Your little 1 is well into toddlerhood — and what a deviation three months take fabricated! Now the baby who once spent hours in your arms has grown into a toddler who probably can't sit down notwithstanding for more than than a few seconds.

Not only is he off and walking — or nearly there — merely he tin likely bend over and pick upward an object on the floor, drink independently from a cup or even crawl upwardly a few stairs on his hands and knees. (At present'due south a good fourth dimension to install those babe gates, if you haven't already.)

Here'due south what else your fifteen-month-former is upward to.

Your 15-Month-Old Child'due south Development

At a Glance

Sleeping basics

Toddlers demand most 11 to fourteen hours of sleep a day, including naps. At this age, most take 2 daily naps that should generally concluding around one to two hours each.

Feeding basics

Toddlers should eat three servings (each of which is well-nigh 1 to 2 tablespoons) of vegetables a day — though they may not ever! Some good options include carrots, squash, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.

Did you know?

Effectually this historic period, some toddlers kickoff engaging in pretend play — i.due east. imaginative games such every bit stirring a pot to "cook" a meal or "talking" to family members on a play phone.

Your toddler can likely walk pretty well, and male child, does he get effectually! Now's the perfect time to encourage your petty one to discover the world through his senses with looking, listening and touching games ("Teddy'southward fur is soft," "The radio is quiet," "The tree exterior is big").

At mealtime, help your tot tune into smells and tastes by discussing what'due south on his plate — what it looks similar, how it smells, how it tastes.

Don't be surprised if your little social butterfly displays some very hating behavior these days: He still views playmates every bit objects rather than people, and then it's hard for him to feel empathy when he grabs a toy another child wants or shoves a little friend out of the manner.

Finding a playmate can help foster skillful social etiquette, though side-by-side or parallel play will probably dominate the party for a while longer. You lot can become more details on your child'south growth, development and milestones from your pediatrician at the 15-month well-child visit.

More little moments that may pop up around now: a crawling relapse (not a big bargain, just don't be alarmed if your tot chooses to clamber sometimes afterward he's already learned to walk) and a tendency to push, pull or grunt instead of using words to go what he wants.

Aid your toddler's language skills forth by responding to nonverbal demands with a simultaneous translation: "What do y'all want? Do you want juice?" Congratulations if you lot get an actual response!

Your 15-Month-Old Child'southward Growth

At this month'south well-child visit, your pediatrician will in one case once again chart your child's growth on a weight and length chart. Most 15-calendar month boys weigh betwixt 18½ and 29 pounds, and usually are 29 inches to 33 inches tall. Girls typically weigh 17 to 27 pounds and measure out 28 ½ to 32½.

Whether your child is in the 5th percentile or the 95th percentile, chances are, he's just where he's supposed to be. Sure, toddlers in the lower percentiles are smaller (for now) than those in the higher percentiles, but your pediatrician is likely more concerned with how your toddler compares to himself— that is, how your child continues to grow over time.

For example, if your toddler has been consistently hovering around the 30th percentile, he may stay on that trajectory into adulthood. But if he'south always been in the 60th percentile and of a sudden drops to the 15th, your pediatrician may want to investigate further. Has your child been sick? Is in that location a medical crusade for the slowdown? Or is he just charting a new, smaller trajectory afterward starting off on the bigger side?

Wondering near your toddler'southward height? Take it with a grain of salt. Measuring the length of a squirming toddler is an imprecise science. No, your child didn't "lose" an inch since the last doctor's visit — somewhere along the line, someone took an (understandably) inaccurate reading. Until your kid can stand in an upright position — and stand withal, for that affair — you probably won't be able to count on consistently authentic results.

On the feeding front end: By 15 months, your toddler should exist completely weaned from the bottle, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Breastfeeding tin can go on for as long as both parent and child are willing and able.

Your 15-Month-Old Kid's Health & Intendance

There's a fifteen-month well-visit on the schedule for this month — and boy, is at that place a lot going on!

