12 Developmental Milestones of a 21 Month Old Baby

At 21 months old, milestones are rapidly growing, and each day, the child develops new skills. From improved physical coordination to better language abilities, every single one of those periods' development is fun. You will see them getting over milestones, becoming more self-sufficient, and trying out practical experiences.

It is an important period for their mental and emotional development; these accomplishments reflect their identity. So, let’s explore this article to learn more about what milestones a 21 month old infant should achieve.

By 21 months, most babies can do and engage in many skills and behaviour patterns. By this age, they can easily stand independently and walk, often running and climbing. Many children frequently begin to talk using simple phrases and find new words.

At the same time, the coverage of emotions also improves; children may feel various emotions. They would begin to try being able to choose things, such as which toys or which activities to do. There would also be many infants who would grade simple instructions. This period of age is a beautiful period of development and movement.

Movement Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Dancing to Music: Toddlers often enjoy moving to music, showing an interest in rhythm and movement. Dancing is a fun way to enhance coordination and physical fitness.
• Walking Up and Down Stairs: They may start to navigate stairs with assistance, either by crawling or holding onto a railing.
• Improved Fine Motor Skills: Children can stack blocks or manipulate small toys, which enhances hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• Running Short Distances: Many toddlers begin to run, although they may still be unsteady. This newfound speed encourages exploration and active play.
• Jumping in Place: Some may start to jump in place, which helps develop leg strength and coordination.

Visual Milestones:

At 21 months, they have developed other abilities, specifically visual ones, such as perceiving movement or concentrating on minimal elements.

• Visual Milestones: Allowing children to grasp orientation in space using imagination and pictures helps them understand what the space around them offers.
• Pointing to Pictures: The ability to point out familiar features to the children when a picture is presented to them.
• Understanding Spatial Relationships: Visual play tends to use basic terms like “in,” “on”, or “under” among children.
• Interest in Detailed Images: They can express interest in small, intricate images on pages or toys and look at them carefully.

Hearing Milestones:

Kids have become conscious of their environment and can comply with simple oral orders. Listening activities are beneficial to their listening skills and interaction.

• Responding to Their Name: Young children display improvement in their auditory memory as they can respond when their name has been called.
• Identifying Sounds: Young children over one year old can begin to recognise some familiar sounds, such as animal sounds, such as a lion's roar or a dog’s bark.
• Enjoying Songs and Rhymes: During the course, the learners also learn that they love melody and especially entertain themselves with songs and French children's songs.

Smell Milestones:

This milestone further boosts their interest levels and sensation. Below is a list of the typical patients’ milestones about smell:

• Imitating Smelling Actions: They play by believing they are sniffing flowers or food just as the adults do.
• Associating Smells with Emotions: Some smells can affect the baby’s moods; for example, a baby may be very happy when cookies are present.
• Seeking Out Pleasant Scents: Some might go looking for certain smells; for instance, they could go into the kitchen when they smell food cooking.

Touch Milestones:

At this age, children's touch abilities continue to refine, boosting curiosity and paving the way for learning about the world and social relationships.

• Refining Touch Skills: Your child’s sense of touch becomes more precise, helping them explore textures like soft, smooth, or rough surfaces.
• Curiosity Through Touch: They reach out more intentionally, using their fingers to poke, press, and stroke objects, building their understanding of shape and texture.
• Recognising Familiar Textures: They begin recognising favourite toys or blankets by feeling. This strengthens memory and comfort.

Sleep Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Transitioning to One Nap: Many toddlers shift to a single nap lasting 1-3 hours daily, which helps consolidate their sleep schedule.
• Regular Sleep Schedule: A consistent bedtime and wake-up time supports better sleep quality. Routines promote security and predictability.
• Self-Soothing Techniques: They develop self-soothing habits, like cuddling a favourite blanket or toy. This encourages independence at bedtime.
• Falling Asleep Independently: Some toddlers fall asleep without assistance, indicating growing comfort with their sleep environment.
• Awakening Less Frequently at Night: Many 21 month olds begin to sleep through the night more consistently, reducing nighttime awakenings.

Feeding Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Willingness to Sample Food Variety: Toddlers are usually introduced to a new diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Increased Portion Size: Toddlers also eat large amounts of food as their appetite also increases with age.
• Imitating Eating Behaviours: Children observe the eating habits of grown-ups, and such practical modelling helps in practising healthy eating habits.
• Understanding Meal Times: Toddlers start to understand the concept of meals and even look forward to using them.
• Awareness of Hydration: Hydration is a basic requirement that children can grasp when requesting drinks.

Here are key cognitive milestones for a 21 month old:

• Simple Problem Solving: Children must figure out how to fit shapes into a sorter or solve basic puzzles.
• Imitative Play: They often imitate daily activities, like cooking or cleaning, showcasing their understanding of roles.
• Following Simple Directions: They understand and follow basic instructions, such as "Bring me the ball."
• Engaging in Pretend Play: They engage in imaginative play, using toys to create scenarios. This type of play promotes creativity and cognitive development.

Social and Emotional Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Emotional Awareness: They start to recognise and respond to the emotions of others, showing empathy by reacting to a friend’s sadness or happiness.
• Sharing Toys: Some toddlers also offer to share toys, demonstrating an understanding of social interactions and the concept of sharing, even if they still struggle with it.
• Self-Help Skills: Toddlers start attempting self-help skills like dressing themselves or brushing their teeth, fostering independence and a sense of accomplishment.
• Self-Identification: Many toddlers start to refer to themselves by their first name or as "I," indicating a growing sense of identity and self-awareness.

Language and Speech Milestones Development for a 21 month old:

• Expanding Vocabulary: Children can say between 50 and 100 words and add to their vocabulary daily.
• Expressing Needs and Wants: Many children begin to talk and express their feelings and wants, e.g., asking for food or toys.
• Using Nonverbal Communication: They communicate through actions, which include gestures, pointing, and playing with facial expressions.
• Understanding Simple Questions: They can understand simple questions like, “where is your toy?” This enhances interaction and participation in social activities.
• Enjoying Songs and Rhymes: These toddlers love songs, including nursery rhymes, which are essential in language learning.

Behaviourial Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Assertive Independence: They want to dress themselves or make choices about snacks. This independence fosters self-confidence and decision-making skills.
• Tantrums: Frustration leads to occasional tantrums, especially when they can’t express their desires.
• Imitating Daily Routines: They enjoy imitating the daily routines of adults, like washing dishes or sweeping. This encourages role-play and social learning.

Physical Milestones for a 21 month old:

• Climbing on Furniture: Most toddlers will wish to climb the sofa or sit on some low piece of furniture.
• Scribbling with Crayons: Children at this age develop spatial skills. This engages the imagination and coordination of the hands and the eyes.
• Stacking Blocks: They can stack two or more blocks on top of each other, indicating they know how to balance objects.

1. Pretend Play

2. Matching Letters

3. Cardboard Box Colouring

4. Planting Seeds

5. Stackable Cups

6. Stomp Painting

7. Lid and Container Match

8. Sorting Game

1. Encourage Language Development

2. Promote Physical Activity

3. Introduce Independent Play

4. Foster Social Skills

5. Provide Sensory Experiences

6. Establish Daily Routines

7. Introduce Counting and Numbers

8. Encourage Problem-Solving

Speech Delays:

Lack of Motor Skills Development:

Social or Emotional Delays:

Behavioural Problems:

Unusual Physical Symptoms: