Your baby, 21 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

Even though you might be interested in getting your child involved with other children her own age, she is most interested in you and her own things. She enjoys playing and interacting with you and other close caregivers the most. If there is another child that your child is exposed to often, she will develop a friendship. You will even notice that your child fusses and fights less with the familiar child than she does when exposed to strangers. Play is the main way that children learn and develop new skills. You can encourage your child to play with other children, but never force her to do so if she is not interested. During playtime with other children, have 2-3 duplicate items on hand to decrease the chances of fighting. At this age, children do push and poke each other to say hello. Show her how to be gentle, caring and sensitive to the feelings of other children.

Most parents of toddlers this age notice that children tend to `act up` and be on their worst behavior when they really want them to be on their best behavior. Learning how to deal with your child's behavior, and even prevent naughty behavior is important. You should be reasonable in your expectations. Everyone knows that children this age do not have long attention spans, do not like to share and often have a hard time sitting still. Therefore, a trip to the library for storytime should be kept short. Playtime with friends needs to be carefully monitored and again, should be kept to a shorter time frame. Prepare your child before you go out by telling them where you are going and how you want them to behave. If he needs to be quiet in the library, tell him so. If you are going somewhere that he might get bored, tired or hungry-prepare for that. Take a snack or a few toys with you. Praise your child for positive behavior and if you see that he is not behaving properly, pull him aside and remind him quietly of how he supposed to act and what the consequences are.

Your child's language skills are really taking off! At this point she can say approximately 20 words. She still enjoys reading books, singing songs and saying nursery rhymes. Even though your child tries to follow directions, remember to keep any directions simple and clear. If you want her to pick up her toys, take them to her room, get her teddy bear and get ready for bed, tell her one command at a time. If you give too may instructions at one time, she will get confused and frustrated. Although she really does want to please you and other caregivers, sometimes she will refuse to do what you have asked her to do.

Your child is becoming more and more independent. As long as you have showed your toddler the proper way of doing so, he can wash and dry his hands after using the restroom, playing outside or before a meal. Children need to be shown how to properly wash their hands so that germs are limited. Your toddler can hold a cup and drink from it. If the cup does not have a lid on it, be prepared for some spills. Children this age still need to learn how far they must tip the cup to drink from it. You may also notice that he can put his own shoes on his feet. He may occasionally put his shoes on the wrong feet and he can not tie the shoelaces yet.

Developmental Milestones - 21 Months Old

Physical

• Can walk upstairs with both feet on step
• Likes to run
• Still likes to climb
• Enjoys dancing
• Tries to jump

Intellectual

• Can say about 20 words
• Tries to follow directions
• Enjoys reading, but may tear the pages
• Likes tiny objects
• Can recognize and name people from photographs
• Can put together a simple 3-4 piece puzzle
• Can wash and dry hands

Emotional

• Becoming less self centered
• Beginning to enjoy other children
• Parents are still favourites
• Stingy and selfish sometimes
• Knows what is his and what is not

Age Appropriate Toys

• Puzzles
• Books
• Climbing toys
• Stringing beads
• Shape sorters
• Art supplies
• Outside toys
• Musical toys
• Interactive educational toys
• Pretend pla

Comments:

Comments 1-25 of about 2532 for month 21
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darci - Monday, 16 Nov
Are any of you ladies still nursing your babies?

TutuGirl - Wednesday, 11 Nov
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monselena - Wednesday, 11 Nov
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Juniors-Mami - Sunday, 8 Nov
i know how tough things probably are for elsa! just make sure that you're including her with her baby sister! make sure she knows that its her baby sister...try to make her feel like she's more hers than anyone elses if you know what i mean...

