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 51-75 of about 2532 for month 21
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Bri - Thursday, 20 Aug
Alright Ladies! It's official. I just went through all of Kekoa's old clothes. I am a pack rat! I am a shop-a-holic! My son wears too much clothes! HAHA! I can't believe the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars worth of clothes I have stored up from the last year and a half! It's amazing the piles of clothes that I have accummulated. It's almost embarrassing. The sad thing is that there are probably a half dozen carters or off name brands. The rest are BabyGap, Gymboree and Baby Style. I miss Baby Syle. Did you all know they went out of business. I was so sad. Anyways, needless to say, I don't need to go shopping for this new boy. Thank God it's a boy! Just think if I had to give away or sell all these clothes. I think I'd cry. HAHA!

Bri - Thursday, 20 Aug
So as much as I hate to admit it I think Kekoa will be ready for a bed sooner then I thought. I love being able to leave him in his crib to go to sleep. It means we can have a very strict schedule without tears. Last night I was dismissed! We have our routine and as soon as I started our prayers he began waving and telling me bye-bye. He's also very interested in beds and pillows. Loves to lay on them. He'll lay on them for several minutes without moving. So we'll see. He's also able to get his leg to the top of the crib rail without actually climbing. He could climb over if he wanted to but he doesn't. I'll keep the rail up for another month or two. Then I'll take it off and see how he fairs. If all goes well then we'll buy him a twin bed and move the crib into the guest room.

Megaroni - Thursday, 20 Aug
I hear you all on the husband thing. I am 29 weeks pregnant, and it does jurt to hold my daughter andif I get my husband to hold her for a little he hands her back or lets her down at the most inappropreate time. I work full time and still take Megan with me take care of the house and cook and my husband acts like I am using pregnancy as an excuse if I say I just can't do or lift this could you help me. What really gets me mad is when I am up half the night feeling like I am getting beaten up by the baby and he snores away, then when we get up at 5:30 and I am tired and achy HE gets in the shower and just sits in there for like 15-20 minutes because HE is tired and and he hurts from sleeping wrong. He then runs behind and so he does not have time to get Megan ready like he usually does so I have to hurry around and get her ready as well and sometimes I run out of time to eat and have to wait until I get to work to eat when I feed Megan, which when you are pregnant is hard to wait to eat. Pregnacy was so much easier (easy pregnacy+no other child to take care of) last time plus my husband was more helpful and understanding.

Bri - Thursday, 20 Aug
Suzy, I know how you feel. It's hard. My husband doesn't do anything around the house. I feel obligated to do everything since I'm not working anymore. Last time I used the excuse that I worked all day. Now I try to get one or two things done a day and the rest is spent playing with Kekoa. Even if that means going out in the backyard and letting him run in the sprinklers. I have a comfy chair outside. The important things get done. But oh well if the master bath looks awful. No one sees it, right? It is frustrating and men don't understand. How can getting up when we want to (aka when child wants to), hanging around the house, going shopping when needed and playing with a toddler be that hard, right? It's the men's point of view. Last time I could come home and crash whenever I wanted. Now I have to wait until noon or 8pm to do that. I'm getting better though. As long as I stay motivated for something I feel good.

luvbeingamom - Thursday, 20 Aug
Bek - My good friends little girls were taking that for a while. (they stay with me at least once a month). They are both very tall and VERY skinny. The 10 yr old is like 70lbs, the 8 yr old is 50 lbs. Crazy little. But when they went on that, they ate like they were never getting food again. I suppose it could have the opposite reaction for other kids. can you half the dose or cut it out completely? See if she is hungry again? I would guess that would be the fastest and most effective way to see if it is the meds.

Bek 30 - Thursday, 20 Aug
Ok I need input and suggestions.... Katy is not eating, not even snacking, she is lucky if she takes a bite of something and swallows it, she is barely drinking either, thrown her formula bottles to the wind ( which I wouldn't mind if she would eat or drink milk), but she won't. I have tried her on new foods, her fave foods, eating at different times, eating junk food... but no nothing.... it's been going on for weeks, I just thought it was cause every week she either has the flu, gastro bug or teething...but surely not this long she can go without eating properly or drinking ( she will sip on drinks, but she isn't drinking the way she used to), even at day care she won't drink a thing, and the only thing she ate today was a frozen yogurt that I supplied...anyway hubby made a good suggestion and I have tried googling it, to no avail....whats the chances of the MELATONIN supressing her hunger and thrirst, it has seemed to be getting worse since being on the sleeping medication...where as Dylan seems to have the opposite, I can't get him to take food out of his mouth ( not that I am complaining as he has never really liked to eat)..it just seems so bizarre...so if u guys have any suggestions or know of any friends that have their kids on melatonin and u could ask them about it, I would greatly appreciate it....I will try and get her into the docs tomorrow. Thanks girls

