Baby at 16 months: language, walking and character

At 16 months, baby continues to discover and learn. Baby already has his own character, and this month he intends to assert himself more, even if it means being sometimes unbearable. He knows exactly what he wants and he always makes it known.. He does not obey every time, despite the limits set. The process must therefore still continue so that he can understand the limits. Some parents remain concerned if they do not see their child walking or talking at this age. We take stock of the skills, behavior, diet, sleep and health of a 16-month-old baby with Doctor Noémie Nathan, pediatrician in Montreuil.

What does baby do at 16 months?

The psychomotor progress baby at 16 months are present. He knows climb stairs standing, holding on to the banister and placing both feet on each step. Some children also already know how to walk. At this stage, many parents are tempted to start potty training, from the age of 16 months, especially since changing baby’s diapers is sometimes difficult, because he no longer wants to let it go. But know that it is still too early. It is useless to begin this apprenticeship before the age of 18 months. The child must know how to control his body, but also understand what is expected of him, so be patient. Finally, little by little, the “No” is gaining importance and your baby begins to strongly oppose his parents more and more. And that’s just the beginning ! But this stage of development is normal and also helps him to assert himself more.

My 16 month old baby does not speak, is it serious?

At 16 months, baby may not be talking yet and that’s okay. Some will however be more advanced than others in acquiring the language, but perhaps they are not working yet (you can’t do everything at the same time!). In general, a 16-month-old baby has a lexicon of about 50 words on average. In any case, don’t worry if your baby is still slow to form comprehensible words. The most important thing is that he understands your gestures, simple instructions and that he interacts well with you and the people around him. Communication also happens this way.

My 16 month old baby is not walking, what should I do?

A 16-month-old child who is not yet walking is not alarming and it does not necessarily mean that he has a developmental delay. It is considered that at 18 months completed, all children walking. Once again, it is important to keep in mind that each child evolves at their own pace. If the child has another way of getting around, such as crawling or crawling, that’s a good start. On the other hand, if certain signs worry you, do not hesitate to consult a pediatrician or a pediatric physiotherapist for a motor assessment. If motor delay is detected, the healthcare professional will stimulate the child to help them move on their legs. At home, parents can also stimulate and guide him by doing fun stimulation games that the doctor has shown them.

At 16 months, baby is unbearable

For a few months, or only this month, the baby’s character can become difficult or even unbearable. He can groan, cry all the time, roll on the ground, have crying fits… Don’t worry, this is part of the normal stages in the development of a child. If he has his fits or is unbearable, it is often because he is overwhelmed by his emotions or needs that he does not yet channel, and sometimes he fails to express them. Separation anxiety can also play a role: at this age, children are still very attached to their mother and her presence. This feeling usually ends around the age of 18 months. In these moments, patience is the key word, even if it is very hard to live with. It is also necessary to reassure the child, accompany him when he has his tantrums and calm him down gently either with words, hugs or a little nursery rhyme that you sing to him.

What does a 16 month old baby eat?

Baby becomes at 16 months sometimes a little difficult at the table. If that is the case, respect his tastes above all else and don’t force him to eat what he doesn’t want. Know that what he refuses as food today, he may accept tomorrow. At the same time, during his 16th month, continue to make him taste new foods regularly. Don’t force him to finish his plate either. if he is satisfied. In the long term, this can have consequences on its weight. Indeed, if you force him when he is no longer hungry, he will no longer recognize the feeling of satiety, which will push him, later, to eat more than necessary. Milk still has a place in his diet. His meals at 16 months consist of:

– the morning : a bottle of growing-up milk with a cereal product (a piece of bread, a rusk or cereals) and a fresh seasonal fruit

– noon : vegetables, raw vegetables and starches with a knob of butter and a portion of meat, fish or an egg yolk, well cut into small pieces. For dessert: a dairy product or a fruit.
– at snack : a dairy product if he did not have any at noon (cheese, yogurt), a fruit juice and a slice of bread or a biscuit soft enough for his teeth
– the evening : vegetables, a cereal product (rice, lentils, semolina), a dairy product (yogurt, semolina, rice pudding, etc.), bread, compote or fruit.

What is the sleep of a 16 month old baby?

Baby’s sleep always plays an important role in his growth. During the day, the child still needs to nap in order to recover. He does two, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In general, a 16 month old baby sleeps between 11 and 14 hours a day. But his sleep can also be disturbed or restless. Nocturnal awakenings are normal at this age and sometimes he immediately goes back to sleep on his own. Multiple awakenings can also be explained by discomfort or a health problem (otitis, stomach aches, reflux, teething, etc.). Separation anxiety also comes into play at bedtime.

bedtime

At 16 months, babies need to have a sleep pattern and find their balance. For this, it is important to respect bedtime. A baby of this age can go to bed as early as 7 p.m. or no later than 8 p.m.

What activities for a 16 month old baby?

Sixteen months is the age of first doll. It must be of medium size (that your child can wear it), with hair, fabric or plastic. This doll will allow your little one to reproduce the same gestures as his mum or dad. He feeds her, walks her, puts her to bed and cuddles her to comfort her. Indeed, children of this age like to imitate the gestures of adults! At sixteen months, your baby also appreciates play ball, and he even begins to know how to throw. He also likes to play with nesting cubes and turn the cardboard pages of small books, so do not hesitate to read him stories to awaken him.

What weight and height for a 16 month old baby?

• If your baby is a boy, at 16 months he is on average 79 cm tall and weighs just over 11 kg.
• If it is a girl, at 16 months, she measures on average 77 cm and weighs a little more than 10 kg.

Baby teeth at 16 months

Baby teeth continue to grow at 16 months. This month, the first upper and lower canines will start to emerge. The same for the first molars. At this stage, for some babies the teething pain is no longer as painful, while for other babies the pain remains intense.

Baby health at 16 months

Between 16 and 18 monthsyour baby will receive his MMR vaccine booster which protects him from measles, mumps and rubella. During a medical appointment, the pediatrician may also be required to check the child’s growth, head circumference but also psychomotor development and language learning.

My 16 month old baby has gastro

The different viruses gastroenteritis follow one another throughout the year, but the most violent is the rotavirus which generally occurs between the end of the year and the month of February. Your pediatrician may suggest vaccinating your baby against this particular virus. We’re going to talk about gastro if baby does at least 10 stools per day. He may also have nausea or vomit, but this is not systematic. The most important is to make sure baby does not become dehydrated (he would then have dry lips, thirst, would be asthenic) and to compensate for his water losses with a rehydration solution. Also, don’t worry if he eats less.

There is no point in forcing him either, the most important thing is that he drinks and eats carrots, rice, bananas, but also yogurts to help restore the intestinal flora. On the other hand, it is better to limit milk or temporarily opt for lactose-free milk. Gastroenteritis can last up to a week. If you ever notice that the child’s condition is not improving, that he has blood in his stools, fever or that vomiting appears or intensifies, consult a doctor quickly.