Month Fifteen

Your 15 month old is now in the early stages of toddlerhood and enjoying every minute of it. For you, this means no relaxing cups of coffee when your friends drop in, and no flicking through a magazine as your child plays happily on her own.

From now on you have to keep a watchful eye on your little troublemaker as she tears around the house emptying cupboards (a favorite pastime) climbing on things she shouldn’t and generally exploring her world with new agility. At this stage you may want to refresh yourself by reading up on baby-proofing you home.

Fussy eating

Most toddlers go through a fussy stage when it comes to food, so have patience when your child suddenly decides she doesn’t like vegetables even though she has eaten them quite happily in the past. The trick here is to make mealtimes as fun as possible. Sit down together as a family so your toddler can see you all eating, and give her as much variety as possible. If she rejects a particular food, try offering it to her again another day. See fussy eating and mealtimes and toddlers to get helpful tips on dealing with these situations.

Mobility ?

Your 15 month old will probably be somewhere near walking by now and may further assert her independence by insisting on carrying something when she walks anywhere. While this could be seen as an early dip into multitasking, it is also because carrying something helps toddlers to feel more important. Read our article on toddler walking safety for more advice. With a newly walking toddler comes the need for footwear. Read gurgle's guide to buying shoes for your toddler.

Play

Play is very important in your toddler’s world, as it helps to develop her creativity, imagination and gives her opportunities to practice skills needed for when she gets bigger. At this stage she can use toys for what they were intended for – a crayon to scribble with for instance rather than to eat! Try to encourage your child to play with toys that teach a variety of skills, but the main emphasis aside from learning should always be playing and fun. You will be surprised at what your toddler learns from just the simplest of games. See toddlers and play for more inspiration.

Why not chat to other parents about this, or other topics, by leaving a message on our chat forum. Alternately, if you want to meet other parents in your area with children of a similar age, visit our people section of the site to find out what is happening in your area, or join or start one of our groups.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 16/06/2008

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