Opinions multiply as one ages. As a parent, you may find it thrilling and stressful at the same time when your 20-month-old infant insists on doing things their own way. There are a number of developmental milestones that parents should be aware of in order to make sure their child is on track at 20 months of age. Whether you’re a first-time parent or just want to brush up on the basics, our 20-month-old baby guide has you covered with everything from routines to milestones.
20-Month-Old Development
Two sides of a twenty-month-old’s personality usually manifest: one is the active, fun side, and the other is more reserved and difficult to handle. No matter what you ask of your little defiant one, they may fight you. This includes eating, changing diapers, getting into the car seat, washing hands, and pretty much anything else.
Provide plenty of chances for your toddler to “help” or make their own decisions because toddlers at this age prefer to feel in charge. As an example, let your child eat (even if it’s a bit of a mess) and if they finish their food after two bites, that’s okay. And let your child experience the freedom of decision-making. When getting ready for a vehicle ride, you may question, “Would you rather bring your teddy bear or your truck for the trip?” rather of just saying, “It’s time to get into your car seat.”
20-month-old weight and height
The average weight of a girl at 20 months is 24.4 pounds and a boy’s is 25 pounds, according to the World Health Organization. Curious about the average height of a 20-month-old? Girls typically stand at 32.6 inches and boys at 33.1 inches.
20-month-old milestones
Your 20-month-old: what on earth should they be up to? At the 20-month mark, your kid may have accomplished or be making progress toward the following milestones:
- Walking: Babies as young as 20 months old are starting to stand with support from a chair or the wall. Your little one is likely practicing walking up stairs; soon, they will be able to do the same on the other side. You should now secure your young climber’s safety by installing gates at both the top and bottom of any steps in your home. Keep furniture away from windows and install window guards to ensure that youngsters cannot fall out of them.
- Speech: In addition to saying “what?” and “what’s that?” to nearly everything, your youngster may be expressing themselves with as many as fifty words. Not only that, they respond to requests with “no” and employ two-word combinations.
- Teething: Be prepared for a few sleepless nights around 20 months, as that’s when most children’s first lower molars come through.
- Potty training: Potty training readiness is shown in a small number of 20-month-olds. If you haven’t done so before, you might want to consider getting a training toilet seat and/or reading some potty training books together. However, you shouldn’t rush your child to toilet train. Before the age of 24 months, the majority of children are not prepared to begin.
20-month-old behavior
You may find it difficult to keep up with your constantly developing almost 2-year-old, but here are some tips to help:
- Tantrums: Your child may have tantrums because, despite their rapid linguistic development, they still can’t express themselves fully.
- Separation anxiety: This is the age when your child may start to notice when you’re not around and act out, particularly in response to physical needs like hunger, exhaustion, or illness. Even while it’s easy to take your time saying goodbye at daycare drop-off, it’s better to keep to a schedule and keep moving quickly. Assure your youngster that you will return and provide a precise time.
- Pushing, hitting or biting: You can probably blame it on the excitement of new experiences, but 20-month-olds do have their moments of misbehavior. “Biting” your child to demonstrate how painful it is won’t deter them from doing it, so try not to respond emotionally or physically. Remain composed and consistently remind your youngster that it is never acceptable to injure others.
20-Month-Old Health
sickness following mild sickness seems to afflict twenty-month-olds. At this age, parents often wonder about things like:
- There is diarrhea in my 20-month-old. What am I to do?
- How can I help my 20-month-old who is constipated?
- The fever of my 20-month-old child is rather high. When a fever starts, what am I to do?
20-Month-Old Food
In the mood for some quick cooking? Saying “this is what’s for dinner” without providing alternatives is perfectly acceptable when dealing with a toddler. Refusing food occasionally won’t cause them to starve to death.
How much should my 20-month-old eat and drink?
The recommended daily caloric intake for children aged one to two is the same as that of adults: three or four meals and two snacks. Provide a wide range of foods from the vegetable, fruit, grain, protein, and dairy categories every day.
What to feed my 20-month-old
Make sure your toddler gets lots of fiber, iron, and calcium. Your youngster may obtain calcium from a variety of foods, including dairy products, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, and tofu. Lean ground beef, dried fruit, fortified cereal, and tofu are among more foods that can supply iron. Pineto or refried beans, prunes, bananas, and whole wheat spaghetti are other fiber-rich options.
Looking for some meal ideas for a 20-month-old? Here are some suggestions:
- The Definitive Resource for Nutritious Toddler Meals
- 24 Nutritious Snacks for Children
- 22 Delicious and Frugal Lunch Ideas
- Toddler-Friendly Cookbooks: 15 Inspiring Recipes for Little Eaters
20-month-old won’t eat
Your child may be more resistant to eating than before now that they are becoming more self-reliant and their development rate is decreasing. Although it is not appropriate to coerce your child into eating, it is important to provide a wide range of nutritious meals, including plenty of whole, unprocessed options. For additional helpful tips on handling finicky eaters, here they are. You should contact the physician right away if your child refuses to eat anything, since this might indicate that they are sick.
