13-15 Month Old Development Checklist

Between the ages of 13 and 15 months, your child will be going through some incredible developmental milestones. This 13-15 month developmental checklist will give you an idea of what to look for and how to encourage your child’s growth. Every child progresses at their own pace, so don’t worry if your little one is behind or ahead of schedule – just make sure to consult with your child health nurse if you have any concerns. Enjoy watching your child grow!

Growth And Weight

Height and weight are key signs of your child’s development. While children grow at different rates, the below estimates can be used as a guide. If you’re unsure about your child’s weight or height, it’s important to speak to your child’s health care professional.

Cognitive Development

While the below milestones are a useful tool, it’s important to remember that every child develops at their own rate. As such, it is not cause for concern if a child does not reach every milestone precisely on schedule. Instead, focus on the overall trend of your child’s ability and consult with a professional if you have any concerns.

• Start to understand basic instructions
• Imitate activities
• Attempt to touch every object within reach, because of curiosity
• Understand that their name is unique to them
• Use gestures to communicate needs
• Language skills eg. using a few words correctly
• Points to familiar objects that they want

Visual Development

When it comes to visual development, every 13-15 month old is different. However, there are certain visual development milestones most toddlers will reach by a certain age. Of course, these are just general guidelines – some babies may show these signs sooner or later than others. If you have any concerns about your child’s vision, be sure to talk to your paediatrician.

• Carefully watch movement of people and things
• Place an object in hole of corresponding shape
• Recognise their own face in the mirror
• Look and touch coloured pictures with interest

Motor Development

As a 13-15 month old, your child will go through a remarkable process of motor development. Providing opportunities for physical activity and exploration is essential for promoting healthy motor development in all infants.

• Pick up very small morsels of food using their thumb and forefinger
• Like to touch different textures e.g. sticky, squishy
• Walk fairly well, though sometimes unsteadily
• Learn to walk backward by 14 months
• Be able to stand alone for long periods of time
• Be able to bend over and stand back up again while maintaining their balance
• Put an object into a container
• Be able to lie down from the sitting position
• Bring a spoon to their mouth, but lose some of the food

Social and Emotional Development

For a 13-15 month old, this is a time where they begin developing their own unique personality. They will learn to express themselves through their facial expressions, body language, and sounds. As they engage with you and other people, they will start to develop strong attachments and emotional bonds. The below toddler development milestones lay the foundation for your baby in this aspect.

• Show some signs of independence, such as self-feeding
• Be torn between independence and clinging to their parents at times
• Be able to indicate what he wants in ways other than crying
• Child plays with other children
• Say “no” to you sometimes to demonstrate their new-found identity
• Be loving and affectionate
• Find reassurance in having parents around
• Have a “blankey” or security object eg. stuffed animal

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