Sixteen Months of Exploration: Nurturing Your Curious Toddler

16-Month-Old

Whether it’s playing, kicking, walking, climbing, or even sprinting, your 16-month-old is likely always on the go. Make sure to check all of the childproofing in your home again if you have a climber. In case of jailbreaks, it’s also wise to maintain a mat or carpet below the cot.

16-Month-Old Development

Your little one is still making incredible strides in their development, and they’re keeping you very busy at 16 months.

16-month-old weight and height

What is a healthy weight and height for a 16-month-old? The World Health Organization reports that at 16 months of age, males typically weigh 23.2 pounds and girls 21.6 pounds. Girls average 30.9 inches in height and guys 31.6 inches.

16-month-old milestones

Walking: The majority of children at this age are walking successfully, which paves the way for more advanced motor skills including climbing, sprinting, walking backwards, and even dancing to music.
Speech: At this age, 50% of all toddlers can utter three words or more.
Teething: The cuspids or canines, the third front bottom tooth, may start to emerge as early as 16 months, which can cause some teething discomfort.
Potty Training: No need to toilet train just yet, but feel free to “talk up” the restroom and its uses. Little ones may become aware of it or perhaps express an interest in using a toilet chair. Still, it’s alright if kids aren’t enthusiastic about it just yet. Starting between 27 and 32 months is recommended in one medical investigation.

What should a 16-month-old be able to do?

Your kid will become more active and has taken on the role of your shadow at 16 months of age, according to milestones for children at this age. Once babies learn to walk, they will want to help out with everything you do, from helping in the kitchen to even going potty with you. It’s exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at once as you witness your child’s self-assurance grow. Be cautious what you say and do around your little imitator since they are going to be very watchful and listen carefully as well as chatting (whether you can understand it or not).

16-Month-Old Behavior

Some difficult and boundary-pushing behaviors might be coming from your 16-month-old. Below you’ll find some ideas on how to handle:

How can you discipline a 16-month-old?

Your 16-month-old is still developing an understanding of appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Your best strategy is to demonstrate appropriate conduct and praise it when it’s exhibited. Having tantrums is a normal part of being 16 months old, even though it’s one milestone you definitely would have like to avoid. Use simple, plain language, such as “no hitting” or “stop throwing,” to redirect behavior and make your point. Your 16-month-old may soon begin to understand that their actions have consequences for others, leading them to seek solace from those they have wronged. Promote this understanding.

16-Month-Old Health

Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to the spread of viruses because of their open mouths and lack of self-control when it comes to what they eat and drink. Asking about health at 16 months is common and includes:

There is a fever in my 16-month-old. What am I to do?
Diarrhea has struck my 16-month-old. What am I to do? Is “toddler’s diarrhea” a possibility?
There is constipation in my 16-month-old. What am I to do?

16-Month-Old Food

Even when your child is eating a wide variety of foods, you may still worry about their nutritional needs.

How much should my 16-month-old eat and drink?

At sixteen months of age, your baby needs three square meals and two smaller snacks every day. The average caloric need for a toddler is 1,000 calories per day, give or take, according to doctors. That works out to around 40 calories per inch of height. It is very common for your youngster to eat a lot one day and hardly eat anything the next. Indeed, toddlers have a remarkable sense of proportion when it comes to their food intake. And keep in mind that an adult portion is around one-fourth the size of their plate. You should urge your child to practice using utensils on occasion if they aren’t already doing so.

What to feed a 16-month-old

A 16-month-old should drink 8 ounces of whole milk every day. Get at least 700 milligrams of calcium daily. As much as you can, provide your youngster either a straw cup or a standard open-topped cup. Sippy cups, especially when filled with milk or juice, can cause cavities and stunt some children’s speech development, so it’s best if they wean themselves off the bottle altogether.

Inadequate intake of fiber, calcium, and iron is common in toddlers. Your youngster may obtain calcium from a variety of foods, including dairy products, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, and tofu. Additionally, iron-fortified cereal, dried peaches, lean ground beef, and tofu are also good sources. Pinto or refried beans, prunes, bananas, and whole wheat spaghetti are other fiber options.

At this point, you may wean your baby off of most baby meals, including purees. Make sure everyone in the family eats balanced, unprocessed meals; for toddlers, just mash or finely cut the portions. Also, remember to cut cylindrical meals like grapes or hotdogs into quarters in case they pose a choking threat.

Food ideas for a 16-month-old:

16-month-old won’t eat

It is probably simply a case of fussy eating if your 16-month-old isn’t eating. Make sure your child gets a variety of nutritious meals at each meal and cut back on junk food. But there should be no argument about who gets to eat first. Additional helpful tips for dealing with finicky eaters may be found here. Call the physician if your kid refuses to eat anything; this might be an indication of sickness.

16-Month-Old Sleep

You’ve been a parent for 16 months, yet getting enough sleep is still a top concern. Your questions and concerns about going to sleep may be found here.

How much sleep does a 16-month-old need?

Daily sleep requirements for children aged one to two are eleven to fourteen hours. You may need to make some adjustments to your daily routine if your 16-month-old starts to sleep for only one hour at a time. Typically, one will notice a change in their sleep schedule, with the morning nap disappearing and either an extended afternoon nap or an earlier bedtime. Fortunately, such a change typically occurs rather naturally.

16-month-old sleep regression

So you’re really hoping to find a way to make tucking your 16-month-old into bed a little easier, right? In the thirty minutes leading up to bedtime, repeat the same procedures in the same sequence; only make sure to give your child twenty minutes’ warning. If you’re a parent looking to change your child’s bedtime, this tried-and-true method will work: establish your routine around the time your child typically falls asleep, and then gradually increase or decrease it by fifteen minutes.

Activities for a 16-Month-Old

A 16-month-old is a joy to play with! At the age of two, these tiny beings are full of wisdom and insight, and they know how to enjoy themselves. How therefore can one engage a 16-month-old? Let children explore the world around them and appreciate nature on a regular basis. Your young child will have plenty of room to run and play in parks, playgrounds, and other open spaces. Additionally, it is important to provide your 16-month-old infant with activities to engage their hands. As they reach the milestones for 16 months of age, give them opportunities to exercise the fine motor skills they are actively developing, such as blowing bubbles, painting with finger paint, or shaking a tambourine. Some enjoyable things to do and play with for a 16-month-old baby include:

Blocks: Half of the 16-month-olds we tested were able to stack three blocks to form a tower.

Coloring: Get out the sidewalk chalk and crayons (but put away the permanent markers and pens!) since your toddler should also be able to doodle.

Pretend objects: When kids play with things like toy brooms, fake phones, and kitchens, they can mimic their parents’ actions.

16-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips

Are you experiencing discomfort while teething? Freeze some peas for your 16-month-old to nibble on; they’re healthful, delicious, and gentle on gums.
Make sure to explain everything to your youngster when you change their clothes. Their ability to accomplish this task independently will soon be attained, and subsequent to that, they will be taught how to dress themselves.
Get down and dance! Your youngster will be eager to show off their new dancing moves now that they can move about on their own.
Just by explaining what your 16-month-old toddler is doing, you may help them improve their language abilities. Use phrases like, “It’s clear you’re taking your time driving that truck under the bridge” or “glance at how meticulously you’re reassembling your toys.” Words and actions complement one other, and this helps kids grasp that concept. Another way to provide a hand is to encourage them to express themselves. Inquire, “Would you like a snack of bananas or apples?” Ask your youngster.
Help your young child use language to express how they are feeling. (“I can feel the joy radiating off of that flower in your hands” or “I am troubled by the fact that you struck me.”) In the long run, this helps people identify and express their emotions.
Permit your 16-month-old to develop their abilities further. As soon as they accomplish a 16-month milestone, such as stacking two blocks, push them to stack three! Try putting your 16-month-old infant through some practice throwing a ball into a basket if they can already do it.

The center of attention is undoubtedly your 16-month-old. They are really expressive when they’re upset. Set a good example by remaining calm when a tantrum is about to break out and by praising their efforts when they succeed. Both enthusiasm and tiredness fill this period. You are capable!