Your 26-month-old toddler is starting to show signs of becoming a bit of a jokester, with an appreciation for the absurd and an ability to make their own jokes. Most children have a vocabulary of fifty words or more by the time they are twenty-six months old, and they can form simple sentences with two syllables, such as “Mommy eat” or “More cracker.” The more you talk, the more your child will learn. Make an appointment with your child’s physician to confirm everything is well if they haven’t started talking yet or if complete strangers have trouble understanding them. Children grow at different rates, but delays in certain areas can be more readily remedied if identified and addressed before they reach the 26-month mark.
26-Month-Old Development
Seeing your 26-month-old child reach each milestone is a miracle. They are developing at such a rapid pace. Your child is developing their motor skills, vocabulary, and imaginative faculties all at once. There’s likely no need to worry as long as your two-year-old keeps learning new words and abilities and stays on their own growth curve (which your pediatrician is tracking on their growth chart).
26-month-old weight and height
Girls typically weigh around 27.4 pounds and males about 28.7 pounds at 26 months of age. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the average height for girls is around 34.3 inches and for males it is 34.8 inches. As a parent, you should double-check with your physician to ensure that your 26-month-old infant is following their recommended growth chart.
26-month-old milestones
Your 26-month-old infant will appear like a big child at several milestones that you should be prepared for. The following are some developmental milestones that your 26-month-old may have achieved or be currently working on:
- Speech: Your young one is undoubtedly learning new words at a quick pace and may be utilizing two-word phrases. They are able to mimic human speech and motions and obey basic directions. Doesn’t it ring a bell? Every child’s speech development at 26 months is unique, therefore you can be confident that they will most likely complete their milestones at 26 months on their own schedule. A 26-month-old kid who is silent should be examined because a delay in speaking might be due to a hearing impairment or because your child might benefit from speech therapy. Talking to your 26-month-old at various points during the day will help them improve their speech.
- Potty training: You have accomplished one of the most thrilling milestones for 26-month-olds—your child using the potty—and it likely seems like a tremendous accomplishment! [Well done!] However, be aware that accidents might occur throughout toilet training. A high accident rate is only a sign that your child is still in the midst of toilet training. It takes time to potty train a 26-month-old. Any mishap your 26-month-old baby experiences is an opportunity for them to learn something new. When they succeed, praise them; when they fail, assist clean up (without being dramatic). This will keep the process positive. No need to worry if your little one hasn’t begun toilet training just yet; every child learns to do it at their own speed.
- Teething:The teeth in your child’s jaw may be coming in at an angle. The eruption of these baby teeth typically occurs between 23 and 33 months of age, and they are called the 2-year molars. Because of their size, it may be rather uncomfortable. You won’t have to worry about teething pains again until your child is approximately six years old, when they’ll be able to handle them better. Luckily, these teeth are the last to erupt. A moist towel or a teething ring that has been cooled (not frozen!) might help ease your 26-month-old’s discomfort as they chew.
What Should My 26-Month-Old Be Doing?
Prepare to run after your 26-month-old child! If the weather is bad, take your restless toddler to a children’s museum, the park, or the yard. Participating in all of these activities can help your 26-month-old develop their motor skills, release excess energy, gain self-assurance, and learn crucial boundaries.
26-month-old behavior
- Asking questions. Prepare to answer inquiries about anything and anything. Wow, your 26-month-old now has the language ability to ask questions! It’s exciting, but you could feel tired from fielding all those inquiries. Nonetheless, you’re assisting your child’s learning, so try to maintain the responses.
- Concentration. You might not even notice that your youngster needs a break for meals; they’re probably too engrossed in playing. You may help your child adjust to new activities more smoothly by letting them know (and then reminding them) that a break is coming up shortly. Your 26-month-old may experience fewer tantrums if you do this.
- Biting. Biting, hitting, or injuring others is typical behavior for 26-month-olds. Some children either spontaneously display the behavior or pick it up in daycare. Make it known to your child that biting or hitting is unacceptable conduct. Instead of giving your toddler the attention they may be desiring for bad conduct, you may teach them empathy by comforting the injured child instead of the one biting or hitting. (Replace it with other happy times when you can give your undivided attention.)
- Play. Your 26-month-old is showing signs of being able to utilize their creativity in play, discover hidden objects, and classify objects by size or color. You shouldn’t be startled if your 26-month-old infant pulls a fast one on you by acting out a fall for no reason.
26-Month-Old Health
Parents’ number one priority at any age is their child’s health. Here are a few often asked issues regarding your 26-month-old’s health:
- It seems like my 26-month-old is off his food. What am I to do?
- There is constipation in my 26-month-old. What am I to do?
- This is the second round of vomiting that my 26-month-old has had. What am I to do?
- There is a cough in my 26-month-old. What am I to do?
- Fever has struck my 26-month-old child. What am I to do?
