Having a Baby

Your baby has become a toddler in every sense of the word at this phase of development. He walks and is talking more. He interacts more with the things and people around him. And he may begin to have signs of the “terrible twos” by having temper tantrums or getting upset when things don’t go his way.

The 16-month-old child loves to be read to and to help turn the pages of a book. Reading books is a great activity when your toddler needs to wind down from a hectic day. A child this age also becomes attached to a toy, stuffed animal or security blanket. Most toddlers like to sing and sing a lot. So it is important for parents and caregivers to sing to the 16-month-old child and provide them with songs and music. These songs are also an important way to develop a child’s vocabulary as they are learning to talk.

Toddlers at the age of 16 months can get upset when they are frustrated. If they are frustrated because they can’t do a task, help them with the task. If they are frustrated because they want something that they may not have, redirect their attention to another activity. Eventually, with the proper training, a toddler will grow out of this phase and learn more effective ways to deal with frustration than becoming upset.

The 17-month-old can probably say about 15 words. She may even be able to put two words together. The 17-month-old likes to climb on things like furniture. She may not know what is safe to climb on and what isn’t, so she will need constant supervision. At this phase of development, separation anxiety and stranger danger issues are starting to lessen. Your toddler may be able to play simple games and follow simple instructions. She will also have enough strength and coordination to be able to ride toys developed for that purpose. Your toddler may be able to run at this age, which enables her to play more types of games, but makes supervision a bit more of a challenge for both parent and caregiver alike. She may decide that she likes some types of foods, but is not interested in or doesn’t like others. And you can bet that she will definitely let you know what she will and won’t eat. Since she is eating a variety of foods and has developed quite a few teeth, now is a good time to introduce brushing her teeth. You and your toddler can brush your teeth together and start setting some great dental hygiene habits.

The 18-month old may be able to talk more clearly. He can say about 20 words, and might be able to string words together to make small, two word sentences. He can scribble and have fun with crayons or pencils and paper. Your 18-month-old can probably run, jump, and dance around. He may also be able to feed himself with a spoon, making meal times a bit less messy. Your 18-month old should be getting used to brushing his teeth at this age, as well. He may also be able to take of clothing, and show signs of being ready to be potty trained.