Bek 30 - Thursday, 20 Aug
3RD: My nephew ( the one with all the problems) has continually had burst ear drums since a toddler, he ended up having his adnoids removed and grommets inserted.... they say not to get the head wet at all...he has always had to swim with ear plugs and even shower with them in..it's not supposed to burst so often, his 15 now and needs to go into hospital in October for his first ear to be operated on, then has to go back a month later for the other ear, and his not allowed to move out of bed for a week after each operation...I'll ask my sister more about it for you, but I would b getting Clem off to the dr;s asap, and also it is hereditry...my father has always suffered from it, has never been allowed to get his head wet...even now at the age 60 he still has troubles, it also puts them off balance, and they need antibiotics for it... I know Ben's burst again about 2 weeks ago, needed a week off of school and was put on 2 different types of antibiotics for it.

shelly32 - Thursday, 20 Aug
double - ahhh i know the feeling - unfortunately it will prob get worse until the end. I told my hubby by like the 6 or 7 months mark my belly was so huge i told him it hurt to hold my son for more than a few minutes and he would say, 'he wants you not me' so of course i felt obligated...then my hubby got a severe case of poison ivy (which lasted about 2 weeks) and all he did was complain all day long how much it hurt and it hurt to hold the kids cuz they move around and it would irritate it more...so i just laughed and said, you'll get no sympathy from me!!! he was mad that i didn't feel bad but you know what i went through that for months not 2 weeks!!!

luvbeingamom - Thursday, 20 Aug
Suzy - I remember that point in pregnancy. Where all you want to do is sit and do nothing. you are tired, exhausted, your feet hurt, you body hurts the baby is still forever from coming out and to top if off you now have a toddler and a house to maintain. It is tough and asking for help shouldn't be made into an issue. Though it always is. Tell your hubby that you need a break and either for 30 min a day you go lock yourself in the bedroom/bathroom for some you time or once a week take a full afternoon to do what you want to do. Even if that means going over to your parents and sleeping on their couch! Just give yourself a break. it really is hard for everyone, at least at some point in the 2nd pregnancy, some just make it look easier then it actually is. We are always here for a good vent! **** I don't think Craig would ever say anything to the boys like that. We both have gone above and beyond to let this have the least possible impact on them. We both understand and know that we are their parents and need to act that way. We do both still care about each other, just not as a husband/wife. I don't even think he wants me back, i think he wants what he can't have. I know he is much happier now then he was when we were together and the i don't think he wants to go back to me saying 'no, you can't go to the game b/c we need to spend time together'. I think in a bit of time it iwll be ok. **** 3rd - I have done that. Not in a while, but i have done that. Get so mad that you have to throw things or slam things! I always end up breaking things. It stinks, then i get mad for breaking the thing. It is amazing to me how much a small child can push your buttons though. I had to look at Josh not to long ago and say 'you need to go in the play room and give mommy a minute, i am going to loose it in a second'. I must have had a terrible sound in my voice or look on my face b/c he quickly went in the playroom and didn't come out until i came in there calm!

3rdtimer - Thursday, 20 Aug
Okay so here's me trying to be all mature and give advice about not letting things get to you and I have just got so frustrated with the boys and trying to get tea ready and so forth that I've slammed a door and one of my favourite artworks has crashed down and broken. Serves me right I suppose. :( I have a tendency to do that and have broken a couple of things - I threw the cutlery basket from the dishwasher one time. Not at anyone, just on the floor. Then I had to buy a new one for $50 or something!! It never turns out well... why do I keep doing it??

