22-Month-Outdated Child: Feeding, Sleep, and Milestones by Month

As your child approaches their second birthday, chances are you’ll discover many thrilling adjustments of their improvement. At 22 months outdated, your toddler is probably going turning into extra impartial, communicative, and curious. Understanding their anticipated milestones will help you assist your 22-month-old’s development and supply acceptable actions, routines, and care. This text will cowl key elements of their improvement, together with feeding and sleep routines and necessary milestones that point out they’re on observe.

Your youngster is mastering varied bodily, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities at this age. Right here’s a breakdown of what milestones to anticipate in a 22-month-old:

At this stage, many 22-month-olds have gotten extra assured with their massive muscle actions. They are able to:^1,2

• Stroll and run with extra coordination (although some might stay a bit wobbly)
• Independently come to a cease from working with out falling or working into one thing
• Climb up or down a couple of stairs with assist and even on their very own, one step at a time, placing each ft on every step
• Kick a ball or throw objects with growing accuracy and stability, particularly after watching you reveal
• Leap with each ft leaving the ground on the identical time
• Squat to choose up toys or objects and rise up with out assist

Gross motor abilities will proceed to progress with follow as your toddler grows stronger and extra coordinated.

Your toddler’s positive motor abilities are bettering, permitting them to:^1,2

• Stack six small blocks, cups, or toys on high of one another independently
• Level, grasp, and manipulate objects with extra precision
• Flip doorknobs, screw and unscrew lids on jars, and twist a windup toy
• Flip a couple of pages of a guide by themselves
• Flip switches on and off
• String small beads or macaroni onto a string or shoelace
• Shut the lid of a field
• Scribble with crayons or markers, imitating vertical strains and round marks
• Start feeding themselves with a spoon or fork right-side-up with out an excessive amount of spilling

As your 22-month-old’s hand-eye coordination strengthens, they could take pleasure in actions that contain extra intricate actions, like constructing towers or drawing easy shapes.

Language and Communication

Language improvement at 22 months outdated is extremely various, however many toddlers can:^1,2

• Say 20-50 phrases, together with acquainted names, frequent objects, and easy phrases
• Ask for extra of one thing
• Level to 4 to 6 physique components and articles of clothes when named
• Reply the query, “What’s this?” when proven footage of acquainted objects like a ball, cup, hat, or canine
• Perceive and execute at the very least three easy directions, like “Come right here” or “Give me the ball”
• Use gestures and sounds to specific their wants or needs
• Mimic phrases and quick phrases spoken by adults or caregivers
• Use some possessive and pronoun phrases accurately, resembling “me,” “my,” “mine,” and “you”

Your toddler’s vocabulary is increasing by one to 2 phrases per week or extra, and so they might start to string two to a few totally different phrases collectively to type fundamental phrases and sentences, resembling, “Need cookie,” “Daddy come residence!” “Massive truck,” or “Doggy eat,” versus simply “Bye-bye” or “All accomplished.”^1,2

At 22 months outdated, your toddler is turning into extra conscious of their feelings and relationships with others. Milestones on this space embrace:^1,2

• Displaying attachment to acquainted caregivers or relations
• Displaying empathy by providing consolation to others in misery
• Experiencing frustration once they don’t get their approach or are unable to speak clearly
• Observing different youngsters intently
• Starting to interact in parallel play (taking part in close to different youngsters, although not at all times with them)
• Making an attempt to repeat upkeep and self-care actions that you simply do, resembling wiping up spills, sweeping or dusting, shaving, and brushing hair
• Feeding themselves and consuming from a cup with little spilling
• Pretending to take care of stuffed animals or dolls by altering their diapers, feeding them, and dressing them

It’s additionally frequent for 22-month-olds to check boundaries, typically having tantrums or being defiant as they discover independence.^1,2

Cognitive improvement at this age can also be advancing! Your 22-month-old would possibly be capable to:^1,2

• Determine acquainted objects and other people in footage
• Acknowledge that an object is the wrong way up and switch it right-side-up
• Scribble when handed a writing instrument with out you demonstrating
• Imitate you lining up blocks facet by facet
• Fake an object is one thing else, like utilizing a distant as a telephone or placing a field on their head as if it’s a hat
• Dump a crumb or Cheerio out of a bottle or cup by flipping it the wrong way up
• Start to interact in easy problem-solving actions, like becoming shapes right into a sorter
• Acknowledge and imitate actions they’ve seen earlier than
• Present an curiosity in books, flipping by pages or pointing to footage when you learn collectively

Your toddler’s curiosity is blooming, and so they’re studying in regards to the world by commentary and hands-on exploration.^1,2

Consuming fosters positive motor, self-help, and cognitive developmental milestones on your 22-month-old. They need to eat stable meals as an alternative of child meals, although they could be considerably choosy eaters. At this age, your toddler ought to have three meals a day, with two snacks in between. All through the day, your 22-month-old’s weight-reduction plan ought to include:^3,4

• Protein resembling meat, beans, or fish
• Fats resembling oil, butter, or dairy
• Greens, whether or not recent or frozen, uncooked or cooked
• Fruits, whether or not recent, frozen, or canned in water or 100% juice
• Grains resembling whole-grain bread, pasta, or rice

A typical feeding schedule would possibly seem like:

7:30 a.m.
Breakfast: Yogurt with granola and berries
10:00 a.m.
Snack: Small items of cheese and cucumbers
12:00 p.m.
Lunch: Peanut butter sandwich on whole-grain bread, bell pepper strips, and cut-up pear
3:00 p.m.
Snack: Complete-grain crackers with hummus
5:30 p.m.
Dinner: Rooster, rice, and steamed greens

Your toddler might also take pleasure in feeding themselves with utensils, although it’s frequent for them to nonetheless choose utilizing their arms.⁵ Whereas providing quite a lot of meals is necessary, keep in mind that choosy consuming is frequent at this stage, so be affected person together with your baby. In the event you’re scuffling with a choosy eater, preserve providing the meals, however wait a couple of days in between attempting once more. Serve the brand new meals alongside meals you already know that your youngster eats, and eat it together with your youngster to allow them to see that you simply prefer it!⁶

On common, a 22-month-old usually weighs between 22-32 kilos, however this may range relying on their development curve, intercourse, genetics, and total well being.^7,8 Feeding your youngster may also be nerve-racking as you are concerned whether or not they’re consuming sufficient or an excessive amount of. However attempt to focus much less on what they eat at a single meal and even all through one complete day. Trying on the massive image, most toddlers are getting all of the energy and vitamins they want inside every week.³

Sleep could be a bit unpredictable in toddlerhood. Some toddlers expertise a sleep regression round 22 months outdated, which can lead to all of the sudden waking extra regularly at evening, having hassle falling asleep, or waking early within the morning. This regression is usually linked to developmental adjustments, resembling language improvement, separation anxiousness, teething, sickness, stress, or journey. Relaxation assured that whereas a 22-month-old sleep regression is nerve-racking and exhausting for folks, it’s momentary! Stick with your normal sleep routine, and your baby ought to be again to their common sleeping patterns earlier than you already know it.⁹

On common, a 22-month-old wants about 10-14 hours of sleep every day, together with one afternoon nap lasting one to a few hours.⁹ A typical sleep schedule on your 22-month-old would possibly embrace:

7:00 a.m.
Each day wake time
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon nap
7:00 p.m.
Bedtime

In case your toddler is scuffling with sleep at this age, establishing a constant bedtime routine and guaranteeing a peaceful, quiet atmosphere will help. Take note of your toddler’s sleep cues resembling yawning, clinginess, rubbing eyes, and irritability. Attempt to keep away from letting them get overtired by sticking to their sleep schedule and routine. Bedtime routines are crucial for cueing your 22-month-old’s physique and thoughts that it’s time to wind down. You may resolve what bedtime appears to be like like for your loved ones, however many mother and father and kids take pleasure in a nightly tub, a guide, after which mattress for his or her routine.^9,10

