23-Month-Old Baby Milestones

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Your not-so-little babyâs second birthday is right around the corner! When they were a baby, you probably didnât think of your days as âquietâ and ârestful,â but now you really know how loud and busy they can be! That may leave you feeling like the activities director on a cruise shipâconstantly planning things to do, overseeing your childâs playtime, and trying to keep them happy.
As noble as that is, there is also a good reason to give yourself a break: Children benefit cognitively from unstructured play! According to the American Psychological Association, the opportunity to engage in child-led, open-ended play âis a fundamental necessity for children to thrive physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially.â
With a 23-month-old, the challenge may be giving them the space for unstructured playâwhile also making sure they are safe. You can do that by letting them take the lead, encouraging pretend play, and allowing them to explore outside while you keep a watchful eye. As a nice bonus: Kids who have the chance to burn off more energyâboth creative and physical!âshould sleep more soundly during naps and overnight. (Psst! Check out these toddler playroom ideas!)Â
Your 23-Month-Oldâs Development Milestones
Starting a few months ago, your toddlerâs vocabulary probably seemed to âexplodeâ with new words added on a daily basisâand now more complex words are in the mix, too. It can seem like a snowball effect: The more words they learn, the more they want to learn. Still, there is a large spectrum to the average number of words that toddlers can verbalize. You can help prompt your childâs speech by reading, saying nursery rhymes, and talking with themâeven if the conversations are still largely one-sided. (More on language development!)Â
At 23 months, toddlersâ receptive language skills are also improving. They should be able to follow common two-step directions, such as âplease find your shoes and bring them to me.â Check out some new books from the library that introduce new words and then point out the image in the pictures while you are reading.Â
You can also use your toddlerâs impressive receptive language skills to comfort them. Itâs common for 23-month-olds to experience separation anxiety, especially when they are expected to do something âsoloâ for the first timeâlike participating in a gym class where you stay on the sidelines rather than go along with them. Use specific words to explain where youâll be and when youâll be reunited. A little pep talk can go a long way!Â
23-Month-Old Child Motor Skills
Your child may technically still be a toddler, but they are doing much less toddling these days. With better coordination and agility, they should seem less âclumsyâ than a few months ago. Still, you should encourage them to hold your hand while going down the stairs and make it clear they always need to hold your hand while in a parking lot or crossing a road. Their fine-motor skills have also improved, which should open the doors to new activities like coloring, building towers with blocks, and stringing beads. Â
Around this time, some children may start to resist their nap. About 20% of 2-year-olds stop napping entirelyâyikes! This may be a case of them not knowing whatâs in their best interest, but you can help by having a long, calm runway leading up to naptime and remaining consistent with their routine. If they are still determined to stay awake, make the old naptime the new down time by having them play independently quietly. Although it may take a lot of back-and-forth for a while, your child should catch onto the new expectations within a few weeks.Â
How to Prepare a 23-Month-Old for a New Sibling
If you plan to expand your familyâor already have a new addition on the wayâwondering how to prepare your older child may weigh heavily on your heart and mind. Yes, youâll have the benefit of experience when you welcome a new baby. Only, now youâll be navigating life with multiple kids. Help ease the transition for your older child with these tipsâŚ
- For young toddlers, save the big talk about the new baby until closer to the due date. Read books about becoming a big brother or sister and explain that new babies arenât quite ready for playtime right awayâbut that will happen!
- If you have to make any adjustments to your older childâs living space, like moving rooms or changing beds, do that well in advance of the new babyâs arrival to give your older child the time to adjust.Â
- Carve out some special bonding time to spend with your older child after the new baby arrives, whether thatâs one-on-one storytime in the evening, a standing lunch date, or an afternoon walk.Â
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REFERENCES
- The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp, MD
- The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep, Dr. Harvey Karp, MD
- âThe Serious Business of Play,â The American Psychological Association, May 2020
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