17-Month Old

At this stage, on an average your toddler boy is 82.4 cm tall and weighs 11.5 kg. On the other hand, if you have a toddler girl, she will be 80.9 cm tall and weigh 10.8 kg.

Your toddler is a social animal just like you. She also needs friends but may not know how to make them. As a loving and caring parent, you must help her out. You can consider setting up a play date for her. This helps her to share her things and be empathetic with others. This also boosts her self-esteem. Till she is about 18 months old, your toddler will mostly play side by side with the other toddler rather than together. But she will certainly notice her friend around. You can read more about helping your little one make friends at Making Friends. Also, it is very important for your child to learn the concept of sharing. She finds it difficult to share her belongings with play mates because her sense of ownership takes precedence over sharing. As a start up, respect your toddler's belongings. Get her permission before you take them. Tell her that she should share her toys with her play mate but do not scold her for refusing to do so. Alternatively, you can get two identical toys to avoid confusion in the initial days. Read more on helping your toddler share her things.

Your toddler has better mobility and physical development takes place rapidly. She jumps up and down, and runs around the place. She may handle a spoon and fork although not exclusively. She will most likely be able to kick a ball in the forward direction. She executes two step instructions given without gestures. At this stage, your toddler will enjoy trying to climb furniture and playground equipment. She waves her hands and enjoys scribbling, clay sculpting and finger painting. Other activities she likes include turning knobs, pressing buttons and switches. She builds a tower of four cubes and knocks it down. Your toddler is interested in simple puzzles and shape sorters. She also sorts, nests and stacks toys. She will try to insert a tube into the pipe line.

At this point of time, your toddler's communication is greatly enhanced and she uses four to ten words other than ma-ma and da-da. She points to what she wants and understands most of what you tell her. She may know about 50 words and uses two-word phrases. She will still babble but employs several syllables with intricate intonation pattern. You can sing songs with actions to your toddler and encourage her to imitate you. She can communicates what she wants and plans to do. She uses toys for imitation and symbolic representation. Read books with large pictures to your toddler on a variety of topics. Talk to her about various activities during play time and whenever you can.

Separation anxiety may increase in your toddler. Be patient and calm when you address your toddler's anxiety. Do not tease her or get angry with her. Also, she expresses emotions that include pleasure, anger, warmth, assertion and curiosity. She understands a few limits set to these emotions. She starts playing and exploring, away from parents. Your toddler also becomes self conscious and shows traits of shame, pride and embarrassment. The "Me"- self continues to develop.

Your toddler identifies a body part if asked to point out and name it. She may identify a picture by naming it. Most 18 month old toddlers know their own names. You must make your toddler understand that screaming and whining are not ways for him to get what he wants. Try establishing routines and setting limits for him. Give your toddler two simple choices for his daily activities like dressing and eating. This will give him a feeling of control over his environment. One important routine that you must set for your active toddler is a bedtime routine. Sleep plays a very important role in her life. Try our bedtime routine tips.