Juniors-Mami - Sunday, 8 Nov
Junior is 21 months now and using the potty a lot! yay!

margysd - Monday, 19 Oct
Hi, I just had my second daughter, Aislin on Thursday. My first daughter, Elsa is 16 months. Elsa and I have always had a strong and special bond. Since the birth, I have tried to involve and love Elsa as much as I can. I want to show her that I love her the same, I am just making some adjustments in our schedule which has changed because my time is now divided between her and our newborn. I have noticed some acting out on Elsa’s part and I am not sure how to handle it. We have tried to reassure Elsa how much she is loved and spend a lot of personal time with her one-on-one with both Paul and myself. I think she is acting out because she has realized that her position and role is changing, most notable is her new role as a big sister. I was wondering if any of you have had experience with adjustment issues with closely spaced siblings and what strategies you employed to maintain the bond with the oldest while introducing and bonding the with youngest sibling and if this is a normal adjustment phase that works itself out in time. Please post messages to my page. Thanks so much.

hot-mama - Thursday, 1 Oct
Hey ladies! I wanted to share with other Moms about this. I work with a Wellness Company from home, and it's great! You don't have to sell, or anything like that! If you don't want the business part of it, then you can just become a Preferred Customer. It's Melaleuca, all natural products. Really great if you have kids!! If interested go to www.TheFreedomUnitedTeam.com/LW17621 and I can answer any questions you may have. Quit using household products that can harm your baby, you'll want this trust me!

melissabkr - Tuesday, 8 Sep
hi yall I'm here because i need some opinions i want to share this with other moms with kids the same age as mine, mainly boys, My son just turn 21 months and i am worry about his lack of speech,He's not really saying a word that is in the diccionary, he doesnt refers to me as mommy or Daddy to my husband,sometimes is hard to get his attention,like he doesnt know his own name,but sometimes he does, he doesnt follow any kind of instructions,we can't even let him walk when we are at any store because he would take off and not come back,not even holding his hand, he likes to watch tv and respond very well when he sees barney or baby einstain videos,he claps when other people clap even on tv ,idk, i don't want to think it has anything to do with autism,but i will ask the Dr. next time we see him,i just wanted to know if theres anybody else going thrugh something like this or similar and what the chances are,i know all kids are different but i think he is acting behind other kids his age... thanks

pedram68 - Wednesday, 26 Aug
hello ladies ! i always say my husben is big help arond the house and he always do tell me he does loves me but i cry as soon as he leaves the house he works 2 jobes 5 days week now since we got newo car its really hard on me when i dont have family or friends near by me im goin out of my dam mind baby boy its teething he crys evey day for the past week husben comes home taird he does play with baby he does talk to me alilo then eat sleeps on his days off he take care of the baby i get some time off we go out for shopin or eat he keeps waneing to try for # 2 baby but im not ready for thet at all right now i love babys but i miss the old times when i was just with him all the time u know the reall sex life right now we onley have sex 2 days in week or mabye 3 sorry if is to much info does any one feel the same i mean i feel like i need to help him out some how i need to work make money but again who is going o look after my son as muchs money i make i have to pay for day care and my husben dont like my son to go to day care or any one take care of him so i cant go to work i miss hubby so much i didnt think life with out him be carzy i miss him so much every day sorry if i talk to much im carzy in love lol ! hope u ladies are doing okie

joeyandzacksmommy2007 - Tuesday, 25 Aug
Join me on month 22 girls its lonely over there...i posted about zacks appoinment too....

Bri - Tuesday, 25 Aug
So if you click the picture along the side it takes you to 2months but if you use the one right above the paragraph it takes you to the right page.

Bri - Tuesday, 25 Aug
doublemama - Granted I don't have a girl but growing up in a household of all girls and dealing with my nieces....it's a girl thing. It's also why I was scared to have a girl. HAHA! Girls are full of drama. I think it's our job to teach them to get past it. How? I have no idea but it's normal what you're experiencing. Tammy! I'm so sorry. I feel like crap not being closer. I wish there was more we all could do to help. That poor little guy! If it's not one thing it's another. It makes me think everything is connected in some way and you just need 'House' or some doctor that specializes in off the wall cases. Shelly, it's happening to me too! I also agree. I tend to do nothing all day long and it's driving me insane. I also realized if I don't go out I don't go to fast food which will help me keep off the weight. It's not good for my son though. I'm trying to get something productive done around the house, like clothes. Try to find something and it really makes you feel good. I know it's hard with a little one around but does feel good. It's really helped me with pregnancy depression and whatnot.