15-month well-child visit

Expect a full physical exam at this checkup, as well as a handful of vaccinations: Hib (the last dose), MMR, PCV13 and varicella (chicken pox), if they weren't already administered at the one-yr well visit. Your toddler may also get a DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) and HepA (hepatitis A) shot at present or at a later visit. The good news: After this 15-month well visit, the vaccine doses tend to slow down. There's plenty to talk about on the developmental front too: Your kid may be walking, pointing or saying a few words. Read More

Toddler tub safety

Given the messes toddlers make, there'due south a practiced run a risk that your little one will need sudsing off at the end of about days. To protect his tender skin, examination the water temperature before plopping him in the tub, cover the faucet with a plastic comprehend (so he doesn't crash-land his head), and apply tear-free shampoo. Read More

Relieving constipation

When it comes to toddler poop, think quality, non quantity. A tot who goes a few days without pooping isn't necessarily clogged up. A amend sign of constipation: Poops that are small, difficult and seem difficult to pass. Read More than

Toddler dehydration

And so much to practise, and so little time to stop for a water interruption. Non only are toddlers often too busy playing to detect they're thirsty, simply their fiddling bodies are as well particularly vulnerable to dehydration. One of the all-time means to tell if your toddler is drinking enough? Bank check to see if he'south producing at least six wet diapers a day over 24 hours (fewer than that can indicate he may exist dehydrated) and that his diapers aren't staying dry for more than two or three hours at a stretch on a regular ground. If he hasn't urinated or produced any wet diapers in 8 hours, that signals a problem that warrants a call to the md. Read More

Toddler ear care

How tin such tiny ears produce so much gunk? A little bit of ear wax is a good thing — it protects the ear canal from leaner and water — just too much can impair your tot'south hearing. Tempting equally it may be to reach for a cotton wool swab, don't. Instead, launder out the wax with a few drops of babe or mineral oil. Read More

Toddler Tips & Info

Right-handed or left-handed?

Until the historic period of about xviii months, nearly toddlers appear ambidextrous, preferring to utilise their left hands as frequently as they use their right.

Odds are proficient, however, that your kid volition finish up favoring the right hand — only about x per centum of people are lefties. Genetics play a big role in determining paw preference, too; many people who are left-handed had at least 1 parent who was left-handed every bit well.

Whatever you practise, don't endeavor to force him to use the "correct" paw. Pushing a child to be right- or left-handed when he's favoring the reverse can lead to unnecessary stress on the child. Just let nature have its form!

When your toddler isn't assertive

Toddlers have a reputation for existence demanding, but some children are more passive than pushy, even allowing other kids to accept the toys correct out of their hands. As a parent, this might be hard to watch, simply information technology's not necessarily a cause for business.

As long equally your child is happy — maybe he finds another, better toy to play with — there'southward no reason to intervene. After all, what he doesn't miss won't hurt him.

If, however, your toddler is tired of all the toy-snatching, it's okay to step in. Merely ask his more believing peer (nicely, but firmly) to give the toy back. If the grabber gives in, say "thanks," simply if not, don't snatch it back. Recollect, your toddler is watching your every move and will mimic your behavior afterwards on.

Most importantly, know that meek or shy toddlers don't necessarily grow up to be pushovers as adults. With time, he'll empathise that he has rights and develop the conviction he needs to stand upwards for himself.

Should a common cold delay a vaccine?

Your kid may exist feeling under-the-weather, but a balmy illness, like a cold or even a low-grade fever, probably shouldn't push button dorsum a scheduled vaccine unless your pediatrician has said otherwise. In fact, skipping a shot could leave your kid vulnerable to something more than serious.

Some other reason not to put off the vaccine: Toddlers — peculiarly those who attend day care or take older siblings — grab colds fairly frequently, so the odds of finding a sick-free 24-hour interval on his schedule may be slimmer than you think.

If, however, your child has something more than serious, or has a fever that'southward 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your pediatrician may recommend delaying the shot. Talk to your physician before making a decision.

Cut off catnaps

Until nigh 18 months, nearly toddlers demand two naps a day, ideally for nearly one to two hours each. Problem is, a toddler who dozes off for 15 minutes in the car and then 15 minutes in the stroller isn't likely to log very much daytime shut-eye.

Even if his naps full an 60 minutes or two per day, those small snippets of sleep aren't probable to lead to a well-rested toddler — and that, in turn, can atomic number 82 to a frustrated, cranky toddler.

To reinforce the napping habit , stick to a regular sleep schedule , even on the weekends. Waiting too long to put your toddler to bed tin backlash, since it'due south harder for an overtired child to settle down to slumber.

What to know about sippy cups

There's a lot to love about sippy cups . Not only are they practically spill-proof, but compared to an open cup, they're likewise easier for toddlers to apply. All the same, there's a good reason to make the switch to a regular loving cup sooner rather than later. For starters, the older your child gets, the more he may cling to his sippy.

