At 14 months old, your infant is cruising by means of the toddler stage, studying new expertise and reaching new milestones. They’ll proceed to discover their surroundings and study extra concerning the world on daily basis. The wild trip of toddlerhood continues, so brace your self for what’s forward. Let’s dive into your 14-month-old’s milestones, their sleep schedule, how a lot they need to weigh, actions to do collectively, and extra!
As your child progresses by means of the toddler stage, they’ll broaden their rising listing of milestones. Listed below are some developmental milestones your 14-month-old will broaden on:1
- Standing alone with out help
- Presumably taking a number of steps unassisted
- Carrying small objects of their fingers
- Pushing or pulling packing containers
- Turning the pages of a guide when you learn
- Pointing at a toy to let you know that they need it
- Stacking two or extra blocks on high of one another
- Holding a spoon throughout meals however struggling to get the spoon into their mouth
- Recognizing themself within the mirror
- Imitating older youngsters
- Following one-step instructions, resembling “Put this shirt within the laundry basket”
Throughout this time, you’ll discover that your 14-month-old’s urge for food is just about the identical because it was final month. Your child will proceed to eat three meals per day with the remainder of the household and have two to a few snacks per day.2
Realizing how a lot meals your 14-month-old wants through the day will be complicated, so listed here are some pointers:3
- 6 servings of grains per day (1 serving equals ½ slice of bread, ¼ cup of cereal, 1-2 crackers, or ¼ cup of pasta)
- 2-3 servings of veggies per day (1 serving equals 1 tablespoon of cooked veggies)
- 2-3 servings of fruit per day (1 serving equals ¼ cup of fruit)
- 2-3 servings of dairy per day (1 serving equals ½ cup of milk, ½ ounce of cheese, or ⅓ cup of yogurt)
- 2 servings of protein per day (1 serving equals 1 ounce of cooked meat, 2 tablespoons of floor meat, ½ egg, or 1 tablespoon of easy peanut butter)
- 16 ounces of entire milk, breast milk, or soy milk
- As much as 8 ounces of water
Even with these pointers, do not forget that your infant’s urge for food shall be totally different from everyday. Some days, they’ll eat extra; some days, they’ll eat much less. It’s vital to observe their lead.3
You’ll be able to proceed transitioning your 14-month-old from formulation to cow’s milk in case you haven’t already, and both proceed breast milk or begin including cow’s milk if you need. Your toddler wants round 16 ounces of entire cow’s milk each day. Soy milk is a suitable different in case your toddler can’t have dairy. Keep away from different plant-based milks, resembling oat or rice milk, as they lack the protein, nutritional vitamins, and calcium your toddler wants.4
Your toddler will proceed to work on consuming from a cup. If they’ve but to start out attempting to drink from a cup, now’s the time to introduce it. Having your toddler drink from an open cup by 2 years of age is advisable. Begin by giving your toddler entire milk or breast milk in a cup throughout meals. As soon as they’re comfy utilizing a cup at meal instances, swap out their naptime bottle with a cup of milk or water. Lastly, take away their bottle from bedtime and provides them one other cup of milk or water with their bedtime snack.5
Your toddler’s sleep patterns will stay comparatively constant all through the following few months. Your 14-month-old wants 11-14 hours of sleep each day, together with a two- to three-hour afternoon nap, permitting for longer wake home windows. Some infants should want a morning nap and a day nap. Having a bedtime of seven:30 p.m. continues to be applicable in your 14-month-old.6
Sleep regression isn’t sometimes customary at this age, however that doesn’t imply your 14-month-old gained’t expertise sleep regression. Each baby is exclusive, so some might expertise a regression, and a few might not. Sleep regression happens when your child has issue falling and staying asleep. There are numerous causes of sleep regression, however the most typical causes embody teething, sickness, an adjustment to their each day schedule, and a major life change, resembling a change to their mother and father’ work schedule. The excellent news is that sleep regression solely lasts a mean of two to 4 weeks.7
The shortage of sleep attributable to sleep regression is tough on the entire household, however fortunately, there are methods you possibly can assist your infant overcome this hurdle. Sleep coaching is secure to do if your loved ones chooses, however do what feels proper to you.13 Some methods to sleep prepare embody:7
- Don’t allow them to sleep in your mattress. (This will lengthen the sleep regression interval.)
