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Toddler at 12–18 months: eating, sleeping and development

Stage: 12–18 months

Sleep

transition to 1 nap a day

Feeding

Eats family meals: no added salt or sugar, vegetables and fruit every day. From 12 months, whole cow's milk as the main milk drink — the AAP advises whole milk until age 2 (switch to lower-fat after that). Water and milk are the drinks; limit juice to at most 4 oz a day, or skip it.

Dairy: About 2 cups (16 oz / ±475 ml) of whole milk a day — from a cup, not a bottle. Much more than that crowds out iron-rich foods.

Diaper size

Size 4–5, 22–37+ lb (10–17 kg).

Development at this stage

• Takes first independent steps
• Says several single words
• Points at things they want
• Imitates everyday actions
• Understands far more than they can say

Care & things to watch

• Retire the bottle as soon as possible after the first birthday — the sooner it's gone, the better for teeth and speech
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as soon as there are teeth
• Vitamin D: from 12 months the need is 600 IU a day — usually from fortified milk and diet; ask your pediatrician if a supplement is still needed
• Read aloud daily and narrate what you do — the engine of language development
• Get outside every day; toddlers need lots of active movement
• Always cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise (until age 4) — whole, they are among the biggest choking hazards for toddlers
• Screen time: avoid screens under 18–24 months except video calls (AAP)
• 15- and 18-month well-child visits: DTaP (4th dose) at 15–18 months, plus catch-up of any missed 12–15 month vaccines; yearly flu shot continues
• Keep the car seat rear-facing as long as the seat allows

Other ages: 0–6 weeks · 6–12 weeks · 3–4 months · 4–6 months · 6–9 months · 9–12 months · 18–24 months · 2–3 years · 3–4 years · 4–5 years