To aid your kid brand the transition, requite him lots of praise when he drinks from an open loving cup (and be sure to demonstrate the process yourself). Y'all can likewise take your tot shopping to cull his own cup — maybe that Manus Patrol motif volition lure him away from that beloved sippy.

Yous should expect a few messes as he learns how to use an open cup. The good news: Toddlers dear cleaning up!

The pros of playdates

Correct now, you may exist your toddler's best friend, merely that doesn't hateful you have to exist his only ane. There are lots of benefits of going on a playdate : Information technology gives your child a change of environment, a run a risk to notice one of his peers and an opportunity to practice those burgeoning social skills.

Plus, in that location'due south something in it for y'all too (as well the adult conversation). Playdates give you a adventure to compare notes with other parents and caregivers about feeding struggles, sleep habits and even local pediatricians.

Just make sure yous feel comfortable in whatever social setting yous choose, especially in low-cal of COVID-nineteen concerns. You lot can opt to only meet outside or most, or only with other parents who are vaccinated against COVID and/or wearing masks.

Recollect that the risk of lilliputian ones communicable COVID at this historic period may be college considering children this young aren't supposed to wear masks and aren't yet able to be vaccinated. So err on the side of caution and safety.

Why your toddler empties everything out

You finally finished storing your toddler's toys back in the toy box — only to accept him scatter them all over the flooring again. Frustrating? A little. Normal? Totally.

Believe it or not, your kid'due south ability to empty out boxes, baskets and bags is a sign of his developing fine motor and cognitive skills. ("What happens if I pull this?")

Rather than discourage the behavior, requite your tot some safe toys to dump onto the floor, like blimp animals, nesting cups or small squares of fabric. During bathtime, yous tin fill up upwardly a bucket with plastic cups or bottles.

You should, however, secure child-resistant locksand latches on any of the boxes, cabinets or drawers he shouldn't open — like anything that contains medications, glass, cleaning products and other harmful items.

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Wait When You're Expecting. What to Look follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only apparent sources, such every bit peer-reviewed studies, bookish inquiry institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how nosotros proceed our content accurate and upward-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect the Second Year, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Toddler Slumber Basics, December 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Encourage Pretend Play in Babies and Toddlers, September 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When Do Babies Start Walking?, August 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Wean Your Baby Off the Canteen, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Help Your Kid Drink From an Open Loving cup, Oct 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When Can My Toddler Offset Climbing Stairs?, Oct 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Benefits of Parallel Play for Babies and Toddlers, Baronial 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, The 15-Month Well-Infant Visit, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Toddler Tub Safety, February 2019.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How to Relieve Baby and Toddler Constipation, September 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Is My Toddler Dehydrated? Signs of Dehydration and What to Do About It?, January 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, My Toddler Is Resisting Bedtime and Naps. What Tin I Practise?, December 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When Does Handedness Develop in Children?, September 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Caring for Toddlers Ears, January 2019.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When to End Using a Sippy Cup, April 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, The Pros of Playdates for Toddlers, July 2019.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Serving Sizes for Toddlers, March 2016.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Movement: Babies 8 to 12 Months, Apr 2021.
  • World Health Organization, Kid Growth Standards, 2022.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Birth to 24 Months: Girls Length-for-Age and Weight-for-Age Percentiles, 2009.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nascency to 24 Months: Boys Length-for-Age and Weight-for-Historic period Percentiles, 2009.
  • Cleveland Clinic, Dehydration and Your Child, September 2020.
  • KidsHealth From Nemours, Your Child's Growth, Oct 2018.
  • KidsHealth From Nemours, Your Kid'south Immunizations: Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccine (DTap), May 2021.

Recommended Products

What to Expect selects products based on independent research  and suggestions from our community of millions of parents; learn more about our review procedure. We may earn commissions from shopping links.

Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers, According to a Pediatrician

View All

best outdoor toys blue strider balance bike

⚠️ You tin can't see this cool product because y'all have advertizement block enabled.

Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners.

best outdoor toys little tikes water table

best outdoor toys step2 brown sandbox

⚠️ You can't come across this absurd product because you have ad cake enabled.

Delight whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners.

best outdoor toys jasonwell splashpad with sprinklers

best outdoor toys little tikes t-ball set