By eighteen months of age, most babies are gaining greater coordination and independence with moving and feeding. They are exploring sounds and beginning to develop a vocabulary. At this age, babies are gaining greater self-awareness and enjoy playing with others and by themselves. Growth may be slower during this time, so babies may have less of an appetite compared to previous months.
Below are typical milestones for development in children from twelve to eighteen months:

Gross Motor and Sensory Development
By 15 months:

• Stands independently
• Squats down to pick up a toy
• Walks independently
• Pulls and carries toys while walking

• Climbs on and off chairs and furniture
• Walks sideways and backwards
• Steps up and down stairs with handheld support
• Begins to run, but in an uncoordinated way
• Explores mainly through vision and touch
• Responds differently to loud and soft noises

• Uses a crayon and scribbles
• Picks up two blocks with one hand
• Begins towering two to three cubes
• Stirs with a spoon
• Turns pages of a board book

• Places round pegs in holes
• Imitates gestures or signs that the caregiver often uses

• Learns mainly through trial and error
• Begins to notice other children
• Enjoys playing with adults and begins to play and talk alone
• Likes picture books and will pay attention to a picture book for at least five minutes
• Begins to recognize parts of the body when asked

• Understands and sometimes is able to point and identify objects
• Understands one-step commands and may fulfill a request such as, “Go get your shoes.”
• Says “bye-bye” at appropriate times
• States “yes” and “no”
• Uses words or signs to express needs

• Points to three body parts
• Points to pictures or animals on request
• Attempts to get objects by vocalizing or pointing
• Imitates new words
• Increases vocabulary to ten or more words
• Begins to label one to two pictures with words

• Begins to have some self-awareness and recognizes self compared to others
• Has increasing separation anxiety
• Shows affection
• Shares with adults

• Plays alone with toys for fifteen minutes
• Plays alongside other children
• Plays simple games with other children

• Brings spoon to mouth and eats off it
• Drinks from a cup independently
• Holds, bites, and chews foods like crackers

• Begins to suck through a straw
• Scoops food from the dish with a spoon
• Improves coordination with chewing
• May experience decreased appetite, making mealtimes more challenging
• Sleeps for about two hours during the day and 11 hours at night for a total of about 13 hours
• Takes some clothes off such as shoes, socks, and gloves
• Cooperates with hand washing
• Allows teeth to be brushed
• Has increasing sphincter control, but may not be psychologically ready to toilet train
• Indicates need for diaper to be changed when soiled