shelly32 - Tuesday, 25 Aug
everytime i click on the 22 months page it takes me to the 2 month page...anyone else have this problem? I can't believe they will be 2 soon!! holy cow where does the time go? What's worse is i don't feel like i do anything from one day to the next or get anything accomplished!! oh well...but it is exciting that Jack is starting to talk in sentences. Normally he'll say things like, 'bye-bye Daddy' or 'did it' but this morning he was trying to get something to work and he finally did it, so he goes 'I did it!' it was awesome, just blew me away. I still watch my nephew 3-4 days a week and i feel bad for him because no one teaches him anything. He turned two in july and he can only say ma and da and doesn't know many names of objects. I know a lot of kids don't talk a lot yet, but he doesn't know animals beyond dog and cat when we are looking at books...does this seem normal? I am not trying to 'compare' our kids but i just feel like it's my responsibility to teach him since no one else takes the time...

joeyandzacksmommy2007 - Tuesday, 25 Aug
we had another bad episode with zack yesterday and he had to be rushed in and well they said his sodium is way low and that his kidneys function is not working right and that he is to see his peds immediatly tomorrow(well today)it also showed that his body is holding way to much fluid although he is still wanting more to drink..not sure what that is all about but i guess we will find out at his appointment...my hubby suggested to me that it might be the way he walks which is causing his leg pain also..ugh my poor baby...oh yeah it is about that time to move up.....

Bita1588 - Tuesday, 25 Aug
J/Z...i hope the appointment goes well. Double and Ash, good point, it could be just that, so J/Z if the doc cant find anything maybe get his back looked at, if could be from the way he walks or something of that nature. Double as far as the fits go the only thing I think you could really do is just ignore her, and if you really have a problem doing something her way don't give in even if it means her throwing a fit. I don't give into Brandon one bit, if its in public bring them outside, to the car, or to the bathroom so they don't learn that they will get there way in public. As far as the bragging..yay for her, Brandon say 'lena' when we get to his sitters house and he is so excited about it, her name is elena. Its cute and yes very proud making.

doublemama - Monday, 24 Aug
two things..one to ask for advice and one cause i feel like bragging..so the part i need advice about is my daughter has become a total drama queen. lil stupid things will send her crying and throwing a fit..for example mama HAS to be the one to put her in the car seat, if baba even tries she will throw a fit the whole way home..telling her no means nothing to her, and even when she can tell us why we are telling her no, she continues to go about her behavior..granted most of it is just that she is way too curious, not out of maliciousness (for example she wants to learn how the microwave works, so she'll pull up a chair n stand there trying to figure it out..or when i wont wash the sippy cup that she wants, she'll pull a chair up to the fridge n try n figure out how to unlock it to wash it herself..all things that make sense in her head but are dangerous)..so what i need to know is how i should go about disciplining her, and what am i doing wrong, and how can i get through to her!??........now for the bragging part we were coming home at night and when we got to our street for each house we passed she would say 'here??' noo!...here?? noo!!..then finally when we got to our house she goes yayyy heeere! (i had no idea she could recognize our house..we live in tx where htey are all cookie cutter houses plopped down right next to each other)...

3rdtimer - Monday, 24 Aug
So, we movin' on up to month 22? It's usually around the 25th of each month we go. Boohoooo.... You know girls I was just thinking this morning that if kids were not so much hard work, we'd all just want a hundred of them because they're so cute. I guess they have to be a bit difficult, it's sort of self-regulating, keep the population manageable!

ash ♥ jj - Monday, 24 Aug
I work for spinal surgeons and I read the notes all the time that patients back problems cause leg pain.

doublemama - Monday, 24 Aug
leg pain can sometimes be backpain just radiating down the leg..i know when i get diarrhea my back can sometimes hurt with it...so maybe hes having lotta spasms n such in his digestive system that r causing him back/leg pain?....so i guess its impt to note if its upper leg or lower leg...is he able to walk, is one hurting more than the other?

joeyandzacksmommy2007 - Monday, 24 Aug
so guys i need some help..i called the endocrinologist today about zacks leg pain and chronic diarrhea and she said that it is not likely that it is related but could be something serious so i need to contact his peds. its been over 5 weeks now that this is happening. i keep putting off the doctors cuz i am so sick of being there and afraid of something else being seriously wrong. i made an appointment for tomorrow morning. does anyone have any idea what can cause the leg pain and diarrhea and they both started together......

