Your baby, 18 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 child loves to help you around the house. He sees you sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and folding laundry and wants to do the same. Although his `help` may not always actually be helpful, try to find ways that he can help. This will teach him how to be an active member of the family and also give him a sense of accomplishment. When you are washing dishes, give your child a dampened washcloth (no cleaner) and allow him to wipe down the table or the cabinets. Buy your child a set of child-sized household tools-a broom, mop and a vacuum. He will learn how to do these things correctly by watching you. Don't scold him if he makes mistakes or does not do things that same way you do. Praise him for a job well done and continue to show him how to do things properly.

Your child is interested in playing games with you right now. Play should always be a fun form of learning. When she gets tired of playing, stop. If you turn games into work or contests that she never wins, she will become discouraged and will not want to play anymore. Do not be surprised if your child gets very upset when things do not go the way she wanted them to.

Even though it should not be expected yet, begin to lay the foundation for sharing. Children have a very hard time understanding the concept of sharing and are very good with saying, `Mine, mine!` It is perfectly okay to tell your child what is his, yours, daddy's, doggy's and so forth. However, whenever you can teach about sharing, do so. For example, when you cut a slice of cheese, tell your child that this was your cheese but that you would like to share with her. Then, hand her a piece of your cheese. If you have other children in the house or if your child is frequently exposed to other children, sharing may be an easier to task to learn. Because your child's appetites vary from day to day, it is unfair to expect your child to eat everything on their plate all of the time. Your child knows how hungry he is, let him stop when he is full. It is not wise to bribe your child with food or sweets to get good behavior. Parents and caregivers should never punish their child for eating too little or too much. Doing so may cause him to feel ashamed of his appetite and he may begin to feel guilty about eating all together. If you notice that there is always food left on his plate, you are probably giving him too much. If your child asks for more of a certain food, give it to him. If none is left, simply tell him that it is gone and offer him what is left.

As always, remember to show your growing toddler that she is important to you. Dailly hugs, kisses and words of praise will let her know that she is special. Make your child feel proud when he accomplishes a new skill. You have the power to develop who your child becomes. Many families think that their toddler knows how much they love her. This should not be the case. Always take the time to express and vocalize your love for your child.

Developmental Milestones - 18 Months Old

Physical

• Runs
• Climbs stairs
• May jump
• Creeps backwards downstairs
• Uses one hand more than the other
• Grabs anything he can reach

Intellectual

• Can say about ten words
• Can name some common objects
• Tries to sing and likes to be sung to
• Remembers where things belong
• Can turn pages in a book
• Can build a tower of 3-4 blocks
• May be able to string large colored beads

Emotional

• Likes to show off for attention
• Is afraid of thunder, lightning, animals, etc..
• Has temper tantrums
• Likes to cuddle when tired

Age Appropriate Toys

• Large beads for stringing
• Push toys
• Ride on toys
• Climbing structures
• Balls
• Books
• Musical instruments
• Dolls
• Pretend play items
• Trucks and cars
• Building items
• Bubbles

Comments:

Comments 1-25 of about 2257 for month 18
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piesmum - 4.1 hours ago
Pie was 22lbs and 83cm tall. She got her h1n1 shot, she had a cold and she's still got it this week, poor thing. I hope she gets better soon but she's otherwise just acting as usual, she's all cheery and naughty, getting into stuff and all that.

luvmyaiden - 7.7 hours ago
Aiden is 26lbs, not chunky, he has slimmed right down but his face is still squishy chubby! He is very tall for his age, 87cm

luvmyaiden - 7.7 hours ago
I have had a crappy week. My son and I contracted H1N1 and have been quite ill. Well that's what the doctor says we have. They don't test here where I live anymore due to there being so many cases. She said all our symptoms match right to it. I have been out of work for the whole week and starting to go stir crazy. The respiratory part of it is brutal...it feels like my lungs are on fire. My poor little man has been so ill, he is on Tamiflu but he is still miserable. Sorry ladies, just had to vent. amazintrace: I feel for you and hope your little one feels better asap! It's so scary when they are so sick and we can't help much...sigh!

amazintrace - 12.2 hours ago
well, to add to the conversation Jonathan was 27lb and 33in. He's really not skinny at all, he just isn't chunky either.