Determining incorporate meals, sleep, and actions all through your toddler’s day could be complicated! Whereas every day could be a bit totally different and every household’s schedule can range, a normal define or rhythm for the day will help your youngster with predictability, expectations, and transitioning between actions. A typical each day schedule for a 22-month-old would possibly look one thing like this:¹¹

7:00 a.m.
Get up, diaper change or use the potty, dress, and brush enamel
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Impartial free play
8:30 a.m.
Out of doors stroll
9:00 a.m.
Playground
10:00 a.m.
Morning snack
10:30 a.m.
Music and dancing time
11:15 a.m.
Free play
12:00 p.m.
Lunch and clean-up
1:00 p.m.
Naptime
3:00 p.m.
Afternoon snack
3:30 p.m.
Storytime
4:30 p.m.
Arts and crafts
5:30 p.m.
Dinner
6:00 p.m.
Bathtub time
6:30 p.m.
Bedtime routine
7:00 p.m.
Bedtime

In fact, each household is totally different, so you may regulate this schedule based mostly in your wants. Once more, an important factor isn’t sticking to the precise timing or actions every day, however guaranteeing consistency and order on your 22-month-old. It will assist foster a way of security, safety, and predictability of their world.¹¹

Infections resembling frequent colds, abdomen bugs, ear infections, and respiratory diseases can have an effect on toddlers at this age. You may anticipate them to amass 4 to eight infections per yr. Be looking out for:¹²

• Fever: In case your youngster has a persistent or excessive fever over 100.4 levels Fahrenheit for greater than three days or a fever that comes and goes and not using a trigger, you need to contact your pediatrician.
• Irritability or inconsolability: Attain out to your pediatrician in case your youngster is crying rather more than normal and you may’t get them to cease or establish the supply of their ache.
• Lethargy: In case your youngster is sleeping rather more than normal or their exercise ranges are depressed for a number of days, this could be a signal of an infection. If excessive sleepiness persists for a number of days, contact your pediatrician.
• Lack of urge for food: It may be regular on your youngster to eat lower than normal once they’re sick, but when they refuse a number of meals in a row for days at a time, or in the event that they refuse to drink and present indicators of dehydration (like fewer moist diapers than normal or crying with out tears), attain out to your pediatrician. That is significantly frequent in diseases that trigger vomiting and diarrhea.
• Rash: A rash that spreads quickly, entails the eyes or the mouth, blisters, or doesn’t go away might warrant a go to to your youngster’s physician.
• Respiratory signs: In case your youngster has a persistent cough, is wheezing, or seems to be working onerous to breathe, discuss to your pediatrician immediately.

Frequent handwashing and avoiding clearly sick individuals will help mitigate an infection threat, however getting sick is inevitable in childhood. With loads of sleep and a well-rounded weight-reduction plan, most diseases stay gentle. Use air filters, keep away from secondhand smoke, and vaccinate your youngster to assist forestall extreme sickness.¹²

At 22 months, toddlers are keen to interact in new actions that promote their improvement. Along with customary toddler actions like out of doors play, arts and crafts, faux play, and studying, listed here are some enjoyable and academic actions for 22-month-olds:¹³

• Constructing blocks or stacking cups: See what number of objects your youngster can stack on high of each other earlier than the tower topples over. This exercise will help them work on their cognitive and motor abilities. It entails utilizing their fingers and thoughts to foster hand-eye coordination, stability, and planning.
• The ground is lava: Arrange pillows, books, or stepping stones on the ground and encourage your toddler to strive solely standing on them, not the ground itself. This exercise fosters gross motor abilities (resembling balancing and leaping) and creativeness.
• Gardening: Begin a backyard in a pot or in your yard the place you and your youngster can plant seeds, water them, and watch them develop. This exercise incorporates motor abilities like digging, in addition to caretaking and routine.