Bri - Monday, 24 Aug
Tammy, I'm sorry things didn't go the way you wanted but I agree. At least your Mom and Dad know you care. They know you've made an effort to be with them and you haven't abandoned them completely. I know you don't care about money and I couldn't care less about your siblings and their feelings on the subject. Your parents KNOW and that's all the matters. It sounds like they also know that the siblings are becoming out of control as well. Good for you for being the only sane person your mom can talk to! I'm sorry it was your birthday when this all happened but again, at least you got to see him and talk to mom.So I went to visit my mom this weekend. It was fun and alright. We swam and didn't do much. But holy cow was sleeping hard. Kekoa does not like pack n plays so he slept with me. First off it took FOREVER for him to go to sleep and then he thrashed all night. Ugh! It was the first time sleeping away from his crib and not nursing. Before I'd just shove a boob in his mouth and he'd fall asleep. Doesn't work that way now. Grr! We'll work on it I guess.

Bita1588 - Monday, 24 Aug
J/Z...I wish your birthday would have gone better I know you probably would have rathered have a huge party especially since Joey starts school this week right?? Thats something you have to look foward to. I'm glad that you at least got to see him and he will always remember that you came to see him and such and I'm glad you got ahold of your mom finally! Good news is, well kind of is that he got up to a year, which is way better than what they told you early, so thats good. My grandma got 6 months to live and this was about 5 years ago and she is still going strong, all be it still going to chemo, but she is doing well on her good days, she is still able to get out and about, so you never know, I pray that he handles chemo well and that you make many more great memories before he is gone. On another note, is everything ready for school? How do you think Zack will adjust to big brother being gone? Have you thought of that yet? You might have to entertain him at first, lol. 3rd...Have fun! I'm thinking about going to Dublin sometime soon with a few co-workers, hopefully that works out well, and if the hubby wants to go then hopefully the parents will watch him or come along and babysit, lol. We are supposed to plan a family vacation anyway, they said to Hawaii again since we didn't get to go the last time they went, but I told them that I could go to Hawaii anytime that I'd rather go somewhere other than there and I know the parents are wanting to go back to Ireland, they went a few years back and loved it, so who knows maybe it will end up being a family excursion...its better that way anyway b/c they usually get hotel and car and they babysit, mind you we don't ask, its just something they have done every time, I guess they know we need some time off, especially on vacation. Well, work went well today, I'm really enjoying it although at the end of next week i being working mornings, 430-700 or 500-800, and then whatever I pick up in between, so we will see how that goes for me, blah. Also, the potty thing is going well. Brandon still tells me every time...and I mean every time that he pee pees and if I'm out and about I have to take him to the bathroom or he won't stop telling me 'pee pee'.......okay, so what made me think of that was that Brandon just told me pee pee...and so i took his pullup off and put him on the potty...pullup was dry so he sat and peepeed!!! Sorry this is so long, I just keep rambling. Good night all, lol. BTW..when he peepeed, he said 'uh oh' I tried to tell him it was okay, but he wasn't to sure about that.

3rdtimer - Sunday, 23 Aug
On a positive note I have just booked a trip to Bali for myself and a friend, to go to the wedding of an old school friend. She has been with her hubby-to-be for years and they have 3 kids and he has finally popped the question! They live in Bali because he is a pilot flying routes around there, and they can live well there pretty cheaply and have live-in nannies and housekeepers and such. Which is good because he is gone for work for long stretches and their middle daughter is physically disabled so needs a lot of help. Anyhow I have never been to Bali, although most Australians seem to go at least once because it is such a cheap way to have a tropical holiday. It's cheaper often than going to Queensland. So, me and my friend Kirsty are going for 4 days, staying in a hotel right on the beach. I can't believe I'll be doing 2 overseas trips in one year (after Spain earlier). Pretty lucky hey.

3rdtimer - Sunday, 23 Aug
Oh J&Z... sorry you're going through all this. At least now your mum & dad seem to know where your heart is. Gosh some people are just poisonous aren't they. How can they feel good about themselves. So the two nieces who have gone cold on you, are they the ones that just visited? As for Zack I hope it's just growing pains and some 24 hour virus. :( Poor you.

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