18 month old toddler

What an 18 month old is doing

By eighteen months most children walk without holding on to anyone or anything. The CDC's checklist, which lists skills at least 75% of children have by this age, adds climbing on and off a couch or chair without help, scribbling, feeding themselves with their fingers, trying to use a spoon, and drinking from a cup without a lid, spilling sometimes.

Socially, most move away from you but look back to make sure you are close by, point to show you something interesting, put their hands out to be washed and push an arm through a sleeve to help you dress them. In play they copy you doing chores, like sweeping, and push toy cars. Ireland's HSE fills in either side: pretend play starting at sixteen months; by twenty months, walking upstairs holding your hand, stacking three to six small blocks and turning the pages of a book. Our 15 month old guide covers the stage before.

How many words should an 18 month old say?

The CDC milestone is trying to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada", and following one-step directions without any gestures — handing you a toy when you say "give it to me", without you holding out your hand.

The HSE describes the range around it: a vocabulary of 5 to 10 words is possible at sixteen months, and by twenty months around 15 to 20 single words, first tries at two words together such as "bye dada", pointing to body parts and understanding simple yes or no questions. Its twenty-month prompt to contact your GP or public health nurse is a child who cannot speak at least 6 words. Our speech and language milestones guide follows the curve to three.

18 month old sleep and naps

The World Health Organization recommends 11 to 14 hours of good quality sleep for children aged one to two, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times. Ireland's HSE says children aged one and over usually reduce to one nap a day, keep napping until around age 3, and should avoid naps after 3.30pm because they can lead to a later bedtime. If your child is still on two naps, see our guide on when to drop to one nap.

The HSE's other nap advice is practical: a regular daily routine, a dark room, shoes and outer clothes off, a story in a calm voice, and a special blanket or toy as a comforter after 12 months. If nights have suddenly got worse, our guide to the 18 month sleep regression explains what is behind it.

Tantrums at 18 months

The CDC says to expect them: tantrums are normal at this age and should become shorter and less frequent as your child gets older. Distraction can help, but it is fine to ignore a tantrum and give your child time to calm down. In between, offer simple choices, such as the red shirt or the blue one; give more attention to the behaviour you want than to the behaviour you don't; and create a spot your child can go to when upset, staying nearby so they can come to you for help calming down. Our toddler tantrums guide covers the moment itself.

Eating and the potty

The CDC advises letting your child practise with a cup without a lid and a spoon even though it is messy, and sitting at the table with them at meals and snacks to help set family mealtime routines.

On the potty, the CDC suggests asking your child's doctor or nursery whether your child is ready: most children are not successful at toilet training until 2 to 3 years old, and starting before a child is ready can cause stress and setbacks. Our guide to potty training signs of readiness covers what to look for.

Checks and vaccinations at 18 months

The NHS lists an appointment at one year and six months: a fourth dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine and a first or second dose of MMRV, both for children born on or after 1 July 2024. Children born on or after 1 January 2025 will usually have had their first MMRV dose at one year. If you think a vaccine has been missed, the NHS says to speak to your GP surgery. Australia's National Immunisation Program provides its routine childhood vaccines free of charge.

In the US, the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2020 clinical report recommends standardised autism screening at 18 and 24 months, alongside ongoing developmental surveillance in primary care, because autism is common, can be diagnosed as young as 18 months and has evidence-based interventions that may improve function. Our toddler vaccinations guide compares schedules, including Ireland's.

Play at 18 months

The CDC's ideas centre on pretend play and words: a spoon to feed a stuffed animal, a doll and a blanket, toys to push or pull, balls to roll back and forth, blocks to put in and out of containers, and books with simple talk about the pictures. Teach body parts by pointing ("Here's your nose, here's my nose"), and add to the words your child says.

The CDC advises no screen time before two apart from video calls with loved ones, and the WHO says sedentary screen time is not recommended for one-year-olds. The WHO also recommends at least 180 minutes a day of varied physical activity for one- to two-year-olds, and not restraining them in a pushchair or high chair for more than an hour at a time.

What is worth raising

The CDC's rule applies at every age: a missed milestone, a lost skill or any other concern is a reason to talk to your child's doctor and ask about developmental screening. The HSE's prompts to contact your GP or public health nurse include a toddler who is not walking independently or cannot speak at least six words by twenty months, and, from fourteen months, one who does not point to objects, gives little eye contact or shows little interest in other people. Our guides to a toddler not responding to their name and when to worry about development explain how to raise it.

When to get urgent help

In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if a child under five has difficulty breathing or is breathing very fast, has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue, has a rash that does not fade when you press it, is difficult to wake, has a seizure, or has not had a pee in the past 12 hours. Call NHS 111 if you are worried about a symptom or do not know what to do. Outside the UK, use your local emergency number.

Frequently asked questions

How much sleep does an 18 month old need?

The World Health Organization recommends 11 to 14 hours of good quality sleep in 24 hours for children aged one to two, including naps. Ireland's HSE says children usually reduce to one nap a day from about a year, keep napping until around three, and should avoid naps after 3.30pm.

Is it normal for an 18 month old not to talk?

Fewer than three words at 18 months is worth raising. The CDC milestone is trying three or more words besides "mama" or "dada", which at least 75% of children do by then. Ireland's HSE asks you to contact your GP or public health nurse if your child cannot speak at least six words at 20 months.

What toys are good for an 18 month old?

Simple ones. The CDC suggests toys your child can push or pull safely, a doll and a blanket for pretend play, balls to roll, toy cars, blocks to put in and out of containers, and books to share. Copying you doing chores, like sweeping, is itself on the CDC's checklist, so a small brush counts too.