Say “hello” to your two-year-old toddler (plus one month!). What a long way your little one has come in such a short time. Just two years ago, he was a helpless newborn. And now, he’s running, jumping, skipping and maybe even talking! What should you expect in terms of 2 year and 1 month old toddler development milestones*?
Let’s find out.
*Please keep in mind that toddler development milestones are not set in stone, and every child will grow at his own pace. However, should you be concerned about your little one’s growth, do consult your paediatrician.
2 Year and 1 Month Old Development and Milestones: Is Your Toddler on Track?
Physical Development
At 25 months, your child should be learning to run smoother, and turn corners easier. He can also go up and down the stairs, and jump. Not only will parents be running after their very own little Speedy Gonzales, they better watch out because he will also develop the skill to walk backwards, right about now.
Most toddlers this age are 86.3-88 cm tall, weighing 12.3-12.4 kg. Their head circumference will be around 47.3-48.4 cm.
Oh, and did we mention that he will also be capable of opening cupboards and drawers? Children at this age are extremely resourceful and have no concept of danger. Therefore don’t wait for them to hit their 2 year and 1 month old toddler development milestones before you decide to start childproofing.
Always have a checklist on hand to ensure that your home is a safe place for your toddler to explore. Drawers and bookshelves should always be anchored to the walls to prevent them from toppling over should your toddler decide to climb up.
You may have noticed that your child’s level of play has increased in complexity. All of a sudden he is able to stick with one activity for longer periods of time.
However, from 25 to 27 months of age, your toddler will still try to solve simple problems via trial and error. Parents might feel the need to offer assistance, but toddlers would probably refuse as a way of asserting their independence. But don’t worry because your stubborn little one will get there by practising over and over until he has perfected his game.
Tips:
- Do take your toddler outdoors so he can stretch his muscles and have a spot of fresh air. Give him some freedom to explore, but remember to keep a close eye on him to keep him safe.
- Give your toddler a variety of simple puzzles to help with eye-hand coordination.
- Blocks, musical toys as well as push or ride toys are great for enhancing your toddler’s grip and other fine motor skills. Toys that teach cause and effect are great for mental development.
- Simple arts and craft projects are not only a great way to keep those little hands busy, they also expand a child’s creativity and innovation.
2 year and 1 month old toddler development: Puzzles and blocks will definitely keep them busy for longer now.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- Each child is unique and develops at his own pace. But by this time, your child should be able to walk steadily, and not exclusively on his toes.
- If your child has trouble grasping objects, consult your doctor.
Cognitive Skills
While your toddler’s brain development would have improved by leaps and bounds, the biggest improvement is their ability to stay focused on one thing for longer periods of time. This also means toddlers at this age might get totally absorbed in play because they have no sense of time.
We know this might be an exciting and somewhat trying time for you and your child. Try not to worry so much and hang in there! There is light at the end of the tunnel. There’s also so much more for you and your toddler to explore, to look forward to, and to learn from one another.
Tips:
- Give your toddler plenty of guidance to help him make the transition to a new task.
- At this age, your child will begin to sort items into shapes and colours. Play sorting games with him to encourage this skill.
- Your child loves helping out at home! Give him simple two-step instructions like “Pick up your toys and put them in the closet.”
To see uninterrupted 2 year and 1 month old toddler development, be sure to provide your toddler with nutritious meals and snacks.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- By this age, your child should already know how to use common things from his daily routine(like a phone or spoon) and from observing you. If he still doesn’t know what to do with these everyday objects, consult your paediatrician.
- Your child should be able to recognise pictures of familiar objects or people.
- If your child does not name pictures, this could be a red flag.
Social and Emotional Skills
Your toddler WILL test your patience – especially when he is trying to assert his independence at the worst times.
While his actions may seem intentional and deliberate, try to remember that at this age, he is usually motivated by curiosity and not malice. So as annoying as he may be, try to remain patient instead of losing your cool.
While he might seem like he wants to do everything himself now, you will still experience clingy episodes where they come running back to mum. After a quick cuddle and words of affirmation, he will be off to do his own thing again.
Don’t be surprised if your toddler is mostly self-centered at this age. He is still trying to grasp the concept of sharing and is yet to fully develop the skills needed to play cooperatively.
However, one thing parents can definitely look forward to is hearing cute and unrestrained bursts of laughter now that your little tot can understand humour a little better.
As part of 25 month old toddler development, he will start forming bonds with his favourite things. For this reason, he can be quite possessive about a favourite toy, for example, and refuse to share.
Tips:
- It is normal if your toddler shows frustration and lashes out when he fails at building a block tower or completing a game when playing with others. This is because he has yet to develop empathy and understanding of other’s needs or feelings.
- Sticking to routines will help to reduce temper tantrums. But if he throws one in public, remember to keep your cool before taking him aside. Some toddlers can be really resistant to change sometimes, so be prepared to be flexible.
