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