One of the best toddler actions are ones that you simply and your baby take pleasure in doing collectively whereas studying one thing new or training a talent. In the event you take note of your personal duties and chores all through the day, chances are you’ll discover methods to include your 22-month-old into them. It’s wonderful how a lot my toddler likes to fold laundry, and her pleasure for it makes it much less dreadful for me!

As your toddler grows and develops their cognitive and motor abilities, they could start to take extra dangers. You may preserve a protected atmosphere by being conscious of frequent risks for 22-month-olds and forestall them. Listed here are some security tricks to comply with:¹⁴

Be conscious of small, onerous meals and family objects which may pose a choking threat. Some explicit hazards to be conscious of are:¹⁴

• Complete grapes, cherry tomatoes, chunks of apples, and carrots
• Popcorn, which may get caught within the airway
• Sizzling canine and different chunks of meat, particularly round-shaped ones
• Small components to toys or recreation items
• Marbles and small balls
• Small magnets
• Cash and coin-shaped batteries
• Pins, security pins, pen caps, and hair clips

Kids can maintain gentle to extreme burns from sources resembling scorching water, fireplace and candles, a scorching range, or pots and pans. Listed here are some methods to decrease the chance of burns in your house:^14,16

• Keep away from utilizing candles, or solely use battery-operated ones.
• Use knob covers in your stovetop so your youngster isn’t in a position to activate the burners.
• If you’re cooking, flip the handles inward so your toddler can’t pull a scorching pot or pan off the range by grabbing the deal with.
• Decrease the temperature of your scorching water heater to 120 levels Fahrenheit to stop scalding.
• Place a child gate across the fire and radiators when you should use them to warmth your property.
• Set up and preserve your smoke detectors to stop home fires from getting out of hand.

Your toddler can fall from any elevated floor and undergo wounds to the pinnacle or backbone or different damaged bones. Be attentive to the next to assist forestall falls:¹⁴

• Use child gates on the high of staircases that don’t have a door, and shut people who do.
• Mount tall or heavy furnishings to the partitions to stop them from tipping and crushing a toddler who might open drawers or climb on them.
• Place nook bumpers on the perimeters of sharp furnishings to stop critical accidents in case your toddler falls into them.
• Don’t open home windows greater than 4 inches, and use locks to stop your youngsters from opening them.

It takes solely an inch or two of water for a kid to drown; subsequently, it’s important to stop them from accessing standing water with out your supervision. Listed here are a couple of tricks to be conscious of:¹⁴

• Drain all bathtubs, youngster swimming pools, and sinks fully and instantly when accomplished utilizing them.
• Use a childproof gate or sturdy cowl on your pool and/or scorching tub. Lock all doorways that entry a pool with a childproof lock.
• Hold the lid closed on bogs, and think about using a childproof rest room lid lock.

It could look like frequent sense, however attempt to see your property by your toddler’s eyes. Belongings you don’t even assume twice about — like a colourful laundry pod — can look very engaging to them. Hold something harmful (or probably harmful) locked and secured. Retailer weapons correctly and out of attain with ammunition separate. Hold youngsters away from lengthy ribbons, strings, and cords to stop strangulation.¹⁵

Regardless of how a lot you’ve childproofed your own home, a toddler can virtually at all times discover one thing harmful! Moreover eradicating as many dangerous objects and conditions as potential, it’s crucial to at all times supervise your toddler throughout play and meals. It’s additionally important to have a plan for emergencies. Contemplate taking a primary support course to be taught what to do in case your youngster chokes or will get injured, and decide the place your nearest emergency room is.¹⁴

The 22-month-old milestone interval is a time of unimaginable development and exploration for each you and your toddler. By understanding their feeding, sleep, and developmental wants, you may assist your 22-month-old as they proceed to develop curious, lively, and impartial. All the time bear in mind to maintain security a precedence and supply loads of alternatives for studying and play to foster their ongoing improvement.