- Remember that everything he does at this age is completely driven by impulse (or curiosity). He is unable to reason yet, so patience is key.
- Even though he may not fully understand people’s emotions for a few more months, it is still important to teach him that lashing out physically is unacceptable.
- It would be good to start setting boundaries, but sometimes your toddler may respond better to humour and distraction rather than strict discipline or reason.
- Parents can lead by example when teaching toddlers how to share. By sharing your things while respecting his possessions, you’ll teach him to be less protective over their belongings. Role-playing is a great way to practice sharing. Show him that even when he shares something with other people, it will be returned back to him safely.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- If your child doesn’t imitate actions or words, that might also be cause for alarm.
- Some children are more outgoing than others, but children at this age should be interacting with others — showing, giving, and looking up for reactions. If your child does not seem responsive to others during play, consult your doctor.
- Also speak to your doctor if your child doesn’t engage in pretend play.
Speech and Language Development
By now, your little one can more or less understand just about everything you say. He is able to follow simple instructions and comprehend simple questions. But this does not necessarily mean he will follow everything you say.
Not every child can be expressive at 25 months. But there is no need to compare him to other children of the same age, as this skill varies from child to child.
However, one thing for certain is the huge leap in language skills. Some toddlers might start to say some favourite words on their own. And soon enough, they will start putting two words together to form simple sentences.
This sort of loving interaction cannot be replaced by educational videos or flashcards. Most of all, he wants to share his discoveries – including learning words – with you.
Tips:
- To support your toddler’s budding language development, be diligent with daily reading.
- Let him chose a book to read. Then discuss what he sees in the pictures on every page.
- It is important for parents to maintain this sort of loving interaction with their toddler which cannot be replaced by TV or technology. Even five to 10 minutes a day of lap-time reading will be an enormous support to language refinement and overall brain development.
- He will be extremely inquisitive and may ask a lot of questions! Remember to always be patient even when he may not be able to express himself properly.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- If your child’s voice sounds unusual (raspy or nasal).
- By this age, your child should be saying words and phrases by himself, not just imitating you. If he still seems to be limited to imitation, ask your paediatrician about it.
- Though your child’s speech might be hard to understand now, you should be able to understand half of his speech at this age. Consult your doctor if he doesn’t use language to communicate more than his immediate needs.
- If your child can’t follow simple directions.
- If your child doesn’t listen to stories with pictures.
Health and Nutrition
Where has all that baby fat gone? Gone are his chubby arms and legs. Suddenly your little tot is lengthening and starting to look more like a preschooler (with preschooler sass to boot).
When it comes to food, don’t be too worried if on some days he devours everything, and on other days, he pushes his meal away. His caloric needs are lower now, so do not stress. He will be just fine if you continue to offer him nutritious meals and snacks.
A 2 year and 1 month old toddler should be getting around 1,000-1,400 calories a day from grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat & beans.
Ideally, your child should be getting 3 ounces of grains a day; one ounce equals one slice of bread, one cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or half a cup of cooked rice, pasta, or cereal.
Your toddler should have a cup of vegetables and a cup of fruits a day. Cut fruits and veggies into small pieces to prevent choking.
As for milk, your child should have 2 cups a day, though you can substitute this with other dairy products like yoghurt and cheese.
Your child should be getting protein from meat and beans to help him grow — 2 ounces a day is ideal.
In a nutshell, here’s what your child needs every day (refer above for what the amounts look like):
- Fruits: 3 cups for boys and girls
- Vegetables: 1.5 cups for boys and girls
- Grains: up to 3 ounces for boys and girls
- Proteins: 24g for boys and girls
- Milk: 16 to 20 ounces of whole milk for boys and girls (your child does not require formula milk anymore)
- Water: 1200 ml for boys and girls
If you are worried about health issues later in life, you might want to consider switching your tot to low-fat options. But do not go overboard with restrictions because they still need healthy fat to grow. Your growing toddler will benefit from a boost in fibre-rich whole grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies, along with lean sources of protein such as poultry and fish.
Parents with picky eaters can try cutting food into fun shapes or adding food that has natural vibrant colours (e.g. beetroot, carrots, dragon fruit) to make meals more appealing.
Vaccination
Apart from your child’s annual flu vaccinations, there aren’t any immunisations that your child must get if his shots are up to date. But to be sure, consult your doctor.
Because your child’s immune system is still getting used to the great big world, he/she will probably contract the common cold several times in a year. Treat this with fluids and rest, and consult your paediatrician if you want to administer medicine. Your child should recover after five to seven days.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
- If your child’s temperature goes above 40ºC (104ºF), you should immediately call your doctor. This is super important, especially when your child has other symptoms (vomiting, rash, etc.)
- In case of persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, you should consult your doctor to prevent dehydration.
- If your child has trouble breathing.
- If your child loses skills she once had.
Source: WebMD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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