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Development

smiling child sitting on mothers lap
Photo credit: iStock.com / Delmaine Donson
Learn all about toddler development and growth. Get the scoop on physical development, language development, social development, milestones, and more.
Photo credit: iStock.com / Delmaine Donson

Suspecting a Problem

Mom teaching a toddler how to speak
Warning signs of a speech delay in toddlers
Reviewed by Jennifer Lano, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist
little girl and little boy running down a brick path paved through a grassy field
Your child is constantly moving
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
child standing on their toes
Your child is toe walking
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
baby crawling in the backyard
Your child doesn't walk yet
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
Your child's limbs seem stiff
By Karen Miles
little girl wearing polka dot jack and bike helmet looking upset because she fell over on her bike
Your child seems very clumsy
Reviewed by Jennifer Shu, M.D., FAAP, pediatrician
little girl crying while woman doctor is examining her ears
Warning signs of a hearing problem in children 12 to 36 months old
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
baby lying on its stomach on bed
Warning signs of a toddler's physical delay
By Angela Navarette
Your child's muscles seem floppy and loose
By Angela Tiene
Your child favors one hand or side of his body
By Karen Miles
pensive child lying and holding finger on the chin
Warning signs of a social / cognitive delay
By Jhoanna Robledo
Your child drools and has difficulty eating
By Nancy Montgomery
mother and her kid looking at doctor's tablet
Toddler development assessments: What you need to know
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
Your child has trouble grasping and manipulating objects
By Angela Navarette
A father and child talking to each other through tin cans tied with string
Will my child's development be delayed by a hearing problem?
Reviewed by Hearing First
A toddler smiling
Could my toddler have a developmental delay?
Reviewed by Jennifer Shu, M.D., FAAP, pediatrician
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Physical Development (12 to 24 mo.)

A father looking at a child's back
Is it normal for my toddler to have body hair?
Reviewed by Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, pediatric hospitalist
Is it normal for my toddler to walk on her tiptoes?
By Andrew Adesman, M.D.
A toddler climbing a
Parents Say: How to handle a toddler who loves to climb
By Karisa Ding
toddler sitting on a potty in the garden
Your 18-month-old's physical development: Ready for toilet training?
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
child in a green polka dot dress
Growth charts: Understanding the results (12 to 24 mo.)
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
baby legs standing, with feet closer together than knees
Bowlegs (12 to 24 mo.)
By Dana Dubinsky
Turned-in toes (12 to 24 mo.)
Reviewed by Nancy Showen, M.D., pediatrician
A woman holding up a toddler trying to walk
Should I be worried that my toddler is so clumsy?
By Andrew Adesman, M.D.
father watching his daughter walking
Your 15-month-old's physical development: Moving forward
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
child holding a mini rugby ball
Throwing and catching
By Scott Adler
mother holding her child’s hand while doctor is measuring her height
Growth charts: Taking your toddler's measurements
By Jenny Des Jarlais
child on the geodesic dome at the playground
Your 21-month-old's physical development: Climbing and balancing
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
mother helping baby to learn how to walk
Your 13-month-old's physical development: New freedom to explore
By Linda Murray
child drawing doodles
Your 20-month-old's physical development: A budding artist
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
little girl playing with plasticine
Your 22-month-old's physical development: Nimble fingers
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
mother sitting on the floor and playing with her son
Your 14-month-old's physical development: Practice makes perfect
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
little boy running in nature with raised hands
Your 19-month-old's physical development: Running out of control
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
Your 12-month-old's development: Week 2
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
mother spoon feeding a young child
Your 12-month-old's development: Week 3
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
mother and daughter playing with paint
Your 16-month-old's physical development: Grand ambitions
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
baby with a birthday cap grabbing at its birthday cake
Your 1-year-old's development
Reviewed by Sarah Pearson
parents playing with their child outdoors
Your 17-month-old's physical development: Going up
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
baby with red hair standing while holding onto a couch giving the thumbs up sign
Your 12-month-old's development: Week 4
By Jenny Des Jarlais
child sticking the tongue out
Your 23-month-old's physical development: Dressing up, dressing down
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
Your 24-month-old's physical development: Moving every which way
By Linda Murray
toddler playing on the ground
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Your toddler's senses
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Social & Emotional Development (12 to 24 mo.)

