16-17 Months

Follow these milestones to see how your baby aligns with these stages of development.

Click on the + to read more

Your Title Goes Here

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Fine motor skills

May turn knobs and open screw-on lids
May start to scribble on paper
Enjoys finger painting
Rakes and picks up cards lying flat on the floor
Enjoys tearing activities; tearing old scrap paper or newspaper
May start threading with large beads and a shoelace
Enjoys dropping small objects into tiny holes or slots

Gross motor skills

May climb and sit on a small chair independently
Is able to roll a ball forward
May pick up a ball and throw it forward in a standing position
May throw a ball forward, overhand
Carries large toys while walking
Starts to run
Enjoys dancing

Communication and language development

Speaks approximately 7 words but understands many more
Uses mostly pointing and gesturing as means of communication
Will take hand of parent to indicate needs

Social and emotional interaction

Enjoys playing hide-and-seek where parent hides and child must seek
Uses social gestures such as waving, smiling and blowing kisses
Scared of loud, unfamiliar and unexpected noises
Explorative and destructive phase while experimenting with objects and how it works
Can indicate “YES” and “NO” by nodding or shaking the head

Cognitive development

Parent can name object and ask child to point towards it, for example, “Where is the dog?”
Enjoys hiding-and-finding games
Understands the concept of putting toys away after play
May start to experiment with a shape board by fitting specific shapes into their correct positions

Self-help and imitation skills

May sit independently at a small table to eat
Enjoys playing with toys that imitate real-life objects and behaviours of parents like a toy tool kit, kitchen set, small broom for sweeping and pushing a doll pram
Enjoys assisting parent with self-help activities such as applying lotion on face or combing hair
Enjoys playing dress-up
Feeds self with a spoon

17-18 Months

Your Title Goes Here

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Fine motor skills

• Uses both hands during activities; hand dominance not yet established
• Enjoys fishing out small objects from a container with many toys or objects
• May have the coordination to position and drop a card into a slotted hole

Gross motor skills

Enjoys climbing activities including climbing up and down stairs while holding on
May try to hop up and down while holding parent’s hand
Enjoys ride-on toys like scooters
Is able to walk sideways, backwards and forwards while holding parent’s hand
Can kick a ball from a standing position

Communication and language development

Enjoys naming objects that parents point out
Continually point out the difference between concepts like big and small when exposed to it

Social and emotional interaction

Very clear on wants and needs
Has a need for immediate gratification
Might throw a tantrum or hit out of frustration when needs are not met
Is becoming more reluctant to interact with or wave to strangers
May establish a relationship with someone, like a teacher, who is outside of the immediate family

Cognitive development

Responds to simple requests and can follow two-step instructions
May start to position shapes accurately into a form board
Enjoys making own decisions, for example, choosing between two options

Self-help and imitation skills

Starts undressing with minimal assistance
Feeds self a variety of food
Thrives on a set routine
Enjoys trying out and imitating daily activities of parents
May insist on wiping own face while taking a bath

These Developmental Milestones, ranging from birth to 36 months, are a combination of my own experience and knowledge as well as guidelines from THE BABY CENTER.