THIRTEEN TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS

Remember to use your child’s corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to a developmental chart!  If your baby has been generally healthy since nursery discharge you can expect she will:

• be able to scribble with a large crayon (if she can keep from putting it in her mouth).
  
  
• walk alone with heels flat on the floor.
  
  
• feed herself finger foods and begin to try to use a spoon.
  
• walk up stairs with one hand held. 
  
  
• use a vocabulary of four to ten words.
  
• follow simple verbal directions to perform a single task.  For example, "Give me the ball."
  
  
• coordinate the use of both hands well.  For example, hold a container in one hand while putting something into it with the other.
  
  
• respond to her name.
  
  
• "talk" in long,  jabbering sentences as if holding an understandable conversation with you.
  
  
• point to at least two pictures on request.
  
  
• use her thumb and first finger easily to pick up a very small object.
  
  
• throw a ball easily.
  

EXCEPTIONS

CONCERNS

For variations associated with neonatal complications, click on EXCEPTIONS.
For descriptions of observations which should be addressed further, click on CONCERNS.