Milestones for an 18-Month-Old Child-Topic Overview Children usually progress in a natural, predictable sequence from one developmental milestone to the next. But each child grows and gains skills at his or her own pace. Some children may be advanced in one area, such as language, but behind in another, such as sensory and motor development.

Milestones usually are categorized into five major areas: physical growth, cognitive development, emotional and social development, language development, and sensory and motor development.

Physical development

Most children by 18 months of age:

• Gain weight and grow at a steady but slower pace than during their first 12 months of life. Between 12 and 24 months of age, expect your child to gain about 3 lb (1.4 kg) to 5 lb (2.3 kg), grow an average of 3 in. (7.6 cm) to 5 in. (12.7 cm), and gain about 1 in. (2.5 cm) in head circumference (the measurement around the top of the head).
• Are starting to lose the "baby" look. Your child, who is now in fast motion much of the time, gradually adopts a leaner frame. Although your child's head is still large in proportion to the rest of his or her body, by 18 months of age, the face is not as "chubby." People may comment that he or she is starting to look like a "little boy" or a "little girl."
• Get their first molars. They may also get their canine teeth (also called "eyeteeth"). See a picture of the typical order that baby teeth come in.
• Do not nap as much in the morning or give up this nap time completely. But they still need to sleep about 13 to 14 hours in a 24-hour period.

Thinking and reasoning (cognitive development)

Most children by 18 months of age:

• Have developed a sense of self, the ability to see themselves as separate from others. They can now imagine a threat and often cling to parents and become fearful of strangers.
• Can usually find an object that they watch you move from one place to another. For example, you may hide a teddy bear under a blanket. After your child finds the teddy bear by removing the blanket, he or she will find it again after watching you move it under a pillow on the couch.
• Starts to play pretend. Usually it will be one pretend act at a time, such as giving a stuffed animal a "drink" from a toy cup. (By 24 months, he or she may act out a whole process, such as getting "baby" ready for bed.)
• Can point to a body part. For example, when you ask "where's your tummy?" your child will point to it.

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