What to expect when your baby is 21 months old
Your baby is about to reach the two year mark. Here is what to expect at this exciting age.
A toddler of 21-months is highly curious about the world around them, chats incessantly, and is hard to stop once they’ve set their mind on something. Your toddler should now be able to make three- or four-word sentences, drink independently from a cup, run, walk and jump.
According to Unicef, your toddler will now have a growing vocabulary and will also start to mimic what they see you do. They will love helping out with safe activities like sweeping with a small broom and dustpan or folding laundry.
They should also find sorting shapes, stacking and naming colours enjoyable. Parenting expert Nikki Bush of Toy Talk® explains that this is an age where your child has just learnt that they can build up and take apart, rather than simply bash down – which means that there is loads of creative building in your future. Their fine motor skills have also come a long way, so they can now manipulate their fingers without using the rest of their arm. They're also learning to name and differentiate colours and shapes.
“What your child needs now is concrete interaction with real objects, because they digest information through their senses. For example, to understand that a square has four sides, they have to feel a square,” Bush says.
At this age, toddlers will also start to become more independent and even defiant. Unicef states that it’s important to make time to play and have conversations with your little one. This will promote more social behaviours.
Your toddler will also start to repeat words that they have heard. When you’re going for a walk or on an outing, name the things that you see along the way, so that your toddler can expand their vocabulary.
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