amazintrace - 12.3 hours ago
Jonathan has been down sick for several days .. well, it seems like forever, but only since Wednesday night. We took him to doctor on Thursday and he tested negative for the flu. My 15 yr old tested pos LAST week on Tuesday, he took tamiflu and returned to school on Friday. We were so releaved when Jonathan tested negative >>> He woke up Friday morning with a temperature of 105.6 I was borderline histerical. Called the hospital to get the doctor on call and a doctor called back within 30 minutes. By that time I had given him an acetamenophen suppository an dunked him in a warm bath. He was down to 102.5 when the doctor was on the phone. He says he could have the flu after all, I can come in to have him re-tested, but now it is too late to treat him with tamiflu. Why bother paying another copay just to know if it is or isn't the flu? I have to let it run its course. You get them tested for the flu and the says they don't have it, but then you find out your child might have it after all. I could have stayed home and saved myself $50! Aghhh what good are they anyway.. Sorry girls I just needed to vent. My baby is so sick right now.

embobower - 17.3 hours ago
hi! My word.I cant quite believe Elias is 18 months ( nearly ) already. Aren´t they growing up quick xx

daydays mom - Friday, 6 Nov
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:493315ef-9a4f-482b-9bf6-ca71045b8a7a&showPlaylist=true&from=IV2_en-us_v11HP&fg=gtlv2 gotta check this video hillarious

mommyof2soon - Friday, 6 Nov
hello luvbeingmummy. i have a boy who was 3 in april and an 18mo old girl.

lovbeingmummy - Thursday, 5 Nov
Hello, I've 2 boys aged 3 next week and 18 months. Thought i'd say to hi to you all

havana*luna - Tuesday, 3 Nov
Andrew had his appointment today and he is 27lbs and 35in long!!

ladobruk - Monday, 2 Nov
Shayla was 29 lbs and 33'! She has remained steady on her growth curve.

mommyof2soon - Monday, 2 Nov
Wow mom of toddlers! He is a big healthy boy! My 3yr old boy is around 33lbs! Just shows how different our babies can be! :)

youngmummy2be2 - Monday, 2 Nov
about the headbanging my son is 17 months and he head bangs the mattress to go to bed ever sinse he could roll over, he lies on his belly and just bangs his head to go to sleep!! its really strange but i dont worry about it, although recently i have started to discipline him more and when i tell him off he will crouch on the floor and head butt the floor so i tell him off again and he stops.. it seems to work better than ignoring him for now anyway but i dont think it is anything to worry about, he did go through a stage of chucking himself backwards if he was really upset about something and then he did it on the kitchen floor once and hit his head really hard and has not done it since... random or what?!?!

ladobruk - Sunday, 1 Nov
Oh sorry Jessica, that doesn’t sound like fun at all. I am not sure how well it would work at this age, but I seen a suggestion of a scream box mentioned on here before. Something/somewhere for them to let it all out and only there. Sounds like a reasonable suggestion. I haven’t had to try it yet, but if she gets in the screech phase I will.

momoftoddlers - Friday, 30 Oct
My son just turned 18 months last sunday. He seems so big compared to some of the other kids on here. At his checkup he was 32 lbs and 33 inches. He is now almost 4 pounds heavier than his 3 yr old sister!!! WOW

jessicadarling - Friday, 30 Oct
Hey ladies - I actually came here to ask about head banging and see that you have already been discussing it! Devyn is a hard core headbanger, self biter, smacks herself and so on. When we went to her 18 month check up I told her doctor about it and my doctor didn't seem too concerned. She says they usually stop when they realize it really hurts. I am supposed to ignore it. The thing she didn't like is Devyn's biting herself. She said most kids will stop before they break skin but NOT my kid. My kid gets frustrated and will bite her hands until they are purple, swollen and bleeding. The weird thing is that it is usually a cry for attention but Devyn will play in her room quietly and come out all bitten up. My doctor says this could be a sign of autism but as she is developing ahead of schedule socially that she isn't worried about it either. Devyn reserves the head banging and smacking herself in the face for when she is mad at me. Seriously I hate watching it but it does end quickly if I ignore her. Is there anyone who successfully taught their kiddos another way to deal with their anger? Like punching pillows or something haha. The newest thing Devyn does now too is scream at the top of her lungs until she turns purple! Gosh if you could see Devyn after a fit you would think I beat her. Red from screaming, bumps on her forehead from smashing it into a hard surface and bite marks all over her hands. Anger is not dealt with properly in this house i guess

mommyof2soon - Friday, 30 Oct
Greyah had her appointment on wednesday and she was 25.2lbs and 31.5in tall. She is right where she needs to be!

