Toddler Development and Milestones: Your 2 Year and 4 Month Old

Your 2 year and 4 month old toddler’s milestones can come by pretty fast, and it can be hard to keep up with your little tot!

At two years and four months, you’ll notice that your toddler will start becoming even more imaginative. This is the age where he starts to imagine different things around him, and become creative. He will also start trying out different things and can be somewhat impulsive. If your little one seems restless, or has difficulty concentrating, don’t worry, it’s totally normal!

When it comes to 2 year and 4 month old development and milestones, you’ll notice that he is starting to become curious about the world around him. He will also start having very vivid dreams, and it’s not uncommon for them to share these dreams with you. 

This is also the age when he starts seeing “things” around his room, or getting scared of “monsters”. It’s all normal, and it’s important to make him feel safe and to reassure him that there’s nothing to be scared about.

2 Year and 4 Month Old Development and Milestones: Is Your Toddler on Track? 

Physical Development

At 2 years and 4 months, your child’s median height and weight* should be as follows: 

• Boys
  – Height: 89.9 cm (35.4 in)
  – Weight: 12.9 kg (28.5 lbs)
  – Head Circumference: 48.7 cm (19.2 in)
• Girls
  – Height: 88.8 cm (35 in)
  – Weight: 12.8 kg (28.1 lbs) 
  – Head Circumference: 47.7 cm (18.8 in)

When it comes to 2 year and 4 month old development and milestones, physical development is a big thing to consider.

Kids love to run around at this stage, so be ready to chase your little bub around the house! He also likes exploring his surroundings, and he will open doors, unscrew lids, and climb all over.

Running is only the start. He might be able to jump forward with both feet – and hop on one foot. Expect your toddler to get around in creative ways!

At this age, he’s growing up in both big ways and small ways. He should be able to go up and down a slide all by himself. He’ll also be able to grasp small objects easily, like a pencil or a crayon.

Tips:

• Encourage your child to engage in physical activity. Let him explore, jump, and run around the house. Take him to the playground and let him play with other kids.
• Naps are still very important at this age, even if your toddler might think otherwise. It helps boost his growth and development. And it gives him some much-needed rest so he can have energy throughout the rest of the day.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• A lack of coordination or good motor skills can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your little one. Don’t hesitate to bring him to the paediatrician to make sure his physical development is on point.

Cognitive Development

One of the 2 year and 4 month old toddler milestones that you’ll notice is your little one starting to use words to describe the world around him. This is a good time to teach him how to describe what he sees. 

His symbolic thinking skills also start to develop at this stage, and he can make the connection between drawings and real things. He can understand the difference between the drawing of a dog, and a pet dog that he might see.

At this stage, your toddler starts to play pretend, and can take on the “role” of his favourite character on TV. Yes, it’s time to start planning for that super cute Halloween costume.

Tips:

• Play is very important for your child’s development. He may not be keen on “organised” play yet, so it’s a good idea to just let him explore his toys and figure out stuff for himself.
• Engage his imagination by playing pretend with him. Dress up as superheroes or princesses.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• If your child has trouble describing things or communicating with you, it’s a good idea to get them looked at by a doctor. This is a crucial stage in your child’s development so be on the lookout for signs that something might be wrong.

Social and Emotional Development

In terms of his social and emotional development, your toddler starts to develop better relationship skills at this age. He can sometimes become a bit clingy, and can even start a tantrum if you suddenly have to leave.

If that happens, a good way of dealing with such behaviour would be to explain to your child where you’re going and why you have to leave for a bit. Always reassure him that you will come back, and make it a point to reaffirm his good behaviour.

You’ll also notice that your little one will attempt to play with other kids. However, at this young age, he’s still a bit egocentric, and isn’t always keen on playing with others. Regardless, he’s still curious about the world around him, and he will start becoming more sociable. It’s always a good idea to encourage this type of behaviour.

Tips:

• Take your child on playdates to help him socialise with other kids.
• You can even enroll your child in a daycare so that he is constantly in contact with other children.
• Teach him how to play well with others, taking turns, as well as sharing.
• Make sure to keep an eye on him at all times. Some children of this age can start a habit of hitting other kids in order to get what they want.  
• It’s always a good idea to constantly bond with your kids, especially at this age. During this time in their development, they start to establish relationships with the people around them. This helps build a good foundation for your relationship with your child.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• You should be concerned if your little one seems reclusive, or isn’t keen on playing with other kids. If it seems that your child is inside their own world and not really interacting with other people, then it might be a good idea to get your child looked at by a doctor.

Speech and Language Development

For speech and language, your toddler will start to use different words to describe the world around him. His vocabulary will be rapidly expanding, but don’t expect that it’ll always be clear.

It’s a good idea to teach him all about colours, shapes, and textures in order for him to understand and learn how to use those words.

Your toddler will also start gesturing and using words to make a request. An example would be when your child gestures towards the door if they want to go for a walk, or goes to the kitchen if they want a snack.

One of the more noticeable 28 month old toddler milestones is when your toddler starts to talk and share his experiences. This is the age when toddlers constantly blabber and start telling stories about themselves. Ask him about these stories to teach him how to express himself through words.

Tips:

• Teach your child new words and use adjectives to describe new things. That way, he can learn how to distinguish and identify things as well as use words to tell you what he wants.
• Let him tell stories to help boost his speaking ability.
• Engage your little one in conversation and encourage him to use new words that he learns.
• Ask him questions and wait for him to answer so that he can practice his communication skills better.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• If your little one tends to be quiet or speaks only a very few words, then it might be time to get your child checked. At this stage, children should be very talkative and are constantly expanding their vocabulary.

