Toddler Development: Your Toddler From 13 to 15 Months
You made it through your baby’s first year! Way to go. Give yourself a pat on the back and kick up your feet.
Don’t take a rest for too long, though — you have a toddler now, and they’ll surely keep you on your toes!
You’re probably eagerly awaiting the day when your child takes their first unsupported steps — so grab the camera because between 13 and 15 months, that milestone will likely be reached, as well as many others.
Walking
All children develop at their own pace, but with toddlerhood comes the exciting milestone of learning to walk! Many children take their first independent steps around 14 months.(1) Before a baby can walk, they need the coordination and muscle strength to pull themselves up to a standing position and then stay standing, either by holding onto furniture or a caregiver.(2) Babies will pull themselves up to stand about 2 to 4 months before they take their first unsupported steps.(2)
When learning to walk, your toddler might fall down a lot! And that’s okay. Perfecting their strut doesn’t happen all at once, so prepare for your baby to fall down or start and stop frequently as they’re learning.(3)
Talking
By this age, your toddler may be able to say two to four words.(6) And you may start hearing them over and over again! (Though it might be “ba” for ball, not the full word yet!) Your toddler will also make lots of babbling sounds and respond to their name. As she learns more and more words, your toddler will learn what it means when you say things like, “Where is your truck?” And then she’ll go look for it. Songs and rhymes will also continue to delight your toddler. And even though she may not know the word for something, if she wants it, she’ll point to it to ask for it.(6)
Personality Grows as Your Toddler Discovers Her Independence
With toddlerhood comes an emerging personality! So your toddler will likely be pretty vocal about their likes and dislikes — and you can expect some tantrums to emerge at this age. Toddlers experience frustration because they aren’t able to adequately communicate how they feel or what they want from adults.(8) You can imagine how frustrating that must be! So try to exercise patience and be compassionate toward your toddler.
Some more fun parts of your toddler’s personality will start to emerge as well, like a sense of humor. Your child may start to find lots of things really funny! So enjoy the ups and downs of the journey and find the humor where you can, too.
As your little angel grows, so will her independence and sense of self.(9) You may even find your toddler tries to help you dress her by holding out an arm or leg as you do so.(9)
Toddler Development: Milestones From 13 to 15 Months
While every child develops differently, there are a few milestones to look out for at this age.
Here are some things your child will likely do when they’re between 13 to 15 months old:
Social/Emotional Checklist(7):
Shows affection to parent or caregiver (hugs, kisses, cuddles)
Hugs stuffed animals or dolls
Claps hands together when excited
Shows you something they like, such as a toy or object
Copies other children during play
Language/Communication Checklist(7):
Attempts to say words besides “mama” or “dada”
Points to things as a way to ask for them or receive help
Follows directions when they are given with a gesture and words
Looks at/for a familiar object when you say its name
Reaches for you when they want to be picked up(8)
Movement and Physical Development Checklist(7):
Attempts to use things properly (like a phone)
Stacks small objects, like blocks, two or more at a time
Cognitive Checklist(7):
Feeds herself food by using her fingers
Walks (at least a few steps) independently
What You Can Do to Encourage Healthy Development in Your 13 to 15 Month Old
Narrate Your Day
Even though your young toddler isn’t capable of having full blown conversations just yet, the more you talk to them, the more words they’ll be exposed to and encouraged to pick up. By talking to your toddler, you’re helping develop their language skills.(4) Generally toddlers understand more than what they can communicate on their own.(4)
Choose Toys Wisely
By this age, your toddler can pick things up with his finger and thumb.(6) So choose toys that help him develop his hand-eye coordination and motor skills.(3) (Puzzles with large pieces and vibrant colors are great for hand-eye coordination!) Avoid toys with small pieces as your toddler may try to put them in his mouth. Toys that encourage repetition and walking around (like push toys) can help with their development and show off those brand-new walking skills!
Have Playdates
By setting up playdates for your child, you’re giving him a change of scenery and a chance to practice his budding social skills.(10) Don’t be alarmed if your toddler is less than enthused about his new pal, however. He may grab a toy from his playdate or shove the other child out of the way to get something he wants.(10) This is because he hasn’t mastered the concept of empathy, yet!(10) But the chance to interact with and observe peers can still be useful (and you may enjoy getting some adult conversation in, too!).
Make Reading Part of Your Routine
Even babies get pleasure from books! By this age, your child can select the book they want you to read to them.(5) They’ll even be able to point to pictures they like.(5) So encourage your 13- to 15-month-old to participate in the bedtime reading routine. If there are animals in the book, make the sound the animal makes so your toddler can imitate you. When your child points to an image, name what they’re pointing to. They’ll be able to pay attention for at least a few minutes while you enjoy looking at a book together, so help them turn the pages and get reading!(5)
Every Stage is Full of Surprises
Support your child through all stages of development! To read more blogs like this with helpful parenting tips, subscribe to my newsletter!
You can also check out the other blogs in the infant and early childhood development series for more information on your child’s development and how to help them grow and learn! For more info on newborns to 6 month olds, click here. For 7 to 9 month olds, click here. And to learn about 10 to 12 month olds, click here.
References
(2020, August). Geddes, J. When do babies start walking? What to Expect. https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/first-steps/
(2022, March). Dewar, G. When do babies start walking, and how does it develop? Parenting Science. https://parentingscience.com/when-do-babies-start-walking/
(2020, November). 13-month-old: toddlerhood has begun! Pampers. https://www.pampers.com/en-us/toddler/development/article/13-month-old?web_traffic_source=direct
(2019, October). St. Clair, M., Lloyd-Esenkaya, V. When should my child start speaking? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/when-should-my-child-start-speaking-122579
(2013, March). How to share books with your 12- to 14-month-old. Healthy Children. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/How-to-Share-Books-with-Your-12-to-14-Month-Old.aspx?_gl=1*1drff11*_ga*MTA4NjE2NzAyOS4xNjUyMzA3OTY2*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*MTY1MjMwNzk2Ni4xLjEuMTY1MjMwODA5Ny4w&_ga=2.230413080.505984204.1652307967-1086167029.1652307966
Infant & Toddler Development. 13-15 Months. The Parent Line. http://www.theparentline.org/infant-toddler-development/13-15-months/
(2022, March). Important milestones: your baby by fifteen months. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-15mo.html
Toddler Month by Month: 13 Months. The Bump. https://www.thebump.com/toddler-month-by-month/13-month-old
Logan-Banks, P. Developmental milestones: self-care Baby Centre. https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6503/developmental-milestones-self-care
(2022, March). Masters, M. 15-month-old child. What to Expect. https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/15-month-old.aspx