Toddler Development:Your 28-month-old

At 28 months, toddlers start to become more imaginative and creative. But their development doesn't end there. Here are some 28 month old toddler milestones that help ensure your child's development is on track!

Physical Development

When it comes to 28 month old development and milestones, physical development is a big thing to consider.

Kids love to run around at this stage, so be ready to chase your little bub around the house! He also likes exploring his surroundings, and he will open doors, unscrew lids, and climb all over.

Running is only the start. He might be able to jump forward with both feet – and hop on one foot. Expect your toddler to get around in creative ways!

At this age, he’s growing up in both big ways and small ways. He should be able to go up and down a slide all by himself. He’ll also be able to grasp small objects easily, like a pencil or a crayon.

Tips:

• Encourage your child to engage in physical activity. Let him explore, jump, and run around the house. Take him to the playground and let him play with other kids.
• Naps are still very important at this age, even if your toddler might think otherwise. It helps boost his growth and development. And it gives him some much-needed rest so he can have energy throughout the rest of the day.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

A lack of coordination or good motor skills can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your little one. Don’t hesitate to bring him to the paediatrician to make sure his physical development is on point.

Cognitive Development

One of the 28 month old toddler milestones that you’ll notice is your little one starting to use words to describe the world around him. This is a good time to teach him how to describe what he sees. 

His symbolic thinking skills also start to develop at this stage, and he can make the connection between drawings and real things. He can understand the difference between the drawing of a dog, and a pet dog that he might see.

At this stage, your toddler starts to play pretend, and can take on the “role” of his favourite character on TV. Yes, it’s time to start planning for that super cute Halloween costume.

Tips:

• Play is very important for your child’s development. He may not be keen on “organised” play yet, so it’s a good idea to just let him explore his toys and figure out stuff for himself.
• Engage his imagination by playing pretend with him. Dress up as superheroes or princesses.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

If your child has trouble describing things or communicating with you, it’s a good idea to get them looked at by a doctor. This is a crucial stage in your child’s development so be on the lookout for signs that something might be wrong.

Social and Emotional Development

In terms of his social and emotional development, your toddler starts to develop better relationship skills at this age. He can sometimes become a bit clingy, and can even start a tantrum if you suddenly have to leave.

If that happens, a good way of dealing with such behaviour would be to explain to your child where you’re going and why you have to leave for a bit. Always reassure him that you will come back, and make it a point to reaffirm his good behaviour.

You’ll also notice that your little one will attempt to play with other kids. However, at this young age, he’s still a bit egocentric, and isn’t always keen on playing with others. Regardless, he’s still curious about the world around him, and he will start becoming more sociable. It’s always a good idea to encourage this type of behaviour.

Tips:

• Take your child on playdates to help him socialise with other kids.
• You can even enroll your child in a daycare so that he is constantly in contact with other children.
• Teach him how to play well with others, taking turns, as well as sharing.
• Make sure to keep an eye on him at all times. Some children of this age can start a habit of hitting other kids in order to get what they want.  
• It’s always a good idea to constantly bond with your kids, especially at this age. During this time in their development, they start to establish relationships with the people around them. This helps build a good foundation for your relationship with your child.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

You should be concerned if your little one seems reclusive, or isn’t keen on playing with other kids. If it seems that your child is inside their own world and not really interacting with other people, then it might be a good idea to get your child looked at by a doctor.

Speech and Language Development

For speech and language, your toddler will start to use different words to describe the world around him. His vocabulary will be rapidly expanding, but don’t expect that it’ll always be clear.

It’s a good idea to teach him all about colours, shapes, and textures in order for him to understand and learn how to use those words.

Your toddler will also start gesturing and using words to make a request. An example would be when your child gestures towards the door if they want to go for a walk, or goes to the kitchen if they want a snack.

One of the more noticeable 28 month old toddler milestones is when your toddler starts to talk and share his experiences. This is the age when toddlers constantly blabber and start telling stories about themselves. Ask him about these stories to teach him how to express himself through words.

Tips:

• Teach your child new words and use adjectives to describe new things. That way, he can learn how to distinguish and identify things as well as use words to tell you what he wants.
• Let him tell stories to help boost his speaking ability.
• Engage your little one in conversation and encourage him to use new words that he learns.
• Ask him questions and wait for him to answer so that he can practice his communication skills better.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

If your little one tends to be quiet or speaks only a very few words, then it might be time to get your child checked. At this stage, children should be very talkative and are constantly expanding their vocabulary.

Health and Nutrition

At this stage, toddlers start to become not just picky eaters, but some might lose interest in finishing their meals altogether. 

That’s why it’s important for parents to be patient and calm when it comes to mealtime. Kids don’t like it when you constantly push them to eat food, so be patient and encourage them in a positive way.

At 28 months, your child’s height should be around 90.4 cm, and their weight should be about 12.9 kg for boys. For girls, your child should be 89.1 cm tall, and weigh 12.3 kg.

Your growing child needs at least 1/2 cup of cooked rice, 1/3 cup of vegetables or meat, and 1/3 cup of fruit per meal to help boost his growth. This can also be supplemented with milk, but at this age he should already be eating more solid food.

Of course, your child’s preferences and appetites may vary, so be sure to keep that in mind when preparing his food.

When it comes to vaccines, your child should already have their chickenpox, MMR, flu, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccine. If your child is missing any of these vaccinations, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.

One of the more common illnesses your child could have would be fever, as well as coughs and colds. For the most part, you shouldn’t be worried since these are common illnesses among children.

Tips:

• It’s best to avoid “bribing” your child with snacks in order for them to finish their meal, as they’ll start to think of food as “good” or “bad.” This, in turn, makes them prefer eating reward foods instead of a proper meal.
• Another important thing to remember is to slowly cut back on how much milk your child drinks. Milk can sometimes ruin your child’s appetite for proper meals, so it can even be more difficult to make them finish their food. 1 1/2 cups of milk (or 1 cup yoghurt or 1 1/2 ounces of cheese) should be enough, and keep in mind that he can get the required protein from meat and vegetables instead of dairy.
• Providing your child with food that’s rich in iron is also important since anemia is common during this age. Give him meat, fish, as well as dark green vegetables in order to boost the iron in his system, which helps in the creation of new blood cells. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

If it seems that your child constantly gets sick or has a significant loss of appetite, it might be time to visit the doctor. A lot of things can cause these problems, so it’s best to get an expert to look at your child and find out the source of their problem.