Health and Nutrition

Your child needs lots of energy to fuel him/her through the day. Typically, the calorie intake for boys and girls of this age are as follows:

• Boys: 1,068 Kcal/day
• Girls: 1,054 Kcal/day 

Their nutrition should be composed of the following: 

• Protein  

Your child needs one serving of protein (in total, around 24g) each day. One serving equals one cup of greek yoghurt, 3 oz of chicken breast or 4 hard-boiled eggs.

• Fruits 

Your child needs about three (100g) cups of fruits everyday. One cup of fruit equals one cup of fresh, frozen, or canned fruit, half (1/2) cup dried fruit, half (1/2) of a large apple, one eight- or nine-inch banana, or one medium grapefruit.

If your child wants to drink fruit juice, make sure it’s 100 percent juice without added sugars.

• Vegetables 

At this stage, your child requires 1.5 cups (150g) of vegetables every day. One cup of vegetables equals one cup of cooked or raw vegetables, two cups of raw leafy greens, one large tomato, or two medium carrots.

Aim to provide a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, beans and peas, starchy and others, each week. When selecting canned or frozen vegetables, look for options lower in sodium.

• Grains 

Introduce a minimum of three ounces of grains in your child’s meals. One ounce of grains equals one slice of bread, one cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or half (1/2) cup of cooked pasta or cooked cereal.

Choose whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, popcorn, quinoa, or brown or wild rice. Limit refined grains such as white bread, pasta and rice.

• Milk/Dairy 

Your child should drink a minimum of 16 to 19 ounces of milk a day. You may also substitute one cup of milk with one cup of yogurt or soy milk , 1½ ounces of natural cheese (around the size of four stacked dice), or two ounces of processed cheese (around the size of five stacked dice).

In a nutshell, here’s what you 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: 3 ounces for boys and girls
• Proteins: 24g for boys and girls
• Milk: 16-19 ounces for boys and girls
• Water: 1,200mL for boys and girls

Of course, your child’s preferences and appetites may vary, so be sure to keep that in mind when preparing his food.

Tips:

• It’s best to avoid “bribing” your child with snacks in order for them to finish their meal, as they’ll start to think of food as “good” or “bad.” This, in turn, makes them prefer eating reward foods instead of a proper meal.
• Another important thing to remember is to slowly cut back on how much milk your child drinks. Milk can sometimes ruin your child’s appetite for proper meals, so it can even be more difficult to make them finish their food. 1 1/2 cups of milk (or 1 cup yoghurt or 1 1/2 ounces of cheese) should be enough, and keep in mind that he can get the required protein from meat and vegetables instead of dairy.
• Providing your child with food that’s rich in iron is also important since anemia is common during this age. Give him meat, fish, as well as dark green vegetables in order to boost the iron in his system, which helps in the creation of new blood cells. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• If it seems that your child constantly gets sick or has a significant loss of appetite, it might be time to visit the doctor. A lot of things can cause these problems, so it’s best to get an expert to look at your child and find out the source of their problem.

Vaccinations and Common Illnesses 

There are no new vaccinations due this month. To find out what vaccinations your child should have got up to now, and check if this schedule is up-to-date, click here. 

When it comes to vaccines, your child should already have their chickenpox, MMR, flu, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccine. If your child is missing any of these vaccinations, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.

Treating Common Illnesses 

One of the more common illnesses your child could have would be fever, as well as coughs and colds. For the most part, you shouldn’t be worried since these are common illnesses among children.

To manage the three most common medical issues in kids – fever, cough, and cold – try the following: 

• Fever

If your child has fever up to 38°C (100.4°F), give him/her plenty of fluids and encourage your kid to rest. You could also apply lukewarm compresses to your child’s forehead, armpits and groin areas to help bring the temperature down. If your child’s temperature rises above 38°C (100.4°F) you should bring him/her to the doctor and follow medical advise to manage your child’s health. 

• Cough

While coughing is a reflex that clears the throat, it can become a nuisance if accompanied by a runny nose and sneezing. Ideally, you should first try home remedies such as ginger and honey mixed in lukewarm water. Plus, ask your kid to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day to help ease the discomfort. If your child’s cough does not ease after three to five days, or turns very phlegmy, bring him/her to the doctor for treatment and management advice.  

• Cold

Unless its extremely distressing, avoid taking any OTC medication for common colds. Colds are caused by a virus and so antibiotics will not help. If your child’s cold is accompanied by body aches and very high fever, it could in fact be influenza. You’d need to bring your child to a doctor if so for medical advice. 

It’s crucial to note here that while some medications can be bought without any prescriptions, your first option of treatment for mild health issues should be simple home remedies. For example, a child with a  cold and cough should be given extra warm fluids. He or she could gargle with warm salt water for a sore throat remedy. Meanwhile, nasal saline solution will help decongest the nasal passage. 

It’s also important to teach and encourage your child to practice good hygiene, especially hand-washing which can help prevent the spread of illnesses.   

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

If your child, 

• Has a fever over 39 degrees Celsius 
• Has unusual bruises, bumps or rashes 
• Complains constantly of headaches or other aches 
• Has been vomiting or has diarrhoea for more than two days

Source: WebMD

Your toddler’s previous month: 27 months

Your toddler’s next month: 29 months