RUTHANN - Thursday, 29 Oct
WELL AUBREY WENT TO HER CHECKUP YESTERDAY SHE WEIGHS 20.8 AND HER HEIGHT IS 30 INCHES LONG! SHE GOOD AND HEALTHY AND DR SAYS SHE IS SO ADVANCE TALKING REAL WELL SHE GOING TO BE SMART PETTIE GIRL!

momtograce:) - Wednesday, 28 Oct
Hi all, I've just been reading the most recent posts and they have completely put my mind at rest about my little girl. She too has become less enthusiastic about eating and throws food on the floor, something which she previously hasn't done. I give her exactly the same as what we're eating which stops her from wanting our food. She's got a lot better at eating with her fork/spoon and she also drinks out of an open top beaker which makes her feel grown up. When she does begin to throw food i take it away from her because then she knows that if she does that she doesn't get to eat anymore.I also try not to make a big deal when she only eats a little bit because i think that makes her worse. its nice to know i'm not the only one stressing about mealtimes.

RUTHANN - Tuesday, 27 Oct
YAY AUBREY MADE IT TO 18 MONTHS TODAY!

mommyof2soon - Tuesday, 27 Oct
Greyah is 18mo today! She has started to eat less lately and also starts to play/throw her food when she's getting full. I take her for her 18mo check up tomorrow so I will post height and weight then! :) Hope everyone is having a great tuesday.

Jo-Mama - Monday, 26 Oct
Malone has turned a corner when it comes to eating. About two weeks ago she all of a sudden starting eating three times as much as she used to, and she focuses on meal times longer. She drinks from an open cup and eats with her own spoon. She can be messy sometimes. but it's mostly accidental. Though there are times when she will use her spoon to scoop all of her yogurt into her cup or onto the table. I try to just ignore it or give her a cloth to clean it up. I don't make it a big deal because she's not really doing it to be bad, she's just experimenting.

ladobruk - Monday, 26 Oct
Throwing food is a sign mealtime is over at our house also. I remove her plate, but she stays in her seat until we finish dinner. She whines and cries for ours even though it is the same food so I will get some of her food on my fork and give it to her. I have fed her entire meals this way. For some reason it makes a difference taking it from my fork? If she didn’t eat much and is hungry later, I feed her. But, I don’t offer different foods than what we are having at mealtime.

I didn’t head bang, but I rocked my whole upper body when I was tired, sometimes quite violently, lol, apparently I would move the sofa. Not exactly the same, but a similar motion. We have caught my daughter doing it as well. It was hilarious when my Dad was over one day and she started doing it. His eyes turned into saucers and he just smiled at me. I am not musically talented, but I am brilliant and gorgeous. ;)

TraciW - Monday, 26 Oct
March - just popping in from month 19 to say that Matthew has started throwing his food again too at mealtimes. It seems like he had stopped for a couple months but then the past two months it has been really bad. Daycare says he doesn't do it there so it must be an attention thing. I have tried everything and can't get it to stop. Guess I will have to just start taking his food away right when he throws it and feed him later? And let him cry when I take it so he'll learn???

Avocat29 - Monday, 26 Oct
March, sounds like he is doing it for link attention since he does fine at preschool. We sometimes have issues w/ the throwing of food and that usually means she's done. At least that is when I stop everything. That way she learns that if she throws stuff, she won't get to eat anymore (nor sit at the table with us) and that food time is not playing time. We are pretty strict about the throwing of stuff on the ground (same w/ utensils and sippy cups etc)...also we give her exactly what we eat and therefore she can't possibly want what we have on our plate...we keep saying it's the same food, see? And show her. Also maybe he's just feeling frustrated that he can't express himself about what he wants...Noelle is very clear about what she wants --- she often will want apple or pear and ask for it (even saying 'pleeeeaaase' which breaks my heart) before she's even had a bite of food. So I just say 'first chicken/pasta/pizza, then apple ok?' and she says 'ok' and eats her food. But we have to repeat it a million times. Good luck!

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