- Maintain a constant bedtime and bedtime routine.
- Get rid of display screen time earlier than mattress.
- Incorporate stress-free actions into their bedtime routine, like tub time, studying, or singing smooth lullabies.
- Put them to mattress after they’re drowsy however not but asleep; it will assist them study to go to sleep on their very own.
- In the event that they get up at evening, permit them to fuss for a couple of minutes earlier than stepping into to consolation them. It will assist them study to self-soothe.
- As a substitute of choosing them up after they cry, reassure them whereas they’re nonetheless of their crib.
- Guarantee they’ve entry to their favourite consolation gadgets, resembling a blanket or favourite stuffed animal.
Sustaining a constant schedule will assist your infant navigate their world. It helps them anticipate what’s going to occur subsequent of their day and offers them with construction and stability, which aids of their growth. Maintain the identical wake, meal, and nap instances through the week and even on weekends. In case your child is taking one nap per day, that nap ought to begin round 12 or 1 p.m. and sometimes final two to a few hours. Conserving a bedtime round 7:30 p.m. continues to be acceptable for youngsters of this age.6
A scheduled well-child check-up is pointless in case your 14-month-old attended their one-year well-child check-up and acquired their vaccines.14 Some mother and father might marvel how a lot their 14-month-old ought to weigh, and since they might not see their physician, it may be exhausting to know. By 15 months previous, ladies will weigh a mean of 23 kilos, and boys will weigh a mean of 24.5 kilos.8 Weighing your child ought to be performed at a health care provider’s workplace and with shut supervision/steering.
Your child shall be uncovered to many alternative sicknesses as they develop and enhance their interactions with different youngsters. It will result in your infant experiencing numerous childhood sicknesses, such because the frequent chilly, ear infections, viral infections, and the abdomen flu. These sicknesses can usually be handled at house, however there are some things to recollect:9
- Don’t give your child any over-the-counter chilly or cough medication.
- Deal with a fever utilizing Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen. Observe the dosing directions listed on the packaging.
- Use saline nasal drops and a nasal aspirator to assist with nasal congestion.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating any ear an infection in youngsters underneath 2 years previous with antibiotics.
Some signs will be extreme and warrant speedy medical consideration. These signs embody:10
- They’ve a fever for 3 or extra days, or it’s greater than 105 F.
- Being quiet or overly sleepy
- Speedy respiratory or bother respiratory
- Barking cough or harsh sounds when respiratory
- Pale, grey, or spotty pores and skin
- Onerous to get up or seems confused after waking
- A change of their cry, resembling crying extra, being unable to be comforted, or not crying
When you’ve got another considerations about your toddler’s well being, don’t hesitate to contact your physician.
Partaking your 14-month-old in enjoyable and developmentally applicable actions is a good way to assist them attain their milestones. Some methods to interact your toddler embody:11
- Partaking them in a dialog by repeating the noises and phrases they make
- Telling them the identify of a toy earlier than handing it to them
- Permitting them to assist with easy duties, resembling placing laundry within the hamper
- Singing songs and incorporating strikes in your child to repeat
- Having a dance celebration
- Studying books
- Enjoying hide-and-seek
- Educating them needed behaviors, resembling the way to contact an animal gently
Security is a high precedence, particularly now that your toddler is on the transfer. Toddlers discover their world with out worry, so it’s vital that your toddler stays secure whereas they discover. Listed below are a number of ideas to assist preserve your toddler secure:12
- Maintain all cords, breakable gadgets, medicines, family cleaners, choking hazards, and sizzling or sharp objects out of attain.
- In case your child has consumed any dangerous substance, contact Poison Management instantly at 1-800-222-1222.
- Use security gates on the high and backside of all stairs.
- Stop drowning by maintaining all rest room lids closed and supervising your child whereas they’re within the tub or close to water.
- If weapons are in the home, preserve them unloaded and locked in a safe cupboard.
- Use a rear-facing automobile seat, and place the automobile seat within the again seat.
- Apply SPF 30 sunscreen earlier than taking part in exterior, and reapply each two hours.
- Don’t smoke or permit others to smoke round your child.
The journey by means of toddlerhood brings so many thrilling new adjustments and milestones in your 14-month-old! Understanding their altering wants permits you to foster their progress and growth. Embrace this journey with love and persistence, understanding every step brings new alternatives for pleasure.
