[Fredi]

I’m curious to know what other 14 month olds (or thereabouts!) are doing. My DS1, 3, has autism so I don’t really know what “normal” development is. My 14 month old DS2 is:
-Walking, climbing, can go up and down stairs holding onto rail
-Claps, points, waves
-Sings and does actions to nursery rhymes
-Has 8 words, babbles a lot. Understands simple questions eg where do you want to go? What do you want?
-eats what we eat. Has 3 meals, morning and afternoon snack. 3 bottles of (cows) milk in 24 hours.
-drinks water from his straw bottle or sippy cup. Can drink from a normal cup but occasionally spills
-eats with his fingers, tries to use a spoon. Sometimes he’s successful
-sleeps 8 to 7, has a 2 to 3 hour nap in the middle of the day. Wakes up once or twice a night for water then goes back to sleep
-loves putting coins in money boxes, riding on mini trike (no pedals), bounces on trampoline
-can pull nappy and pants off lol
So what is your toddler doing?

[CherryAmes]

Hi,

my bub is 14ths next week and is doing most of those things except the sleeping! She's breastfed and will drink all day long if I don't distract her - and therefore wakes up several times a night for a drink too.

Sounds like your bub is totally on track which must be a relief. Congratulations!

[Carmen02]

Sounds like he is doing great..so much more then my 16mth old

[Jess1]

Mine does most of that stuff but has really stalled on the words! She can say mum, dad, bird and that is about it. She "talks" all the time though so I am not worried.

She can't pull her nappy off thank goodness! Sounds like your toddler is doing just fine

I hope you don't mind me crashing your thread but I have wanted to ask this question for ages. Do you spend time "teaching" your toddlers? Or is it all play based? I just see so many of those flash cards etc out there and wondered if people use these. I only have 2 days a week where it is just my toddler and me so I would just prefer to play.

Although I did teach her where her nose was

[Fredi]

Thanks for your replies!

Jess – we don’t “teach” DS2 and we don’t use flashcards. DS2 has benefited from DS1’s therapy which is mostly home based. We role model language and actions. We use clear, direct language and pitch at the appropriate level, so no baby talk and no pre-empting his needs, to encourage him to make independent requests.

Eg if he points to his toys, instead of silently handing a toy to him I would ask him “what do you want?” he might say ball or point directly to the ball, I then say “you want your ball?”, he might nod or grunt for yes, then I hand it to him and say “here is your ball”. We do this with everything for both boys. With DS1, I always pre-empted his needs because I instinctively knew what he wanted but that didn’t teach him to communicate. DS2 has to try that much harder to get what he wants lol

[Kiki M]

I hope you don't mind me crashing your thread but I have wanted to ask this question for ages. Do you spend time "teaching" your toddlers? Or is it all play based? I just see so many of those flash cards etc out there and wondered if people use these. I only have 2 days a week where it is just my toddler and me so I would just prefer to play.

Although I did teach her where her nose was

I bought some flash cards as part of the "Your baby can read" package. The DVDs have been a bit pointless, but the flash cards have been ok. They have been a starting point for her learn where her nose, mouth, bellybutton, toes and feet are, and simple commands such as clap, point, arms up etc. But of course you can do all this without the help of flash cards.

I think at this age their attention span is not quite long enough, but in a few more months I think she will respond better to them. At this stage, books and rhymes are more fun!

OP - I think your DS sounds fine! DD is doing all those things, except walking (she is standing for longer periods without support so it probably won't be long.)

We are having a tough time getting her to say "ta." As soon as she sees what she wants (usually food) she goes into a mini-tantrum if she doesn't get it right away, and resists saying ta. Anyone got any good ideas for that one?

[G+2]

Your DS sounds to be completely on track, my twin DDs 16 months are doing all of the above, besides walking, they're just taking the first steps now.

We are having a tough time getting her to say "ta." As soon as she sees what she wants (usually food) she goes into a mini-tantrum if she doesn't get it right away, and resists saying ta. Anyone got any good ideas for that one?

This made me laugh, one of my twin 16 month old DDs has learnt through imitation to say 'ta', but it's intent seems much more like 'Yes. Good. For me.' rather than thank you

[Pocket79]

My DS is 14 months and doing all the same things as yours OP. Although a lot of our friends and his daycare carers have commented that his language is very good for his age- I would say he says more than 50 words and imitates almost anything you say to him. He has recently started to put two words together eg 'byebye daddy' and 'ninky nonk' (from In the Night Garden lol!). I haven't 'taught' him anything although since he was very tiny I have always spent hours talking and reading to him so maybe that has had some effect on his language skills. Other than that he is pretty bang on average with everything!
Oh yes, DS also says 'ta' but he means 'give me that please', not 'thankyou'. I have on rare occasion got him to say 'ta' when I have given him something he asked for, but more often than not he just snatches the item and goes on his way after I give it to him! Maybe they are too young for etiquette? ;-P

[I*Love*Christmas]

My 14 mth old doesn't say many things but babbles non stop. She does say hi, bye, mummy, daddy, water.

She sleeps 7-6.30 most nights without waking up and has a 2 hr sleep during the day. She eats what we do - breakfast, lunch and dinner and has 2 bottles of milk a day.

She LOVES her big brother and follows him around non stop. He wakes up later than her in the morning so the first hour or so in the morning is hellish because she cries at his door wanting him to get up.

She loves teddy bears, soft dolls, blankets and handbags. She even uses those green bags as hand bags. She loves kids TV especially In the Night Garden, Mr Maker (?) and Yo Gabba Gabba.

She just plays all day long.

[hopeful81]

My DS is 13.5 months

* not walking but has taken one unassisted step
* starting to stand up by himself and holding for a couple of seconds
* claps hands, points, waves
* knows actions to songs - twinkle, twinkle etc
* sleeps 7:30pm - 6am
* has one nap a day around 2 hours
* says Dad, Mum, Ball, "Row Row" for the song, What's that?, Hello, Bu (for book), Ducky
* shakes head for No
* Says Ta to give and receive items
* loves to draw. Finds DD's pen and squiggles around on paper
* loves opening and closing doors
* Cuddles into your neck if you ask him for cuddles
* blows kisses
* When he or you drop something he goes "Uh oh"
* Goes "uh uh" when he knows he is doing something wrong
* loves lift the flap books
* 3-4 bottles a day
* picks up and throws a ball amazingly well
* can pull nappy off (if no pants on) - JOY!
* eats with his fingers and not too bad with a spoon
* points and knows his nose, mouth, head and tummy
* drinks from a proper water bottle (twist top) if I open it
* Asks for "Bot Bot" when he is thirsty