woman giving her baby a kiss on the cheek
Why does my toddler sometimes reject my affection?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
Is it normal that my toddler's obsessed with organizing things?
By Penelope Leach, Ph.D.
little girl bent over with her head down looking up
Your 15-month-old's social and emotional development: Pay attention to meeee!
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
angry child
Why does my child get angry when she doesn't get her way?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
baby with eyes and mouth open
How to raise a happy toddler
By Jill Storey
How to raise a spiritual child
By Nancy Montgomery
toddler and mother sitting down in a park while toddler holds an apple
Your 20-month-old's social and emotional development: Terrible twos preview
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
A happy toddler smiling and jumping on the bed.
What every toddler needs to thrive
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
Your 13-month-old's social and emotional development: Me first!
By Holly Hanke
Preparing your child to attend a sibling's birth
By Dana Dubinsky
child playing with two hedgehog plushies
Your 14-month-old's social and emotional development: Going it alone
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
mother and daughter playing in sand
Your 16-month-old's social and emotional development: The toddler connection
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
two kids playing in the park
Your 18-month-old's social and emotional development: Making friends
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
child sitting on dad's lap eating spaghetti with red sauce
Teaching table manners to your toddler
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
A woman helping three toddlers play with dinosaur toys
When does my toddler need to be around other children?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
woman looking expectantly at her child
How to help your toddler manage big feelings
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
My toddler's very dependent on his pacifier. What should I do?
By Penelope Leach, Ph.D.
boy shyly lying on the floor
How do I answer my toddler's questions about genitals?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
Your 17-month-old's social and emotional development: Feeling negative
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
Your 24-month-old's social and emotional development: Playing together
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
two pairs of naked feet
Is it okay for our toddler to see us naked?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
two children at a park
How to teach your toddler manners
toddler watching tv
There's a scientific reason why your toddler craves screen time: Dopamine
Reviewed by Cara Goodwin, Ph.D., psychologist
shy kid on a playground
Shyness
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
child mother's embrace
Your 22-month-old's social and emotional development: Issuing orders
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
child on playground slide
Your 21-month-old's social and emotional development: More self-assured
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
father holding a curly little girl and smiling
Your 23-month-old's social and emotional development: Looking up to big kids
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
woman with long hair talking
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Funny things my toddler does
child holding a doll
Your 19-month-old's social and emotional development: Eager to help
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
two babies trying to share a ball
How can I teach my toddler to share?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
boy walking on grassy path
7 ways to help your toddler's independence
By Paula Motte
kid smiling
Help your child become more independent
By Melanie Haiken
child playing with toys
Play: Why it's so important
Reviewed by Paul Young, M.D., pediatrician
father holding his daughter and picking up a flower for her
How to stimulate your child's natural curiosity
By Beth Haiken, Ph.D.
mom putting socks on his son who is sitting on the washing machine in the laundry room
How to teach your toddler to do chores
By Jhoanna Robledo
woman talking
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How should I praise my child?
Reviewed by Lee Atkinson-McEvoy, M.D., pediatrician

Language & Cognitive Development

A toddler covering their mouth with their hands
What to do when your toddler isn't talking
Reviewed by Jennifer Lano, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist
child with a book-like toy
Your 15-month-old's language and cognitive development: Speaking volumes
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
small girl sitting in front of a table with books and papers on it
Your 20-month-old's language and cognitive development: Making sense with sentences
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
child smiling
Your 14-month-old's language and cognitive development: Say it again ... and again
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
smiling woman taking care of baby that is trying to walk and talk
Your 13-month-old's language and cognitive development: Can we talk?
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
boy in the park pointing at something
Your 18-month-old's language and cognitive development: Speaking loud and clear
Reviewed by Dawn Rosenberg, M.D., pediatrician
children playing with blocks
When will my child know colors?
By Nancy Montgomery
mother and daughter reading a book
Your 22-month-old's language and cognitive development: Listening and labeling
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
Is it normal that my toddler tends to imitate a question rather than answer it?
By Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, MA, CCCSLP
woman pointing her finger at a photo while child looking at the same photo
Your 16-month-old's language and cognitive development: Fine-tuning skills
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
child playing with wooden shape sorter toy
Your 19-month-old's language and cognitive development: Versed in verbs
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
child counting rings
How and when to teach your child numbers
By Judith Hudson, Ph.D.
wooden blocks saying A, B, C
What's the best way to teach my child the alphabet?
By Judith Hudson, Ph.D.
child doing arts and crafts
Should I worry that my 2 year-old isn't really putting sentences together yet?
By Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, MA, CCCSLP
a hand holding miniature cup of coffee
Your 23-month-old's language and cognitive development: An exploding vocabulary
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
Should I worry that my 3-year-old still talks like a baby?
By Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, MA, CCCSLP
woman reading a book to small child
6 secrets to raising a smart toddler
By Jessica Kelmon
child playing a piano
Music and your toddler or preschooler
By Jhoanna Robledo
Should I be concerned that my toddler can't pronounce the end consonants of some words?
By Leslie Rescorla, Ph.D.
baby in a park
My toddler is very physical but not much of a talker – could he be developing in only one area?
By Patricia McAleer-Hamaguchi, MA, CCCSLP
When and how can I teach my toddler to read?
By Judith Hudson, Ph.D.
child playing with shape matching toy
Your 21-month-old's language and cognitive development: Attention to detail
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
woman holding a baby
Your 17-month-old's language and cognitive development: All talk
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
Your 24-month-old's language and cognitive development: Asking questions
By Dana Sullivan Kilroy
mother teaching her daughter to read
How to raise a reader
By Darienne Hosley Stewart
Bright Horizons main 1
Choosing a childcare program centered around education
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By Lauren Levinson
mother and toddler looking at a globe
How can I help my 24-month-old speak more clearly?
By David Geller, M.D.

Latest in development

A father and child talking to each other through tin cans tied with string
Will my child's development be delayed by a hearing problem?
Reviewed by Hearing First
Bright Horizons main 1
Choosing a childcare program centered around education
- Ad content for Bright Horizons -
By Lauren Levinson
A toddler covering their mouth with their hands
What to do when your toddler isn't talking
Reviewed by Jennifer Lano, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist
Mom teaching a toddler how to speak
Warning signs of a speech delay in toddlers
Reviewed by Jennifer Lano, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist
toddler watching tv
There's a scientific reason why your toddler craves screen time: Dopamine
Reviewed by Cara Goodwin, Ph.D., psychologist
A happy toddler smiling and jumping on the bed.
What every toddler needs to thrive
Reviewed by Kelley Yost Abrams, Ph.D., developmental psychologist
woman giving her baby a kiss on the cheek
Why does my toddler sometimes reject my affection?
By Susanne Ayers Denham, Ph.D.
two children at a park
How to teach your toddler manners

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