pass through the same stages and developmental milestones, but they will do so at their own pace. There is an enormous range of what is considered normal. Try to remember that when you are tempted to compare your little one's achievements with the next child. Children have learning spurts, just as they have growth spurts. They will also seem to stop learning sometimes, but this usually means they are practising new skills, or they have been unwell. At times of stress-new baby, moving house, parent breakup-they may even go backwards (regress) but they will catch up again.
Moving along
If your toddler hasn't already discovered the fascination of stairs this is likely to happen soon. Toddlers love to climb stairs and if you have a set in your house you need a stair gate for those times when you cannot supervise. Teaching your toddler to come down backwards is always a good idea, but you must continue to supervise at all times.
If at any time you are concerned that your child may have a problem it is reassuring to seek expert advice from your doctor or your local child health centre.
Eating
At mealtimes give your toddler his own set of cutlery and let him practise. It may be easier to feed him yourself, but it will be more difficult for you both in the long-run if you put keeping him clean ahead of learning this important skill.
22-24 months
Teeth
It is much better for your child's teeth and her general health to give her low-sugar snacks such as fruit, cheese and vegetables. Avoid high-sugar, high-fat snacks such as muesli and fruit bars, chips or anything sticky and chewy. You should still be cleaning your toddler's teeth for her, but you may need two toothbrushes so she can also give it a try. Children under the age of two don't need toothpaste and you shouldn't use it. However, your toddler may not understand this, especially when she sees you using toothpaste. So, it is important to teach her to spit the toothpaste out, not swallow it and not swish it around her mouth.
Growth
Remember that children grow at their own pace-they don't follow the books or lists of developmental milestones. By the time she is two, the child who was born prematurely is likely to have 'caught up' with children who were born full-term.
Speech
Your child's vocabulary is likely to be growing by the day. At age two, some toddlers know several words, though their speech may not always be intelligible to those outside the family. By his second birthday, your toddler will be able to say his own name and ask for things he wants, such as "cake" and "milk". His sentences will be very simple, often just two or three words like "Mummy sit" or "No more". By now your toddler will be well into practising speech patterns and he will copy your tone and your speech patterns. Quite enlightening at times!
Moving along
Every day is an adventure for your toddler as she learns more about her world and develops new skills. Over the next three months she needs to be given opportunities to learn about jumping, kicking a ball, putting on and taking off her own clothes, brushing her own teeth, and washing and drying her hands. If at any time you are concerned that your child may have a problem it is reassuring to seek expert advice from your doctor or your local child health centre.
Toilet training
Most toddlers are not physically or mentally ready to use the toilet instead of nappies until around their second birthday, though some may have shown interest a couple of months earlier. If you attempt to toilet train your toddler before he is ready you'll probably just end up training yourself to anticipate his bodily functions! Waiting until your child is ready makes the whole process so much easier. Often children with older brothers and sisters will learn very quickly and girls are often ready before boys. Warm weather makes the whole process much easier for everyone than cold or rainy days. Bladder control usually comes before bowel control and daytime toiletting comes well before nighttime control. In fact, it is not necessary to seek help for bedwetting issues until around the age of seven or eight.
A child is ready to use the toilet or potty when:
- He knows he wants to do a wee or poo and he can hold on for a short time.
- He tells you he is going or that he has just gone.
- He watches others going to the toilet and takes an interest in what is happening.
- He can pull his pants up and down.
- His nappies have been dry for a couple of hours.
- He tells you his nappy is wet and that he doesn't like it.
It's up to you whether you use a potty or a toilet seat, whether you take the potty with you when you go out, whether you use trainer pants or simply pants that are easy to pull up and down. There are no right and wrong ways to introduce a child to using a toilet. But it is very important that as soon as your child starts using the toilet you impress upon her that she must wash her hands with soap and water after every visit. Make sure she does it every time. Of course, it is also important that she sees you-and other members of the family-washing their hands when they use the toilet.
Find out more from the Parent and Youth Health Toilet Training Fact Sheet.
If at any time you are concerned that your child may have a problem it is reassuring to seek expert advice from your doctor or your local child health centre.
