What a wonderful companion your 15-month-old has become. Asking your 15-month-old for assistance with (little) tasks like transporting objects, disposing of garbage, and choosing books is a good first step. A toddler’s sense of self-worth can only grow as they learn to help out around the house.
15-Month-Old Development
You will see the doctor this month to get an update on your 15-month-old’s progress in their various forms of growth and development.
15-month-old weight and height
What is a healthy weight and height for a 15-month-old? At 15 months of age, girls typically weigh 21.2 pounds and boys 22.7 pounds, while the average height for both sexes is 30.5 inches and 31.2 inches, respectively, according to the WHO.
During your child’s 15-month visit, the doctor will measure their weight, height, and head circumference to ensure that they are growing normally. Since their 12-month checkup, your youngster has likely put on a few pounds.
15-month-old milestones
In order to gauge your child’s progress, the doctor will inquire about certain developmental milestones during the visit. The range of what is deemed “normal” at this age is rather broad, so it’s important to discuss any worries you may have regarding your child’s development with their physician.
- Walking: Quite likely, your little one is already walking or climbing on their own. The majority of 15-month-olds are able to walk with ease. It is possible that some of them are even learning to sprint or walk backwards!
- Speech: The majority of 15-month-olds utter a single word. Many can utter two words or more. And by the time you’re still nursing, your little one’s vocabulary will have expanded beyond “dada” and “mama” to encompass terms like “dog,” “juice,” and even “boobies.” There is a wide range of variability among toddlers in terms of speaking milestones at 15 months. The average word count for a 15-month-old infant is three to ten. Their meaning will be clearly obvious, even if they are utilizing variants of words, such as “ba” for bottle. Around the 15-month mark, babies may also begin to use a combination of vocalizations and body language to convey meaning. You might not understand what your child means when he or she says “dot” unless he or she gestures to an object, like a banana. Whatever the case may be, kids are certainly picking up on more of what you’re saying; to foster language development, keep talking, reading, and singing to them all day long.
- Teething: The eruption of the first molars can be imminent. Some children experience discomfort and distress when cutting their teeth. For some, it’s as simple as noticing a new tooth peeking through the gums—no big deal.
- Identification: Your little one is beginning to grasp the concept of function, learning that a broom sweeps and a wooden spoon stirs, for instance. When asked to show you certain bodily parts, some 15-month-olds can name a handful and even point to them.
What should a 15-month-old be doing?
Everything will be fair game for a 15-month-old. You could see them toddling around (either on their own or still cruising) and climbing on furniture (and maybe even out of the crib!). Make sure that your house and play areas are free of danger so that your children may safely explore them. Your fifteen-month-old is full of energy and wants to be on their own terms (or so they think). Give your child opportunities to “participate” with their own little tools if they show an interest in helping you with household chores like sweeping or stirring sauces. “No, thank you” and “sit down” are examples of simple words or instructions that they could understand.
15-month-old behavior
Having a lively and (usually) cheerful toddler is great, but they do have their, uh, moments. At fifteen months, some difficult behaviors include:
How to discipline a 15-month-old
Your 15-month-old child may not understand they are acting out at times, so it may appear like they are “misbehaving” to you. All they want to do is experiment with different activities, like coloring on the wall or climbing on the sofa. They receive what they desire, and more, when they strike or throw objects. Establishing limits and introducing the idea of consequences are great places to start when teaching your child appropriate conduct. Therefore, what is the best way to discipline a baby that is fifteen months old? Possibly useful suggestions are as follows:
Hide things that are off-limits.If you put the remote control, magic marker, or dad’s watch out of your child’s reach, you won’t have to constantly tell them “no” whenever they touch it.
Set clear rules and consequences. And stick to them! Your child will learn not to tug the dog’s tail if they know it will always result in a time-out.
Distract and redirect: At this age, it’s not helpful to focus on bad conduct. Get your kid out of there and engaged in something constructive if they’re acting off.
Stay calm: While it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed when your child does, it’s important to remain composed and patient. Eventually, kids will figure out how to behave themselves.
15-Month-Old Health
It could feel like kids are ill constantly at times. In particular if they attend a daycare. These are some of the most frequently asked questions about health by parents of 15-month-olds.
- Fever has struck my 15-month-old baby. What am I to do?
- My baby drools a lot. He’s fifteen months old. Is it possible that he is experiencing teething pains?
- My baby is 15 months old and has thrown up. What am I to do?
- I have a 15-month-old who is coughing. What am I to do?
- A cold has hit my 15-month-old. What am I to do?
- My 15-month-old has diarrhea; what can I do?
15-Month-Old Food
Your 15-month-old may be getting pickier about the items they eat or just doesn’t seem interested in eating large meals all the time. Absolutely typical for someone of this age.
How much food should a 15-month-old eat?
Keep feeding your 15-month-old the same three square meals plus two snacks daily. Incorporate a wide range of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy products into their daily diet plan.
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. Rest assured, keeping track is absolutely not an issue! Provide portions that are approximately a quarter of the size of an adult serving to your one-year-old. After that, trust their hunger levels and let them decide how much to eat.
Have family dinners on a regular basis to help your child develop good eating habits, social skills, good table manners, and an appetite for trying new foods.
How much milk does a 15-month-old need?
Unless your doctor tells you differently, your 15-month-old should continue to drink whole milk or breast milk. Daily calcium intake for a 15-month-old should be 700 milligrams. Therefore, your child should have two 8-ounce glasses of milk daily if they do not receive enough calcium from other sources. Since the majority of toddlers’ calcium intake comes from food and other sources (yogurt, cheese, etc.), many physicians advise keeping toddlers’ milk consumption to 16–20 ounces daily in the hopes that they would continue to eat their meals.
You are free to continue breastfeeding for as long as you and your baby continue to benefit from it. Take it easy at first if you want to wean a 15-month-old off breast milk. For three to seven days, skip one meal a day before skipping the next. Clogged milk ducts and infections might occur if you move too quickly. While your baby is weaning, make sure to pay close attention to them and find activities to keep them occupied throughout their regular nursing periods.
15-month-old food ideas
Curious about what to feed a baby at 15 months? Take a look at these recipes and ideas:
- Find 24 nutritious snack options for youngsters
- Kids’ favorite nutritious meals
- Fun and easy dinner ideas for toddlers: fifteen
- No. 10 recipes for babies and toddlers
15-month-old won’t eat
Everything else about your 15-month-old appears fine, so it’s probably just a case of finicky feeding. Your child’s growth is being closely monitored by their physician to ensure it is progressing as expected. Keep limiting harmful snacks and offering a range of nutritious foods to your youngster at each meal. But eating shouldn’t be the catalyst for a power conflict. For additional helpful tips on handling finicky eaters, here they are. You should contact the pediatrician to address your child’s eating habits if they refuse to eat anything.
15-Month-Old Sleep
Even though your 15-month-old usually follows a very consistent sleep schedule, there are a few things that might throw the routine off, such as teething, the odd sickness, or a strong desire to play all day.
How much sleep does a 15-month-old need?
The recommended amount of sleep for children aged one to two is thirteen to fourteen hours per day. Do you want to know when your child will start taking a nap once a day? In most cases, their sleep schedule will naturally begin to change from two naps to one soon enough. You can speed things along, though, by putting them down after lunch (even if it means eating lunch a bit earlier for a while).
15-month-old sleep regression
A 15-month-old may start having nightmares, and it’s normal for them to have trouble distinguishing between dreams and the actual world at this age. Serious night waking may result from that. Nighttime comforting may be necessary if your 15-month-old was previously sleeping soundly but is now experiencing nightmares. Your child will need time to grasp the difference between actual and imaginary things, so it’s best to reassure them that dreams aren’t real just yet.
15-month-old won’t sleep
Nightmares aren’t the only thing that might make a child not want to sleep. On sometimes, they simply cannot stand to miss anything! Before turning in for the night, try your best to relax by turning off electronics, taking a warm bath, reading a lullaby, or watching a relaxing TV show. Also, be consistent. Do not deviate from your usual nighttime reading of two novels. Your child may attempt to persuade you to read five every night after one night of doing so, even if it means staying up later and later.
Activities for 15-Month-Olds
These days, your child’s mobility makes them a lot of fun to play with, doesn’t it? Plenty of activities may be planned that will allow you to spend quality time together, strengthen your relationship, and contribute to their growth. When planning activities to do with your child, follow the 15-month-old milestones as a guide. Need some ideas for a 15-month-old? For a 15-month-old, some fun things to do and play with are:
Play ball. Playing catch and bouncing a ball around is a great activity for kids of this age.
Color with crayons. Around 50% of 15-month-olds have some crayon scribbling ability. If you want yours to become a Picasso, give them some paint. They could even begin to make clear lines.
Storytime. As you ask your toddler to name things in images, they are likely just starting to flip the pages of their favorite books and point to the pictures.
Pretend play. The moment has come to bring out the toy kitchen, vehicles, dolls, and automobiles. Little ones like watching and copying your every move. Additionally, role-playing assists in the development of linguistic abilities.
15-Month-Old Checklist and Tips
- Make sure your kid gets a checkup at 15 months.
- Your infant may have missed an injection of the DTaP or another vaccine and is now ready for a booster vaccination.
- Make an appointment for your child’s mid-year checkup.
- Let your youngster run amok with their tactile toys in a designated (and childproofed) play area.
- Wean your kid off the bottle if you haven’t already and have them practice drinking from an open cup. Start with a cup of water or milk; if your kid still won’t drink it, try 4 ounces of unsweetened 100% fruit juice.
- To assist your 15-month-old understand the ins and outs of the day, stick to your routines. This will also be useful in avoiding hunger, overstimulation, or fatigue outbursts. You should try to remain cool and unfazed if your child throws a tantrum.
- Install safety gates to prevent stair access. As your 15-month-old practices walking up and down stairs independently, be sure to keep helping and watching. Never leave your child unattended in the bathroom or anywhere else with water, especially the toilet, and always keep the door closed.
Your 15-month-old has already accomplished a lot and is full of character. You are doing an excellent job with your adorable yet difficult toddler. Time is passing quickly, and you two are in for some exciting developments!