My Baby is 15 Months Old: What should he/she be able to do?
Time is flying and your baby is officially a toddler! Here are the things you should expect your child to do by 15 months of age.
By 15 months of age, your child should be able to:
Gross Motor/Physical Movement
Walk (but really has up until 18 months to walk)
If not walking just yet, should be able to stand alone
Climb up stairs and onto couch or chairs
Fine Motor/Hand-Eye Coordination
Put things into and takes things out of a container
Attempt to use tools appropriately (such as drinking from a cup, brushing hair, or using a fork/spoon)
Social/Emotional
Show stranger and separation anxiety (and cling to familiar people)
Have preferred toys
Language/Communication
Say 3-5 words you can understand
Try to repeat words he/she hears (similar sound even if you still can't understand the word)
Use simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
Make sounds with changes in tone (sounds more and more like real speech)
Cognitive/ Learning & Problem-solving)
Recognize some objects or pictures when named
Copy gestures he/she sees (like clapping or waving)
Hand you a book or toy when wants to hear a story or wants to play
Follow one-step commands with gestures, like pointing and saying “pick up the toy” or "put it in the trash"
If your child is 15 months old and is doing all of these things, great!!
Tips to Help Your Child Reach Their 15 Month Milestones
Play time: Create time each day for your child to play with toys and let them explore indoors and outdoors. Engage with your child by explaining things in simple terms and showing them how things work. Encourage them to try things on their own and let them explore a little on their own (while keeping a close eye on them).
Talk and respond: Talk to your baby as much as possible in plain language (no more "baby" talk) and encourage others not to use "baby" talk either. The more language your child hears, the more he/she will pick up as they begin to learn to talk. Respond when your child talks to continue to encourage social and conversational skills.
Read: Continue to read simple books to your child. Your child may now be more engaged in the story, especially if there are bright colors and lots of pictures (and funny voices can help too to make the story fun).
When to Be Worried
If your child is already 15 months of age and is not meeting these milestones, talk to your child’s pediatrician. You know your child better than anyone else. If you are concerned your child may have a delay in his/her development, it is better to intervene sooner rather than later. This gives your child the best chance of catching up to his/her peers by the time he or she reaches school age.
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