20-Month-Old Development

Twenty-month-olds tend to have two sides to their personalities: the fun-loving, energetic side and the side that's a bit of a challenge. Your little rebel may be resisting feeding, changing, getting in the car seat, washing hands…and just about anything else you want them to do.

 

Toddlers this age like to feel like they’re in control, so offer lots of opportunities for your kiddo to “help” or make their own choices. Let your child feed themselves, for example (even if it’s messy), and if they say they're done after two bites, so be it. And give your kid a chance to feel as if they're making their own decisions. For example, you might ask, “Do you want to bring your teddy or your truck for the trip?” as you get ready for a car ride, instead of simply, “It’s time to get into your car seat.”

 

20-month-old weight and height

A 20-month-old’s weight is, on average, 24.4 pounds for a girl and 25 pounds for a boy, according to the World Health Organization. Wondering how tall your 20-month-old should be? Average height is 32.6 inches for a girl and 33.1 inches for a boy.

 

20-month-old milestones

What should your 20-month-old be doing? Here are some 20-month-old milestones your child may have hit or may be working on:

 

Walking. Some 20-month-olds can stand on one foot while holding on to the wall or a chair. Your toddler is probably working on learning to walk up steps; next will come walking down them. At this point, make sure to use gates at the top and bottom of stairs to protect your little climber. To prevent children from falling out of windows, keep furniture away from windows and make sure windows have guards.

Speech. Your child may be saying up to 50 words, and will soon start asking "What?" and "What's that?" to just about everything. They’ll also use two-word combinations and reply to requests with “no.”

Teething. 20 months is about the time a child's first lower molars pop through, so don't be surprised if there are a few nights with disrupted sleep.

Potty training. A few 20-month-olds show signs of potty training readiness. Now might be a good time to buy a training potty seat and/or start reading potty training books together, if you haven't already. But beware of putting pressure on your kid to potty train too soon. Most kids aren't really ready to start until about 24 months.

20-month-old behavior

Your now almost-2-year-old is ever-changing, but here’s advice on how to deal with some potentially challenging behaviors:

 

Tantrums. Even though your kid's language is developing by leaps and bounds, they still can't communicate everything they want to say, and that can lead to some meltdowns.

Separation anxiety. At this age, your kid might become more aware of being away from you and may make a scene—especially if they're hungry, tired or sick. Though it's tempting to linger at daycare drop-off, it's best to make goodbyes quick and to stick with a routine. Reassure your child you'll be back and be specific about when.

Pushing, hitting or biting. Chalk it up to experimentation, but 20-month-olds tend to have their moments of behaving badly. Avoid overreacting or using physical punishment—"biting" your kid to show them how much it hurts doesn't stop them from doing it. Stay calm and keep telling your child that hurting others is never okay.

 

20-Month-Old Health

Twenty-month-olds seem to have mild illness after mild illness. Some common health questions parents have at this age include:

 

My 20-month-old has diarrhea. What should I do?

What should I do about constipation in my 20-month-old?

My 20-month-old has a temperature that's high. What should I do if a fever develops?

 

20-Month-Old Food

Feel like a short-order cook? It’s okay to let your toddler know “this is what’s for dinner” and not offer other options. They won’t starve by refusing a meal now and then.

 

How much should my 20-month-old eat and drink?

One- to 2-year-olds should be eating much like you do: Three or four meals per day, plus two snacks. Give them a variety of foods in all food groups—vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy—daily.

 

What to feed my 20-month-old

Toddlers need plenty of calcium, iron and fiber. In addition to dairy products, your child can get calcium from foods such as green leafy veggies, broccoli and tofu. Tofu can provide iron too, as can fortified cereal, dried fruit and lean ground beef. For fiber, you could offer pinto or refried beans, prunes, bananas and whole wheat pasta.

 

For meal inspiration, check out these food ideas for a 20-month-old: