Your baby, 15 months 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 and older

Your toddler is really curious about the world around her! Encourage your child to explore her world. There is so much for her to see, hear, touch, taste, build, knock over, climb on and manipulate. Your quiet baby has become full of energy and she needs you to step up the pace, too. She is probably constantly in the go-crawling, walking and scooting. It can be tiring, but think of all she is learning. Putting your child into a playpen limits opportunities for active learning and it should only be done when necessary.

Parents generally discipline their children in one of two ways: Power control or reasoning control. If you use power control, you take privileges away, use corporal punishment, withholding affection and use force to control your child's behaviors. Parents that use reasoning control usually explain in age appropriate terms why their child should behave a certain way. They choose not to use physical punishments, but instead point out why the child's actions could harm others. Reasoning control generally makes children understand why what they did was wrong and children are usually more likely to cooperate.

Your child probably likes to climb and climb alone. He does not think he needs any help. He can climb up stairs, onto chairs and tables, and he can also climb out of his crib or playpen. He can walk well and may be able to run a little. Your little one can follow simple commands, tell you what they want some of the time and can point to familiar items in a book. Your child is learning about textures, but probably does not like anything sticky.

Your child has become an expert att putting things in her mouth. The bad news is that she often puts objects in her mouth that don't belong there. The good news is that she is continuing to get better at feeding herself. Mealtimes are smoother and she enjoys eating with the family. There is no reason to buy separate foods-she can eat what you eat!

Because you have encountered the accident years, take every opportunity to make your child's environment as safe as possible. Young children don't know how to protect themselves, so it is your job do make sure she is safe.

• Protect your child from falls with stairway gates and window guards.
• Don't leave chairs near open windows or cabinets.
• Cover electrical outlets.
• Keep you child away from hot stoves and heaters.
• Avoid scalds by turning the water heater down to 120 to 130°F. (50-55°C)
• Lock doors that lead to dangerous areas.
• Keep dangerous substances locked up or safety capped.

Developmental Milestones - 15 Months Old

Physical

• Walks well
• Tries to run
• Climbs out of cribs/highchairs
• Climbs up stairs with help
• Enjoys dancing
• Can throw a small ball-still may be crooked

Intellectual

• Can point to body parts
• Can point to simple, familiar objects
• May say 4-5 words
• Can follow simple commands
• May be able to ask for things

Emotional

• Likes attention
• Does not like to compromise
• Recognizes himself in mirrors or pictures
• Recognizes familiar faces in pictures
• Does not like to play alone

Age Appropriate Toys

• Ride on toys
• Musical instruments
• Books
• Balls
• Dolls
• Large cars and trucks
• Shape sorters
• Fake foods
• Doctor`s kits
• Climbing structures
• Block

Comments:

Comments 26-50 of about 6487 for month 15
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Parkersmommy1 - Thursday, 19 Nov
The earlier bedtime worked to get Parker to sleep in later. He was going to bed at 8, waking at 5, 530 at the latest. Now, he goes to bed at 7, sometimes 630, and wakes up at 6-630. He sometimes still wakes in the night, usually at 5, but i just tell him its still night night and he goes back to sleep no problem. During the week he has one nap a day, from 10 up until one, at the sitters. On the weekends when he's home with us, I think he gets too excited about seeing us, and will only nap for an hour at a time, but then he will take 2 naps.

rosye13 - Thursday, 19 Nov
snugglebug - I don't get anything done anymore. Our house is a mess. I think one day we will just decide to move because it's too much to clean up :P But seriously, it's been awful lately. Gracie is going through an attachment thing with me lately where she wants me to be holding her from the time I walk in the door until bedtime and if I don't she'll scream. And since I work all day, I don't really blame her. She needs her Mommy sometimes. Anyway, so between her and trying to breastfeed Gabi, and work . . . thank God my husband is great with housework!

Snugglebug - Thursday, 19 Nov
I try not to use harsh chemicals. I use vinegar to clean a lot of things, but there are some things that require something stronger, ya know? I think I'm just stressing too much. I just found out we have company coming this weekend, as well as having a dinner scheduled with a couple from church, AND I have the Thanksgiving dinner (Sunday) that I have to cook and bake for ahead of time. And dh has volunteered to go help paint a lady's house, again, WHILE our company is here. It's my brother and nephew (and their girlfriends) that are coming to visit. I really don't want to leave them just sitting here while we have all these other things to do. :( I really don't know how I'm going to keep up with it all. I've got enough to do with cooking/baking for the dinner, much less trying to cook for four more people and entertain them WHILE I'm trying to do all that. GAH! Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY! I'm so excited to see them, but what a bad weekend to choose to visit. :(

Snugglebug - Thursday, 19 Nov
Am I the only one that has a hard time getting things done around the house? I can't do too much while he's napping, the noise will wake him up. I can't do much while he's awake because he's all up in what I'm trying to do and I don't want him around cleaning chemicals, not to mention that, while I'm trying to clean up one mess, he's following behind me and making three more messes. GAH! How the heck do you ladies keep up, let alone with more than one child?! I can barely even vacuum because he thinks he has to try to take it from me and do it (which it's too heavy and dangerous for him to do), or he tries to ride on it. hahaha!

Snugglebug - Thursday, 19 Nov
Gavin is usually just eating supper around 6 or 6:30pm. And he usually has his afternoon nap around 3-4pm. There's NO WAY he would go to bed at 6pm. Dh usually gets home from work around then, so it's his rowdy time. lol

emmasmommy7 - Thursday, 19 Nov
Rosye13_- we have tried later, and NO it doesnt work! haha..I guess I shouldnt complain because she is sleeping all night :) Right now we just let her sit in there and play and make noise and whine till about 6;30, I was hoping she would realize she would not get out of her crib till then and stay asleep but no such luck! Im going to have to get her up early next week because my daughter is coming home from college and they are in the same room. BAAAHHHHHHHH... MDbaby1- Im going to try that tonight and cross my fingers. I know, I dont know why she goes down so early..I try to keep her up later because I dont see her till I get off work at like 5;30 then I only have like an hour with her! As far as the slapping, all of mine went through that too, its just a phase most likely and they will grow out of it. I think they do it because of the reaction! Singinghide- Congrats!!! I had my first 3 a year and a half apart..they are now 21,19m,and almost 18..I loved having them so close, it was def. a lot of work but well worth it!! :)

rosye13 - Thursday, 19 Nov
Snugglebug - I'm with you. I'm seriously sitting here with my jaw about hitting the floor about your babies going to bed at 6pm. There is no way Gracie would stand for that! lol. We start her bedtime routine at 8pm and she's usually in bed by 8:30 and asleep by 9pm. She still gets up at about 7:30am. And she usually takes either one long nap or two short ones.

rosye13 - Thursday, 19 Nov
singinghide - Congrats!!!!!!!!!

Snugglebug - Thursday, 19 Nov
HOLY CRAP! Your babes are sleeping for 12 hours?! Do they still take naps? Gavin sleeps about nine hours a night and still takes two naps a day that total about 2-3 hours, combined. He usually goes to bed around 9-9:30pm and wakes around 6-7am. Man, I would LOVE it if he slept that long, I could actually get something done! LOL!

mdbabyno1 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Hey, are any of you on facebook so we can chat there? Here I am. I still have to load some photos and what not though. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000508425714

mdbabyno1 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
emmasmommy- we are going through the same phase! Ever since the time change(not sure if it effects you)Adisten was getting up at 5, maybe 5:30 which is completely unacceptable to me... hahaha! But I am serious! Putting her to bed later doesn't work for her, it only gets her up earlier in the am. 3 nights ago, we moved her bed time UP. Used to be 6:30, now she has been going to bed at 6:00pm and for the last few mornings she has been waking up at 6:30 which is more acceptable! I would try an earlier bedtime, it seriously works. In fact this is the second time in her life she has had an earlier bedtime. At first bed time was 7pm. Hahaha, by kindergarten she'll be going to be at 3pm! J/K!

momentfrozenintime - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Also, I read that with small children (this was actually age 5 or so, but I assume it goes for any younger children as well), you have to be specific on what you want from them. If you say things like 'be nice', they won't necessarily understand. It's better to say things like 'don't hit people because it isn't nice and hurts feelings'. I know at work (at an elementary school), I see a lot of the younger kids who don't know how to obey when I say use nice words. They don't understand what I mean..

momentfrozenintime - Wednesday, 18 Nov
sunnshine - I am waking for that day to come! I think smacking his hand when he does it will only show him that he can smack when he doesn't want something. I would make sure he knows it hurts you, then take his hand and tell him to gently rub your face and to 'be gentle'. Sometimes I have to do that with Colin when he pulls my hair for fun, but he just thinks I'm being funny haha. Oh well. And then of course use a firm 'no' before you do anything. I would really suggest What to Expect the Toddler Years book/website! So good!

Snugglebug - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Congratulations, Singinghide! Man, all you pregnant mommies (and those that have already had your second) are making me feel like I'm falling behind! LOL!

Snugglebug - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Sunnshine, Gavin is a picky eater, too, but in a different way. If something takes too long for him to eat it, and it gets cold, he sometimes refuses to eat it until I warm it back up. I would definitely start trying to let him feed himself with a fork (one for toddlers, so he doesn't hurt himself, of course) and spoon. You might be amazed at what a difference it makes. Sometimes, Gavin will refuse to eat something, but if I give him his fork or spoon (he really loves his fork, now), he'll eat away. As far as the slapping, it's a lot like the biting, I think. Gavin does it now and then, but he has pretty much grown out of it and rarely does it anymore. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I know you don't want him hurting someone else, but it will probably pass. I tried the same things you have and they didn't seem to make a difference. I think they're just testing the waters and they'll quickly move on to something else, or it seems to have been that way with Gavin, anyway.

singinghide - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Well, we found out we are expecting baby #2!! Isaac and the new baby will be almost exactly 2 years apart. I am due July 25th, 2010 and Isaac was born July 23rd, 2008. We are sooooo excited!!

sunnshine - Wednesday, 18 Nov
I have just been reading over the last few comments and I have a couple of issues with Hunter I need advice on. He is going through a phase where he likes to slap me. Last night at the store, he wanted out of the cart so I picked him up, then he looked at me and slapped me right in the face! When I tell him that's not nice, he keeps doing it. I've tried smacking his hand and telling him no, talking to him to tell him it's not nice...I don't know how to get it to stop. 90% of the time he is a wonderful, happy child. The other 10% he is demanding and defiant! I guess all kids go through stages...I just don't want him to go around thinking it's okay to hit people. Also, is anyone else's child a picky eater? Hunter doesn't like anything with a strange texture - i.e. corn, peas, broccoli, most meats, etc. I don't know what to do to get him to eat better! He refuses to feed himself sometimes, but other times he will do it like he is a pro. I give him things like pieces of a hot dog, french fries, etc. and he takes a bite, then spits it out and puts it back on the plate. I think I babied him too long with things that are super soft due to my neurotic fear of him choking. I have to get over that or he's going to want to eat spaghetti o's every stinkin' day! I feel like a bad mother because I can't convince my child to eat healthy :( He wouldn't even eat meatloaf the other day and it is soft! I mixed it with his mashed potatoes and he would suck off the potatoes and pull the meat out of his mouth. He also isn't using a fork or spoon himself yet...should we start trying to teach him that? Some days I feel like I'm a very knowledgable person, while other days I feel like a total idiot!

rosye13 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
And actually it wouldn't be sleeping, it would be asleep :P

rosye13 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
'sleeping'. Sorry. I absolutely hate grammatical errors. lol. It's a silly pet peeve.

rosye13 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
emmasmommy7 - Is there any possibility of holding her off another hour in the evening before bedtime? Sometimes when Gracie's going through a thing where she wants to get up earlier, we'll push back her bedtime a little and it helps keep her sleep a little later in the morning.

Snugglebug - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Emmasmommy7, Gavin goes through those phases every now and then. It STINKS! lol

Snugglebug - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Sarah, you totally should let LJ help you with the laundry. Gavin cracks me up. When we're finished and he slams the door shut, I say, 'Good job!' and he claps his hands. It makes him feel like such a big boy. :) He also loves to help me fix meals. I let him mix ingredients together, sprinkle on seasonings, etc. Of course, I don't let him mess with anything hot, but he loves to watch and help, sometimes a little TOO much. lol! If he doesn't get to help, he'll hang onto my legs and whine, wanting up to watch and help. When he does that, I'll sometimes put him in his highchair, so he can watch from a safe distance. Am I the only one whose child likes to try to eat like the dog? I'll be giving Gavin his snacks and he'll get down on the floor, put his snack on the floor, and try to eat it off the floor. :-/ We try to tell him that it's the doggy's snack, once it hits the floor. When he gets tired of using his fork and spoon, he'll even try to bury his face in his food, when he's eating in his highchair. Silly boy. :) Next thing I know, he'll be barking at the mailman. LOL

emmasmommy7 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
OK girls, its been a while for me..I seem to pop on and off :) I have a question..Em has been sleeping all night for quite a while now, she goes down about 7-7:30 and USED to wake up at about 6;30-7..lately, and I thought it was a phase, but it is a LASTING one..haha..she has been waking up at like FIVE??? WTH?????? Are anyone elsed babies early risers?? That is just an ungodly hour and I refuse to get her up that early! HAHA...

rosye13 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
sarahtook4yearsford - I know! Last week I was about in tears wondering what happened to my sweet angel. I really was upset because I almost felt bad that she was so angry, and I didn't know how to help or make her feel better. I thought that she would be like that until I figured out how to fix it. But this week, she's my happy little peanut again. I guess I just need to have more patience.

rosye13 - Wednesday, 18 Nov
kristy4994 - I wish I could help but I'm not sure what's normal because I didn't get to breastfeed Gracie that long. I had to stop so I could keep my calories for little Gabi. Anyway, having 2 is extremely hard and stressful at times but also so unbelievably great. I love the term 'crazy beautiful life'. I think that best describes it.

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