Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website
  • Suitable for 1-3Years

At twenty months

 

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Health professionals talk about a child’s age in terms of months, for example the 13th month or the 16th month. The way to make sense of this is to begin counting from the beginning of the previous month. For example, the 13th month begins when a child is 12 months old and ends when she is 13 months old. Or the 16th month begins when a child is 15 months old and ends when she is 16 months old.

 

The 20th month

By the end of this month, your toddler:

 … should be able to:

  • dump an object in imitation 
  • use a spoon or fork (but not exclusively)
  • run

… may possibly be able to:

  • combine words
  • identify one picture by naming
  • name six body parts
  • throw a ball overhand
  • speak and be understood half the time
  • use 50 words or more

… may even be able to:

  • identify four pictures by pointing
  • build a tower of six cubes 
Children grow and develop at different rates. The information above is offered as a guide. There is no need to expect your child's development to fit with all the above descriptions. If you are in any way worried about your child's development, it's best to speak with your doctor or child health nurse.