Months 24-36
Key points
- Between 24 and 36 months is one of the most important ages for emotional development and your toddler may display a range of ‘big emotions’.
- Toddlers at this stage become more articulate, independent and physically capable as well as being more social and imaginative.
- Adding a toddler milk drink, like Alula Gold Junior can be a good way to support their nutrition intake when their dietary intake may be inadequate.
Between 24 and 36 months, toddlers are bursting with energy, curiosity, and chatter. It’s an adorable and exciting stage where they’re mastering motor skills, forming full sentences, exploring imaginative play, and beginning to grasp early concepts like counting and problem-solving. Their social, emotional, and cognitive development is accelerating, and their independence is blossoming.
At this age, toddlers can enjoy a varied, family-style diet. It’s the perfect time to reinforce healthy eating habits especially with foods rich in iron and Omega-3 DHA to help fuel brain development, sharpen focus, and support overall growth.
Toddler Nutrition at 24 to 36 Months
Getting to know the five food groups is a game-changer for planning meals that truly nourish growing toddlers. By mixing up proteins, healthy fats and carbohydrates, you’re setting the stage for strong bodies and sharp minds. Think lean red meat for a powerful boost of iron, and fatty fish like salmon for a hit of brain-loving Omega-3 DHA. These nutrients are key players in supporting focus, brain development and overall growth –-think of them as your parenting sidekick helping build strong bodies and minds, one meal at a time.
Did you know that one in four Australian toddlers aren’t getting enough iron? Low iron levels can lead to paleness, irritability, poor sleep, and fussy eating, which makes mealtimes more challenging than they need to be. Including iron-rich foods like lean mince or finely chopped lean meat in meals can help boost iron intake. For more tips, check out If Your Toddler Won’t Eat Meat.
Iron isn’t only found in meat – wholegrains, legumes, dark green leafy greens, tahini and ion-fortified cereals are also great sources. Two-year-old toddlers need around 9mg of iron each day, and pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C can help boost absorption. For a snack that’s both filling and nutritious, try boiled eggs. And if you’re concerned that milk intake might be affecting iron levels, Alula Gold Junior Milk Drink provides 50% of their daily iron intake making it a smart addition to their diet.
Omega-3 DHA is a powerhouse nutrient with big benefits for your growing toddler. It plays a key role in brain and eye development, supports immune health, and helps set the foundation for lifelong learning. Fatty fish like salmon is a toddler-friendly favourite and a fantastic source of DHA especially when served up in fun, tasty meals like the Air Fryer Salmon and Cheesy Broccoli Rice from the free Alula Toddler Tummies Cookbook.
For picky eaters or toddlers going through fussy phases, fortified options like Alula Gold Junior milk are a smart way to help fill nutritional gaps. Made with added Omega-3 DHA, it’s a simple, supportive addition to your toddler’s diet especially when they need a little extra boost.
Eating from the Five Food Groups
Australian Dietary Guidelines on the number of serves for your growing toddler is similar to the 18–24-month age stage, with a little more fruit, vegetables and dairy:
- 1 serve of fruit (1 serve equals 1 medium apple, banana, orange or pear)
- 2–3 serves of vegies (1 serve equals half a cup of cooked vegies, or half a potato)
- 1½ serves of dairy (1 serve equals 1 cup or 250ml of their usual milk, or 2 slices of cheese, or three-quarters of a cup of yoghurt)
- 4 serves of grains (1 serve equals half a cup of rice, or a slice of bread, or half a cup of porridge)
- 1 serve of lean meat, fish, eggs, nut or seed pastes (peanut butter, almond butter or tahini), or legumes (1 serve equals 80 grams of cooked chicken, or 65 grams of cooked, lean beef, or 2 large eggs, or 1 cup of cooked lentils) [1]
Enlisting your toddler’s help in the simple preparation of meals is not only a nice way to have quality time with your little one, they also learn more about food along with new skills.
Weight and Height of Your Toddler at 24 to 36 Months
Between 24 and 36 months, toddler boys weigh around 12.2 kg to 14.3 kg and stand at between 87.1 cm and 95.2 cm tall. Toddler girls from 24 to 36 months weigh around 11.5 kg and 13.9 kg and stand between 85.1 cm to 84.2 cm tall.[2] Healthy toddlers grow at their own rate and these are averages based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO). If you’re unsure about your toddler’s growth, talk to your child’s health nurse or GP.
Cognitive, Social and Physical Development
If your toddler has siblings or goes to the park or daycare, they’ll be learning to play alongside and with other children, which is great for their social development. This age range sees a big growth in their social communication as they start to make friends, develop social skills and learn about taking turns and sharing.
It is also a time of ‘big feelings’. Tantrums are common at this stage, partly because your toddler can’t always express what they want or need. They might feel frustrated, angry or embarrassed but not understand those feelings or know how to let them out – or let you know. Part of parenting is trying to work out what they are feeling, help them identify it and then help them work out how to manage those feelings.
Your little one is also probably asking ‘Why?’ A lot. And the speech and vocabulary is growing almost by the day. Reading, making up rhymes and songs, exploring new places and free play all support language, memory and problem-solving skills.
Running, jumping and climbing are now part of your toddler’s every day. They seem to have energy to burn, as they grow taller and stronger and increasingly coordinated. You may notice that your child is steadier on their feet and fall over less often, too. In this age range, you might even notice that they use their preferred hand, arm or leg for most activities – brushing their teeth, throwing or kicking a ball. [3]
It can be hard to keep up with a toddler at times so channelling them into different activities can help them burn up energy, use and improve their physical skills plus interact with others to grow their social skills. Building a simple obstacle course in your backyard, or playing games at a reserve where they can race between trees with their friends are simple but effective ways to nurture these areas of development.
Signing up with swimming lessons, or enjoying safe swimming at home or at the beach, exploring sports and creative activities all help engage and enrich your toddler. Plus, these are great ways to meet other parents with same-age children.
As these new skills continue to grow, check that your home is ‘toddler-proof’ as they explore their surroundings with greater confidence.
Don’t Forget!
It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own rate. Regular checkups with your health nurse or GP will be able to ensure your toddler is on track – but always get in touch with them sooner if you have any concerns. For extra resources, you can also head to Karitane or Tresillian online.
What’s Next?
From 36 months (three years) your toddler is entering the preschool years! This exciting time sees significant changes in understanding, ability and behaviour. Read on to find out what to expect from your three year old.
[1] https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/nutrition-fitness/daily-food-guides/dietary-guide-2-3-years[2] WHO
[3] https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/development/development-tracker-1-3-years/2-3-years
