Making sure your toddler meets developmental milestones is important to ensure your child is developing an appropriate pace compared with other toddlers of the same age. If your toddler doesn't master certain milestones, talk with your pediatrician about possible causes. Each child develops and achieves milestones at a unique pace, and failing to meet a milestone isn't necessarily cause for concern.
Toddler developmental milestones are usually examined by a pediatrician at 12 months, 18 months, 2 years and 3 years of age. Medline Plus reports that normal development of toddlers is broken down into categories including language, social skills, sensory skills, gross motor and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills use large muscle groups and include activities such as climbing, running, jumping and walking, and fine motor skills include tasks such as drawing and eating with a spoon. Sensory skills include touching tasting, seeing, smelling and hearing.
12-Month Milestones
Medline Plus reports that a 12-month-old toddler should be able to pull up to a standing position, walk alone or with help, bang two blocks together, turn pages in a book, master a pincer grasp, respond to sounds, respond to his or her name, say a few words, understand some commands, imitate animal sounds, point to objects with an index finger and wave bye-bye.
18-Month Milestones
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, once your toddler reaches 18 months of age he or she should be able to walk alone without help, eat from a spoon and drink from a cup. Medline Plus reports that an 18-month-old toddler should be able to run but may fall a lot, get into small chairs without help, walk up stairs, build a tower with at least two blocks, scribble, show affection, say at least 10 words and identify at least one body part.
2-Year Milestones
By the time your toddler reaches 2 years of age, his or her vocabulary should have drastically increased from 18 months of age. Medline Plus reports that a 2-year-old toddler should be able to say between 50 and 300 words, organize two- to three-word phrases, turn a door knob, build a tower using at least six blocks, kick a ball and run with coordination.
3-Year Milestones
When your toddler reaches 3 years of age, he or she will continue to develop vocabulary, new words and sentences. According to Medline Plus, a 3-year-old toddler should have hundreds of words, say three- to four-word sentences, count three objects, use pronouns, get dressed without help, eat without help, may master potty training, walk up stairs without holding onto a rail, build a tower with more than nine blocks, copy a circle on a piece of paper and pedal a tricycle.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Erin Coleman - Erin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and ...
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