Months 16-18
Mental Development
- Make some animal sounds
- Use mostly single words, but understand many simple words said to them
- Be able to point to some parts of their body when you name them
- Be ready for “real thought,” that is, to form mental images and symbols that represent objects or actions
- Speak at least 6 and possibly as many as 20 recognisable words
- Refer to themselves by name
- Enjoy listening to nursery rhymes and join in
- “Talk” to themselves when playing
Visual Development
- Recognise familiar objects and pictures in books and surroundings
- Look towards and signals to request for objects they want
- Watch and retrieve a rolling ball as far away as 3 metres
- Point to distant objects outdoors
Growth
16 Months
- Weigh about 9.8 kg if she’s a girl or about 10.5 kg if he’s a boy
- Be about 78.6 cm tall if she’s a girl or about 80.2 cm tall if he’s a boy
17 Months
- Weigh about 10 kg if she’s a girl or about 10.7 kg if he’s a boy
- Be about 79.7 cm tall if she’s a girl or about 81.2 cm tall if he’s a boy
18 Months
- Weigh about 10.2 kg if she’s a girl or about 10.9 kg if he’s a boy
- Be about 80.7 cm tall if she’s a girl or about 82.3 cm tall if he’s a boy
Motor Development
- Scribble with a crayon
- Carry things while walking
- Like to climb on things
- Build a tower of 2 blocks
- Play with push along toys
- Be able to help take their clothes off
- Climb into a chair and sit
- Walk more steadily, but with feet slightly apart
- Pick up food and small objects more competently
- Start to show a preference for one hand over the other
- Push and pull objects
Social and Emotional Development
- Become frustrated when they can’t do something
- Be very suspicious of strangers
- Demonstrate a strong preference for one parent, usually Mummy
- Show a growing desire for independence
- Start to “test the limits” to see what behaviours are acceptable
- Start to have temper tantrums
- Play alone for short periods
- Like to help with household tasks
- Be somewhat reluctant to separate from their parents
- Continue to hold on to a “security blanket” or suck their thumb when insecure or tired