20-Month-Old Sleep
Between the ages of 1.5 and 3, the majority of parents move their children out of the crib and onto a bed. Is it still too early? You should check if lowering the crib mattress all the way to the floor would keep them safe first. Got what it takes to dive in? Your little one will feel greater pride in their new bed if you let them help you assemble it.
How much sleep does a 20-month-old need?
A typical 20-month-old needs 13–14 hours of sleep daily, broken down as 11–12 hours of sleep at night and 1.5–3 hours of nap time.
20-month-old sleep regression
A regression occurs when someone who was formerly an excellent sleeper starts to wake up more often, which may be rather confusing. Possible causes include a disruption in their usual sleeping schedule due to a trip or vacation, an illness, or a period of teething. The key to getting your child back to their regular sleeping schedule is figuring out what’s causing the problem and then finding a solution that works for them. Maintain the regular schedule of bedtime and establish restrictions to assist your youngster in getting back on track.
20-month-old won’t sleep
It feels like there’s a never-ending battle to get everyone to go to bed some nights. Children, however, do require sleep, and they will go to sleep at some point. Rest assured, we guarantee it! Take a relaxing bath, read a lullaby, and turn off electronics at least one hour before sleep to help your child wind down for the night. Also, be consistent with the routine: read a book, give a kiss, replenish water, and then turn off the lights. Keep your child from procrastinating.
20-month-old nightmares
It might be difficult to distinguish between a nightmare and other sleep disturbances when your kid wakes up in the middle of the night. However, you could learn more as time goes on: Dreams and nightmares, according to doctors, usually occur in the middle of the night.
Put your 20-month-old to sleep by telling them that you’ll be there for them and that everything will be well if you think they’ve had a nightmare. Watch out for articles or TV shows that might terrify kids during the day and lead to sleepless nights.
20-month-old waking up too early
We’ve all been there: You find out your kid needs extra sleep in the morning, yet they’re up at the crack of dawn. Before they go to bed, make sure their room is completely dark and silent. Blackout drapes or shades for their windows are strongly recommended.
Activities for a 20-Month-Old
Observing their parents or older siblings engage in simple tasks and activities is a great way for a 20-month-old to start showing signs of independence. Their favorite things to do are sing and learn via play. Is your 20-month-old a challenge to entertain? A 20-month-old can enjoy the following games, toys, and activities:
- Drawing with crayons: If you want to practice drawing straight lines, you can do it together.
- Head, shoulders, knees and toes! Your 20-month-old could know nine or thirteen different areas of the body.
- Playing with blocks: They may be able to stack more than one, but your youngster is still practicing.
- Doing chores together. Permit your 20-month-old to use a mini-broom to sweep the floor, mop up spills, and place spoons on the table. Work becomes fun when you’re this young.
- Reading together: Reading is really powerful. Every day, read aloud to your 20-month-old infant and let them pick out their favorite stories to follow along with.
- Using your imagination: Motivate your child to play pretend by thinking of ways to do it. Get into character, construct forts out of cardboard boxes, transform them into spacecraft, and allow your wildest imaginations run wild as you tell stories.
20-Month-Old Baby Checklist and Tips
- Good hygienic habits should be established at a young age. Instill in your child the importance of regularly washing and drying their hands, and make it a habit to do so together.
- Before moving from water to a little dab of fluoride toothpaste, the American Dental Association suggests consulting with your child’s dentist. You never know when your child will ask to clean their own teeth after you’ve brushed yours together for a time. Allowing them to explore is fine, but make sure you brush their teeth twice to get them really clean.
- You should have pain relievers on hand in case your child has any discomfort when their bottom teeth begin to erupt around this age.
- Stairs are usually within a 20-month-old’s capabilities. Until your little one gets the hang of climbing stairs, you should install safety gates to keep them from hurting themselves.
- You should begin weaning your 20-month-old kid off of milk if you continue to give them a cup before bed. You may cut them off completely if you choose; just serve it with dinner or after they’ve finished eating for the night.
- No matter how much you want to give in and let your child watch TV, it’s important to keep screen time to a minimum. Young children’s attention spans and short-term memory may suffer if they are exposed to screens at an early age, according to some research. It may also make it harder for them to sleep and slow down their language development.
Your 20-month-old infant is constantly growing and learning, so it feels like the time is passing by in a flash. Although it’s important to monitor your kid’s development in relation to the 20-month milestones, bear in mind that each child grows and develops at their own rate. But see a doctor if you’re worried your child isn’t picking up on particular skills.