Milestones for toddlers

As your baby grows into a toddler, you’ll see big changes in how they move, talk, and show their feelings.

They will start walking, saying new words and showing more emotions, both joyful and challenging ones.

Developmental milestones are signs of how children grow and learn over time. Every child is different, so these milestones are a guide, not a rule. They help you and your healthcare team check how your child is developing and notice any concerns early.

It’s important to know that milestones don’t always reflect how disability or other conditions may affect the way a child moves, learns, speaks, or plays with others. Early checks and support can give your child the best start.

If you think your child is not meeting a milestone for their age, share your concerns with your local doctor or child and family health nurse. They will provide opportunities for early assessment and support if there is an area your toddler might need some help with.

Movement

Movement milestones track how your child uses their muscles.

Gross motor skills use larger muscles in the body to help your child perform basic movements such as walking, running, and jumping. 

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the wrist, hand, fingers, and even toes. They help your toddler interact with the world in more detail. 

Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:

take their first steps before walking comfortably with no support
climb on and off couches or chairs without help
play with toys that use pushing and pulling motions
scribble with crayons or pencils
drink from an open cup with fewer spills

Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:

run
kick a ball
walk up steps rather than climbing

Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:

dress themselves, or at least try to
climb up and down ladders and playground equipment
string large beads onto things such as shoelaces or pipe cleaners
start to hold a crayon or pencil correctly, using their thumb and forefinger

See Physical activity for more information.

Language and communication

Language milestones track how your child uses words and gestures to express needs, feelings, and thoughts.

Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:

say three or more words other than mama or dada
follow simple directions without supporting gestures, for example, handing a toy over when you say, “please give that toy to me”
point to familiar objects or people when named, for example, “where is the puppy dog?”

Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:

put at least two words together, for example, “more milk”
point to at least two parts of their body when asked to, for example, “can you point to your nose?” or “where are your knees?”
use gestures such as blowing kisses or nodding for “yes”

Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:

talk well enough that people outside of the family can understand them, most of the time
describe still images of movement in a picture book, such as running
ask the who, what, when, where and why questions, for example, “where is mummy?”

Social and emotional

Social and emotional milestones show how your child interacts with others and understands feelings.

Between 12 to 18 months, your toddler will start to:

explore and move away from their caregivers, but will check to make sure they are still close by
help you with self-care tasks, such as lifting arms when dressing 
points out something that interests them
show interest in other children

Between 18 to 24 months, your toddler will start to:

notice and respond to emotions, for example, looking sad when someone is hurt or crying
look at you or other people to figure out how to react in new situations

Between 2 to 3 years, your toddler will start to:

notice other children and join them in play that involves turn-taking
calm down within approximately 10 minutes of being left by a parent or caregiver, like at daycare
start to mimic day-to-day actions, such as washing or cooking, through imaginative play