🧸 Toddler development
18-24 months
The word explosion and the will begins
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Physical development
Walking becomes running (of a sort), and most toddlers can kick a ball, climb stairs holding a rail, and scribble with a crayon by 2 years. Fine motor skills improve enough for early self-feeding with a spoon, though it stays messy for a good while yet.
Language & play
Vocabulary often expands rapidly in this window — many toddlers go from a handful of words to 50 or more, and start joining two words together ("more juice", "daddy gone"). Pretend play grows more elaborate: a box becomes a car, a toy phone gets "answered". Simple puzzles and stacking toys suit this stage well.
Social & emotional
This is classically where tantrums ramp up — a collision between big feelings, a still-developing ability to regulate them, and a newly strong sense of "I want" and "no". This is a normal developmental stage, not a discipline failure.
Feeding & sleep
Fussy eating often appears or intensifies around now as toddlers assert independence over food — a completely normal phase. One nap a day is common by 2, though timing varies widely.
Focus at this stage
Offer bounded choices ("red cup or blue cup?") to feed the growing need for control in low-stakes ways. Consistent routines around meals and bedtime matter more now than they did a few months ago.
When to check in
Have a word with your health visitor if your toddler has fewer than around 6-10 words by 18 months, isn't walking independently by 18-20 months, or shows no interest in pretend play or other children by 2.
18-24 months: common questions
What should a toddler be doing at 18-24 months?
Walking becomes running (of a sort), and most toddlers can kick a ball, climb stairs holding a rail, and scribble with a crayon by 2 years. Fine motor skills improve enough for early self-feeding with a spoon, though it stays messy for a good while yet. Vocabulary often expands rapidly in this window — many toddlers go from a handful of words to 50 or more, and start joining two words together ("more juice", "daddy gone"). Pretend play grows more elaborate: a box becomes a car, a toy phone gets "answered". Simple puzzles and stacking toys suit this stage well. Remember these are typical ranges — healthy toddlers reach milestones at very different times.
What's typical for language and play at 18-24 months?
Vocabulary often expands rapidly in this window — many toddlers go from a handful of words to 50 or more, and start joining two words together ("more juice", "daddy gone"). Pretend play grows more elaborate: a box becomes a car, a toy phone gets "answered". Simple puzzles and stacking toys suit this stage well.
What's typical for feeding and sleep at 18-24 months?
Fussy eating often appears or intensifies around now as toddlers assert independence over food — a completely normal phase. One nap a day is common by 2, though timing varies widely.
Sources & further reading
- Birth to 5 — developmental milestones — NHS Start for Life
This is general information, not medical advice — every child develops differently and the ranges here are typical, not targets. Your health visitor and the NHS red book are your personal sources of truth. If you're ever concerned about your child's development, speak to your health visitor or GP. Reviewed July 2026.