3rdtimer - Thursday, 20 Aug
Aw Suzy I hope you can get a good sleep and feel better after that! I'm sure exhaustion and pregnancy hormones have a lot to do with getting upset. Like you have said you realise you're not in the worst position, it's just all getting on top of you at the moment (understandably). You're probably also at that stage of pregnancy when you're feeling pretty uncomfortable and tired but the baby still seems like a long way off as well! Frustrating. I don't know what things are like financially for you but might it be possible for you to get a cleaner to come in and do some of the harder physical stuff like vaccuuming, if your husband is not going to help? Perhaps you could suggest it as an option to him? I'm very lucky that my husband loves to cook and has always done the majority of the cooking in our household. However, I'm having to adjust and do some more lately since he started his new job which means he's often not home to cook in time for the boys' tea. *** Bita that's great that Brandon at least associates peeing with the potty. But don't think you need to be in any rush... there are so many things we can beat ourselves up about as parents! *** Luv that's good you got things sorted with Craig... I wonder if he will be questioning your boys about 'Mommy's friend' after seeing the roses?? *** Well Clem was clingy and whiny this morning and cheered up somewhat after some nurofen (poor bub I feel like he lives on the stuff). Anyway this afternoon I discovered he has burst an eardrum again. I think it's usually his left one. Is it okay for this to keep happening? Will it get scarred from bursting so often? (I guess I should ask a doctor but if anyone knows, let me know!)

doublemama - Wednesday, 19 Aug
i cant sleep. dont know if im being a dramaqueen or if i have a right to feel this way but i just had a sobfest/shouting war with my husband about how overwhelmed i am with taking care of a toddler and doing most of the housework/all the cooking while pregnant. my body is just so slow n sluggish n worn out all i wanna do is be able to sit and thats the very thing im not getting to do. im on my feet cleaning this cooking that, keeping my daughter busy etc. and she has become so emotional and throws a fit over the smallest things so its a struggle to keep the peace, keep her busy n happy, and maintain my sanity and energy. i dont know why this is so hard for me and i feel like such a crappy mom because so many people do the same thing without it seeming to be too hard for them. my hubby is more involved w her than most dads i know, i have my parents 8 minutes away for when i need them, and a good support system of other stay at home moms within 10 minutes..so all that means things should be easier..which they are not and therefore i feel like im the one that just sucks. i dont know.

doublemama - Wednesday, 19 Aug
luv..im glad the tables have turned and seems like u have the ball in ur court...is craig the type that could say something irrational to the boys, as in that he tried to get back together with you but that it was you that didnt want to? i have a friend with that type of ex..and instead of a flat out no she told him, of course id love to as long as such and such standards were met (standards he knows he cant meet)...im glad you are at a happy place in your life now, and its pretty cleared you tried your best to make things work, and that you're doing an amazing job keeping the boys interest at heart. they appreciate it now i am sure, but they definetly will when they are older and you'll know it.

luvbeingamom - Wednesday, 19 Aug
Bek - I hope you feel better soon and that NOBODY else gets it! **** Double - I watch people all the time. It is a great source of amusement! Especially in a doc office that is running behind! At least he got his boy! hehe. **** Shelly - Congrats! Sorry about the period though. That stinks! Glad all else is going well. i will try to check out your website tomorrow, but i am exhausted today and need to get to bed, just hd to say hello on here. I am seriously addicted! **** Thanks ladies on the friends with benefits thing. I am glad i am not the only one who thinks that was crazy! haha. For a little update... We had dinner the other night. It went well. I told Craig (in the most pleasant and diplomatic way possible) that i wasn't comfortable with the idea of being friends with benefits. It would confuse the kids and our relationship and i like the fact that we are friends now, working well together for the boys. he said 'ok subject dropped'. So that was easy. However... I half expected this after the friends with benefits offer, but not completely! He asked if i was ok with all of this (meaning the divorce). I just paused and turned the question on him. He said that he has thought that maybe we should try again. I was dumb founded. I asked him every month for a year to work on our relationship with me, and he always said no. Including the 'maybe you should move out permanently' conversation where i said 'do you think we could work on this to fix everything' and he said 'i don't want to try'. So now i have moved on. Had a pretty tough 6+ months, well more like 10 months but i am good now. I am finally truly happy! So i basically told him all of that and his body language def seemed upset by it. But his words said he was good with that, plus we both agreed that it would bad for the kids to 'try again' and then have it not work. Not that i was willing to try. All seemed good until he came over tonight and saw that i have a dozen pink roses on my kitchen table. He seemed a bit jealous. First time ever i have seen him jealous. I am starting to get nervous at how smoothly this might all go. So far it is still good, but i guess (esp for him) hard to adjust too. But we still had a goodnight. Watched Race to witch mountain with the kids and had dinner together here at my house before he headed out to his friends so they can leave tonight for the Bristol Nascar race this weekend. All very nice and pleasant.

Bita1588 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
Bri, thats what I did with all of Brandons clothes and such, all of which someone gave me and I think are ridiculous looking I gave away, but everything else that I could see my next one using I kept, its the best idea ever! J/Z...I am so sorry you are having to go through this...hopefully everything works out, good luck tomorrow. Well, I started Brandon on his Flinstone vitamins...he loves them. He now tells me everytime he has to or shall I say already peed then he takes off his diaper and runs to the potty, I guess thats a good start, a little late on the catching the pee but a good start, lol. Now its just up to me to get off my rear and help him, lol.

Bita1588 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
Congratulations Bri..how exciting!!3rd, that is exciting, Clem is becoming a very big boy, lol. Congratulations to you too and hopefully if he doesn't want in his cot any longer he will do well in a toddler bed. As far as the highchair goes we never really had Brandon in one but his greatgrandpa bought him the wooden ones like they have at restaurants and since we have moved we brought a table and two chairs plus his highchair and he knows exactly where to go if he wasnt food, even if its not ready yet, lol.Luv I cannot believe your ex asked you that is he insane??!! First of all guys not wanting to have sex is crazy, and then after all of that time now he wants to...no way, he just can't find any thats all it is, he probably thought he wouldn't have a problem getting some from random girls or what have you, but he was wrong, oh well, his loss!! Tell him no, plus that will only complicate things like no other, and confuse the kids! I also congratulate you on your ability to stay friends, i wish everyone could act as mature as you guys do, as far as raising the kids at least, lol.Double, I hope you feel better...or felt better at your lucheon. Sorry I've been behind, I'm just trying to comment, on to page two, lol.

joeyandzacksmommy2007 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
guys i am very very very pissed right now..i do not know who to talk to so here goes i am talking to you so i do not go crazy.....so my dad is back at the local hospital and well everyone all the kids are there(but me and mark) and they are trying to figure out who is going to take over the family business. well they are arguing over this in front of my dad. and then it was heard that they were going to up my moms zoloft so she would be unaware of what was going on and then they would go and sell everything under her nose...I am heading up there tomorrow night with my brother again because as much as i do not want to be involved i have to go and make sure my mom is ok.....

doublemama - Wednesday, 19 Aug
so i was at the doc office today, and a man and his wife had their sono...so out come one daughter, after another, after another, then the man came out and announced to the waiting room that the fourth is 'a boy finally!!!' people started cheering haha....the wife was the last to come out n i heard her say shes sending her man in for a snip cause this 4th one wasnt planned and she is 'that 1% statistic'....lol being nosey and listening to all that made the wait easier on me hehe

Bri - Wednesday, 19 Aug
So my back aches this morning. At first I thought it was our new bed until I realized how many boxes I was moving about yesterday. Today is a day off. No lifting! HAHA! The tile guy is coming this morning to regrout our shower. We've got a warrenty for our house for a year and I'm going to use it! HAHA! Kekoa is still sleeping but I got up to clean up a bit. Now I wish I hadn't. I just want to crawl back into bed. Se la vie! Since I've decided not to do anything today we'll wait around for the tile guy to do his thing anywhere from 8-10. If he's done earlier then we'll run out for a few simple errands, like getting more ketchup and waffles. HAHA! Then I'm napping this afternoon when Kekoa goes down. After nap I have no idea. Probably relax and play out in the back yard. Love having his pool and sand box. I can sit in my chair and relax while he gets all dirty and nasty, the hose him off before heading inside. HAHA! Hope you all have a good day.

Bri - Wednesday, 19 Aug
That's great Shelly! We've missed you and wondered if you were heading for the nut house or not. HAHA! I'm also having another boy. It's exciting because I love boys. Maybe the third will be a girl. We'll see. Or I might just have all boys in this family. I don't mind either way. But, I'm glad you're not pregnant. Sorry about getting your period though. That sucks! I went almost a year without mine.

shelly32 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
oh yeah and i'm not pregnant my period was just starting i guess and was making me feel all whacky - so only made it 3 months postpartum this time - so much for breastfeeding and no periods!

shelly32 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
i feel bad not being able to catch up on all the pages of stuff i missed - things have been crazy! I hope everyone is doing well. J&Z you have to update me on how your little guy is doing and how his dr. appts have been going. Sorry about your dad! Sorry if i missed anything important anyone else listed - mama i believe you're having a boy correct and bri did you find out the gender of yours yet? umm what else - we had quite a storm here yesterday and almost killed my hubby! he was taking out the trash and as soon as he walked back onto the porch lightning struck the tree next to our house and the brach fell down onto the power lines and sparks were flying everywhere and the lines ended up hanging down across our yard and on our van! I was totally freaked out - he thought it was no big deal, but i couldn't believe if it had been just 10 seconds different he'd be dead! The little girl next door was also outside and just made it inside in time also! Anyhow I just started a site selling new and gently used toys (mostly gently used as of now) and am just trying to get feedback..I currently don't have many items listed - still working on getting everything on it. but was hoping to get some feedback from you guys, maybe what kind of items you would or wouldn't buy used and all that good stuff. Thanks in advance ladies - www.ispoilmykids.com

doublemama - Wednesday, 19 Aug
i had to wake up early for a doc appt n its just so ugh :/ i would so suck at being a working mom...good job to those that are!! anyway off to the appt..i wish theyd give me a blood pressure monitor n a doppler n measuring tape, i feel like i could do the whole appointment myself now lol

Bek 30 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
HaHa, I made Katy go to bed at lunch and she screamed blue bloody murder... I left her like that and just ignored her, rolled over in bed and pretended to be asleep, so 45mins later she climbs in next to me, has a grizzle, wipes her snot all over my back, then leaps over the top of me, lays on the other side, wraps her little hands around my neck ( 1 of my arms was stretched out, so she was laying on top of it), I dare not move of fear of her going off her dial again...and lo and behold we both fell asleep for 2 hrs, the only thing that woke me was pins and needles in my arm, so I try to drag it out and wake her in the process...damn!!!!! But least we both slept, she woke in a great mood, and me...well I ended back in the bathroom, bum on the loo and head in a bucket...lol, then we had to take Dylan to soccer training...yuck. I am feeling better now although still can't bring myself to eat, so hopefully I had a 24hr bug, and I am praying with every inch of my body that my kids don't get it....ohh hubby comes home from work and says to me ' r u feeling better, I heard u throwing up last night'...yep right thanx for getting me a bucket u large ass!!! I said to him did u even consider taking today off and looking after Katy for me, taking dyl to school, picking him up then taking him to soccer training, get this for an answer...' nope I didn't, ure a woman right?.... women r supposed to handle everything and anything, even when u r so sick'....MENTAL NOTE TO MYSELF~~~~ Next time he whinges he has the sniffles or feeling a bit sick...call triple 0 cause I don't give a f$%k!!!!

joeyandzacksmommy2007 - Wednesday, 19 Aug
thank you all for your support..its hard in so many directions with everything going on...i have called my mom every day 2x a day for two weeks and she has not answered my calls or returned any..(i believe it has to do with my sister) anyway another problem i am coming across now is if he only has a week left like they say(i believe he will beat the odds or at least hope) Joey starts school Tuesday and well i feel like i need to be here for him its more then feel its i have to be here for him. i can not leave him to do this by himself plus ashlee is coming back monday so its not easy to find someone to stay with two kids and get them off to school. then there is Zack a funeral is not a place for a 2 yr old so i would have to find someone for him too and everyone i know will be at the funeral....Butttttt if i don't go then i look bad in thier eyes and things will be even worse then they are now either that or i make them completely happy..i can not win either way...On a positve note i feel so much better today i went to bed at 9pm..can you believe it 9pm....the boys went to bed then too and both of them slept all night. i was so crappy feeling yesterday it almost felt like the flu..the only thing i was not doing was puking. i had the chills the aches and the poops. Zack is up now has been up since 530am but he stayed in bed watching tv and now he is eating a steak dinner..steak(that boy loves him some steak) potatos beans and peas...leftovers from last night that his dad ate too. anyway i hope you all had a great night here in the states and a great day elsewhere...talk to you all soon..xoxoxoxo

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