26-Month-Old Food
If your 26-month-old insists on eating only a small handful of meals, that’s okay! Just keep introducing them to different flavors and textures. Don’t be too worried if your child isn’t immediately enamoured, but do your best to introduce them to new foods by letting them taste a few.
How much should my 26-month-old be eating
The recommended daily caloric intake for a two-year-old is three square meals plus one or two snacks. Include a wide range of foods from the vegetable, fruit, grain, protein, and dairy categories in your child’s daily diet. At this age, kids typically consume just half to three quarters of the amount an adult does.
How much milk should a 26-month-old be drinking?
At two years of age, it is recommended that your child drinks skim or 1 percent milk. It would be great if you could also provide dairy items like cheese and yogurt. For optimal calcium absorption, doctors advise children aged one to three to take 700 milligrams of calcium daily along with 600 international units of vitamin D. Daily, give your 26-month-old no more than 16 to 24 ounces of milk. Consult your child’s physician about supplementation if you are worried about their nutritional intake.
What to feed my 26-month-old
Need some ideas for healthy and delicious meals? See what a 2-year-old can eat with these suggestions:
- Eating Well with Your Toddler
- 15 Inspiring Recipes for Little Ones
- 22 Delicious and Easy Lunch Ideas for Kids
- “Yum” is the Key! 24 Nutritious Snacks for Children
26-month-old eating problems
A lot of 26-month-olds are finicky eaters, so you may be asking if your child needs vitamins. Make sure it’s right by consulting your child’s pediatrician. Iron deficiency is common in toddlers, therefore some people suggest giving them supplements. If your 26-month-old has constipation issues, fiber consumption should be a worry. If your child’s digestive tract isn’t functioning correctly, it may be as simple as making sure they drink plenty of water and eat enough fruits and vegetables.
26-Month-Old Sleep
Even though they wake up more frequently, two-year-olds appear to obtain more sleep than adults. So, after waking up, it’s crucial to educate toddlers how to fall back to sleep independently. This implies you should never put a child to bed while they are awake but not quite sleeping. If you let them fall asleep on their own, they’ll learn to do it again when they wake up at 2 in the morning.
How much sleep does a 26-month-old need?
A typical 2-year-old needs 11–12 hours of sleep at night and 1.5–3 hours of nap time, for a total of 13–14 hours of sleep daily.
26-month-old sleep problems
It could be difficult to readjust to a bed after transferring your 26-month-old from a crib. True, many children first do this, but today they can get out of bed whenever they choose. When your kid stays asleep in their bed for an extended period of time, make sure to praise them and gently guide them back to their bed if they wake up during the night.
Activities for 26-Month-Old
Through play, your 26-month-old is discovering the world around. Continue to have fun by doing things together, but also let your 26-month-old use their creativity when they play independently. Help your child build social skills by letting them play with other kids. Finally, a 26-month-old: what on earth to do? For a 26-month-old, here are some enjoyable things to do:
- Coloring: Most 26-month-olds like doing back-and-forth scribbling. Large, chunky crayons that kids can easily hold in their hands will work best for them. Your little one probably won’t be able to grip a pencil or pen appropriately until they’re around four years old.
- Hide and seek: Have fun hiding a beloved teddy bear or action figure and then searching for it together now that your youngster can discover concealed items.
- Easy art projects: A plain cardboard box will do. The two of you may design the box together, and then it can become whatever you can imagine—a house, a rocket, or even a wagon!
- Books: You are not obligated to focus on the printed words while you read. Inquire as to the bear’s color or what your little one thinks will happen next. This will lead to entertaining discussions that will encourage your 26-month-old to think creatively and critically.
26-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips
- Why? Just how? On what date? Your 26-month-old child is likely to be rather inquisitive at the moment. A quick and simple “no” or “I don’t know” followed by a suggestion to look up a book on the subject at the library is perfectly acceptable when answering these questions. Something new will be learned by both of you.
- In order to show their independence and discover what is and isn’t acceptable, 26-month-old babies will push their limits. If you want your 26-month-old to know what to expect from you, whether it’s rules for playing or crossing the street, be explicit and consistent.
- Give your 26-month-old the confidence boost they need by allowing them make mistakes and try again. Permit them to do things like put on their own shoes and pour their own drink. Even if their shoes are on backwards and most of the water is on the floor, they may still be thrilled with the outcome! If that’s not the case, remind them to keep trying even when the first attempt fails. Your 26-month-old will develop vital skills, learn to persevere through setbacks, and take pride in their accomplishments with the aid of this exercise!
- The average attention span of a two-year-old, according to experts, is four to six minutes. Set realistic goals. Bring a lot of food and things to do if you’re going out to a restaurant, a play, or any other kind of event, but also be prepared to leave fairly early.
- Feeling disturbed? It’s perfectly fine to express your sentiments to your 26-month-old while they’re watching you. It’s healthy for your child to know that feeling a variety of emotions is completely acceptable. Whether it’s reaching out for an embrace, focusing on your breathing, or just getting some quiet time to yourself, you may share your coping mechanisms with others.