By 18 months: milestone checklist
This is when words and a little streak of independence really start to show. Here’s what a lot of toddlers are up to around eighteen months.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team · medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Last reviewed July 2026
How to use this checklist
- Go through each list and tick off every skill your child can already do.
- Try not to worry about a few “not yet”s — children grow at their own pace, and this is a gentle guide, not a test.
- Use the Ways to help ideas below to gently nudge along the skills that are still coming.
- If several skills are missing, or your child has lost skills they once had, have a look at the “when to seek advice” box and book a free check.
What most children do by 1½ years
Communication & language
- Uses around 10–20 words
- Points to show you things they want or find interesting
- Understands and follows simple instructions
- Tries to copy words you say
- Points to a few body parts when asked
Social & play
- Brings things to show you to share interest
- Enjoys simple pretend play (feeding a doll)
- Looks for your reaction in new situations
- Shows affection to familiar people
Movement & self-care
- Walks on their own
- Scribbles with a crayon
- Drinks from a cup and tries to use a spoon
- Helps with dressing (holds out an arm)
Ways to help your child grow
Your toddler is bursting with new words and big feelings right now. These gentle ideas help it all along.
When your child points and grunts, say the word for them — “water?” — then hand it over with a smile.
Give one simple instruction at a time, like “bring your shoe”, and cheer when they do it.
Play simple pretend — feed a doll, pretend to drink from an empty cup — to spark imagination.
Let them walk, climb the step and push a light chair around — busy legs build strong balance.
Let your toddler hold a spoon at mealtimes and stack a few plastic cups — messy practice is good practice.
Name big feelings out loud — “you’re cross” — so they slowly learn words instead of tears.
Try today: Read one picture book together and pause on each page to let your child point and name.
When it’s worth having a chat
- Fewer than 6 words
- Doesn’t point to show you things
- Doesn’t copy others or play simple pretend
- Not walking
If several of these feel familiar, an early, gentle check can bring real clarity — and support at the point where it helps most.
Seek help straight away if your child loses skills they once had; doesn’t respond to sounds or your voice (ask for a hearing test — don’t wait); doesn’t look at faces or make eye contact; or isn’t sitting on their own by 9–10 months, or walking by 18 months. If your child is ever in immediate danger or has hurt themselves, call your local emergency number or go to your nearest emergency department now.
This checklist is a general guide and not a diagnosis — children develop at their own pace. For a clear answer, speak to a professional near you, follow a home program at home, or book an online session with us from anywhere in the world.
Questions parents ask
What should a child do by 1½ years?
This is when words and a little streak of independence really start to show. Here’s what a lot of toddlers are up to around eighteen months. This checklist covers communication, social, movement and self-care milestones, ways to help at home, and signs it’s worth seeking advice.
My child has missed a few of these — should I worry?
Not necessarily — every child develops at their own pace and one or two “not yet”s are common. A cluster of missed milestones, or any loss of skills, is worth a friendly check.
Not sure what the checklist is telling you?
Send us your child’s age and what you’ve noticed — we’ll help you make sense of it, gently and without pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Sat, 10 AM – 7 PM