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 9626 for month 18
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sandrad - Monday, 24 Oct
Yea, I know with her starting this early its just going to draw the process out much longer so to speak, since she wont be able to control everything till she is a little older. My boys just didnt start this early. My middle boy didnt even start till he was 2 1/2 but was trained by the time he turned 3. As long as she shows interest I will continue to help her but my no means will I push her. Also I think with having older siblings she is eager to be a big girl sometimes too.

ehartw02 (emilee) - Sunday, 23 Oct
Kaylee does the same thing and I did some research it seems around 18 mo they become aware of bodily functions. So she knows shes going potty... But potty training isn't teaching them to go it's teaching them to hold it and from what I read their bladders are too weak to hold it very long. I'm sure there are exceptions though

sandrad - Sunday, 23 Oct
Has anyone started potty training? My daughter has started asking to go potty and going pee in the big potty when we take her. Im a little shocked that she is showing interest at this young age. She did watch her older brother potty train about 9 months ago, so maybe she remembers watching him.

ehartw02 (emilee) - Wednesday, 12 Oct
Hello....hello........hello................hello...............hello.. It's so quiet!

ehartw02 (emilee) - Thursday, 6 Oct
Kaylee 18 mo

cantwait3-11 - Wednesday, 7 Sep
wow! I forget that i can come here when i think im alone when it comes to Jacob. Jacob is a hitter and a biter! I havent been able to really stop him completely from hitting but i can say its getting better. i havent done what you ladies have suggested, but mine technique was very simple. Jacob hitting ____ is not nice. You dont like it when _______hits you. Kiss her boo boo and blow a kiss. and as for the biting....it may be wrong but he doesnt do it anymore. one day jacob bit me probably 10 times in about a 2 hour span and i had had it! i kept telling him that youre hurting mommy and making mommy very sad. please dont do that again and he kept on doing and doing it again. the last time i told if you do it again, mommy's gonna show you how much it hurts. so i bit him. not hard enough for it to leave a indentation in his skin but he felt it. an he's stopped since. NOT RECCOMENDING THIS!!!!

cantwait3-11 - Wednesday, 7 Sep
Its been a while since ive been on here! im so happy to see some familiar names! hey ladies! hows the littleones?

jwalden - Thursday, 1 Sep
beebee- I just recently had that happen a couple weeks ago and it lasted for about 2 weeks and then he was happy to brush again. I know a couple canines of Jack's are still coming thru so I assume it was tender. In the meantime I had to brush thru the tears and just try to be gentle. Good luck.

beebee16 - Thursday, 1 Sep
I've been brushing Caitlin's teeth since she cut the first ones at 4 months and never really had any problems doing so. Until now, it has suddenly become such a difficult task. She will fight like crazy to stop me doing it, I've tried allsorts to get round it (a toothbrush each & brush together, a flashing toothbrush, different flavoured toothpaste, watching the tombliboo's brushing their teeth). Have any of you ladies also had this & if so how did you get round it. At the moment it is such a struggle to do & upsets both me & Caitlin xx

jwalden - Wednesday, 31 Aug
Karen I think that is great advice. Gretch I'm in the same boat. Jack has hit, kicked, slapped, screamed, etc at me for some time now. Seems to be only me for the most part- and when he doesn't get his way or doesn't like what I have to say. I read that they do it because they feel comfortable with that person and that they can express themselves in that way. It can get very frustrating and embarrassing, especially in public- but I try to not react to much to him and just tell him its not nice, hurts Mom, and so on. I definitely find that it is worse when he is tired and/or hungry but honestly I feel like I want to throw a fit when I feel that way sometimes. All we can do is give them our love and support and guide them the best way we can and hope that this stage passes and doesn't get replaced with anything worse. Good luck.

gretch - Wednesday, 31 Aug
I need advice. The hitting/slapping has picked up big time. Alway when he is frustrated at not doing something he wants. Redirection is harder because if he wants to go outside and dinner is about to be served, he wants to go outside. Mad and slapping. Slaps on the way to diaper changes. He slaps with a fierce look and deliberation. My sweet little boy. I have tried just about everything and resorted to grabbing his hands and yelling at him this morning. Tears then a slap! Hate this stage. Hopefully it is just a stage.

lillhill79 - Monday, 29 Aug
Karen - unfortunately I think we have a while before menopause. My co-worker is 58 and still has random periods and my mom is 63 (post partial hyst) and she is still on HRT for hot flashes and her doc just tested her estrogen level and it's still fairly high. Just what I wanted, another 30 years of this crap. :) I think we shouldn't even have a period until like 25 years old, and then it should be done no later than age 50. Anyone else on board with this idea? :)

mrsjmickens1 - Sunday, 28 Aug
hey forgot about this section!! just checking in jolie will be 18 monthes in 3 days. i loves this age it is the best!!

gretch - Friday, 26 Aug
AF has been different. I got my first post partum AF six weeks after delivery, while breastfeeding. So much for a 'break'! My AF is much heavier and longer that before. It is like pregnancy gave my reproductive system a kick start. I was two months shy of 47 when I had Rory so really thought the end of fertility was here. And perhpas it is but I still get AF like my twenties. RE:eye teeth - Rory is getting his bottom ones and the gap between his 18mo molars and front bottom teeth are closed. Fingers are back in mouth so I am thinking the top ones are coming. Gums seem red but no bumps. Nothing compared to the dreaded molars! Rory loves to blow bubbles in the water and doesn't mind it on his face. My husband is in chagte of bath time and trained him to like water in face. Playing with a bucket and starting with slow drips. Clapping and giggling when water was all over his face. Rory thought it was a game. Wading pool helped reinforce the fun of water. Too bad the beach was to noisy for him!

Luv2Bamama - Thursday, 25 Aug
So little girl has started to blow bubbles in the bath tub. I have no idea where she got the idea, but now she sticks the bottom part of her face in the water (over the nose, but not up to her eyes) and blows. It cracks me up! She is also totally into piling her stuffed animals into a pile and laying on them. It is really fun at bedtime, cauz she gets all her animals/blankets etc and puts them on my lap and then climbs to the top of the mountain to read stories.

Luv2Bamama - Thursday, 25 Aug
Lil—Colleen’s bottom eye teeth have just started poking through, can’t tell if she has the uppers; the little chomper doesn’t really let me get my fingers in there! Over the past few months, she has gotten 4 molars, and now the two eye teeth (maybe more), but none of it seems to be bothering her too much. As for AF; yes, it has been different than before. When I started cutting back on nursing, I was on a 33 day cycle and have been for about six months, but over the past two months it has been more of a 27 or 28 day cycle. It is much heavier than before for the first few days, but seems to last the normal 5-7 days. This is also the first time in 10 years that I have not used BC, so I presume that could also have something to do with it too.

thuy - Thursday, 25 Aug
Hi, just checking in as I haven't been on here for a while. My LO is almost 17 mos but not much activity going on there. Just wanted to give an update on Audrey. I was so worried about her not walking but the day she turned 16 mos she just stood up and started walking, little shaky at first but now she's moving pretty fast around the house and she's so cute. She's talking a lot more and can understand simple commands. She has recently gotten more attached to her binky, which we only gave her at night and her pink lamb is her new BFF and she won't go anywhere without it. All 4 of her eye teeth are now in and she hasn't been sick in a long time so it's been nice. :) I'm amost 20 weeks preggo right now too so I'm also worried about what it will be like with a 2 yr old and a newborn. Yikes!!!

beebee16 - Wednesday, 24 Aug
Lilhill - when Caitlin's eye teeth came they seemed to take forever, they also caused her the most pain. Her last 4 molars are just through now, they seem to be taking ages to come through too but don't seem to be bothering her at all.

lillhill79 - Wednesday, 24 Aug
Anyone else's AF still bizarre after having their LO? I've always had somewhat long cycles, with short LP but since Cort, my cycles are between 52-58 days long with a LP of only 5-6 days (I know bc I have very painful ovulation) and now instead of AF lasting 3-5 days, it's more like really heavy for 7-8 days and then spotting for another 3-5. Very bizarre. At least I know exactly when I ovulate so I don't worry every month that I might be preggo.

lillhill79 - Wednesday, 24 Aug
Wow, it's quiet this week. Quick question, how many LOs have their eye teeth? I swear Cort has been working on them for months, but still nothing popping through yet. This makes 4.5 months since she's gotten any new teeth.

beebee16 - Monday, 22 Aug
Karen - we went to a place called Skegness on the east coast of England, not the best sea in the world but Caitlin loved it. If you look on my Facebook there's a video of Caitlin running into the sea. I asked where she wanted to go today and she said the beach, I can't wait until she can go again but that probably won't be until next summer x

gretch - Monday, 22 Aug
This is a wonderful forum! And Karen, I am so pleased that you headed back to the PT and have a path forward. You are on it with the perfect attitude and the best result will indeed happen. Rory liked some of the beach. The poaching opportunities with other kids toys were like little mini-Christmas's all over the beach. But the sound of the waves really frightened him. The pool was perfect and he had no fear. His 18 month stats are the following: Weight 26 lbs., 33 inches and right in the 50%-ile for weight and the 75%-ile for height. He is good at following simple directions and has some words. Very few. He is so close and points at everything asking what it is. We took him to an aquarium. Fish are a big hit and he can say 'ish'. He is on the move constantly and has a myriad of bruises and bumps. Needs to be watched constantly. Likes to throw himself backwards and am waiting for him to do it on the floor vs. the bed. Eesh.

beebee16 - Sunday, 21 Aug
Wow, it feels like an age since i last posted on here. I'll spend an hour reading through everyones posts & catching up on what all the LO's are up to now. We've just got back from a week at the coast, Caitlin wore me out!! She walked for miles, played in the sand, paddled and splashed in the sea. We all had the best time, it really helped take my mind off the miscarriage. Caitlin has now started trying to string 2 or 3 words together, which is so funny. Ladybird comes out as goo goo bird (funny because she can say lady & bird but not both together!). She hasn't stopped talking all week and has got so loud. She's started talking in her sleep while we were away (she keeps saying ladybird & bob (the builder) in her sleep), i think the excitement was too for her! I'm amazed at how much she has changed in the last week / 2 weeks!!

nickykennedy - Saturday, 20 Aug
Hi Karen Our son is 17 months but I follow you ladies posts because you are all so vibrant and caring. I just want you to know that I admire you as a person a and as a mother, you are always very positive and encouraging to all the ladies in this forum. As a mother I fear the unknown, now that you know that E needs PT and braces it will definitely help you to move forward because he is getting the help he needs. I have indirect experiences with kids in similar positing as E and they did well with time without PT as they grew and developed. I am sure he will not need the braces for too long and he is a blessing really so smart and progressing well in all other areas. Girl you are an inspiration and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. hugs!

jwalden - Friday, 19 Aug
Jack has been doing much better with daycare. About 2 weeks into it and he is able to handle the schedule better. This past week he only cried 1 out of 5 days so we have progress. Woohoo. Unfortunately he is still holding on to this cold but he and I are going on Vacation to WA to see family tonight for 9 days so we can warm up and thaw out. AK has been experiencing a ton of rain recently. We'll miss Daddy but I can't wait to go out and have some fun with him and have 9 days with no work and all play. Wish you all a wonderful weekend.

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