At 29 months old, toddlers can start to become moody, and it's not uncommon for them to whine or to get angry to get what they want. When it comes to 29 month old toddler behaviour, remember to have lots of patience, and try to understand things from your toddler's perspective.
Despite this stage's bad reputation, it isn't all tantrums and crying fits. Toddlers of this age have a wider vocabulary, and they'll try to express themselves as often as they can. This means they'll start to talk a lot more, and they'll also start using pronouns such as "I" or "me" to refer to themselves.
29 Month Old Development and Milestones: Is Your Toddler on Track?
Physical Development
At this age, your toddler's median height and weight should be around:
- Boys
– Height: 90.6 cm (35.7 in)
– Weight: 13.1 kg (28.9 lbs)
– Head Circumference: 48.8 cm (19.2 in) - Girls
– Height: 89.6 cm (35.3 in)
– Weight: 12.9 kg (28.4 lbs)
– Head Circumference: 47.8 cm (18.8 in)
Your child is starting to develop his motor skills even more at this age, so you'll see him running around a lot! He also loves to dance, jump, and do all sorts of activities with you. He can get pretty active at this stage, so be ready for it!
Tips:
- Keep in mind that your child will constantly be trying to run around and will be testing the limits of his independence. So be sure to always keep an eye on him, but also keep your distance to make him feel that he's capable of doing things by themselves.
- Scrapes and bumps are normal. They are to be expected at this stage and are a part of 29 month old development and milestones.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- If your child is smaller than normal, or is having trouble with his movement and/or coordination, then it might be a good idea to visit the doctor to make sure your child's physical development is on point. Remember, genes can also play a role in your child's height and weight, so it's best to not be constantly worried if your little one seems a bit small for his age!
Cognitive Development
At this stage of cognitive development, you'll start to see signs of self-sufficiency at this stage. Your little one might become insistent on dressing himself, drinking from a cup by himself, etc. He might even be able to put on one piece of clothing by himself.
He won't always do these things perfectly, and mealtimes can be a bit messy, but be sure to encourage his independence, as it helps boost his self-esteem. It also makes him feel more in control of himself and his environment.
Toddlers also start to explore their world at this stage. If they see something that interests them, they'll quickly run towards it. They'll also start to check out various things around the house, so it's a good idea to make sure that anything dangerous is out of reach.
Tips:
Encourage your child to become more independent. If he wants to dress himself or drink from a cup, then by all means, let him do so. Letting him become independent at a young age can do wonders for his development, so be sure to encourage this type of behaviour!
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- At this age, it's normal for some kids to still be dependent on their mums and dads. However, if you feel that your little one is too dependent, or if they're not exploring their surroundings, it's a good idea to get them looked at by a specialist to see if there's anything that you should be concerned about.
Social and Emotional Development
First off, they don't call it the "terrible twos" for nothing! At 29 months, your child's behaviour can seem very different from what it was a few months back.
At this stage in your child's development, you may notice an increase in tantrums. That's because toddlers tend to experience many frustrations. Usually, this is because it's hard for them to understand their feelings, and also, they can't express themselves completely.
As far as 29 month old toddler behaviour is concerned, little ones this age can easily be calmed down, so long as you yourself keep calm and composed. The best way to calm your child down is to talk to him and be firm in explaining what behaviour you expect.
The key here is remaining calm, composed, and understanding why your child is behaving in a specific way.
Toddlers also start to become more friendly at this stage, and they'll make friends with other kids they see. However, be wary of your toddler's safety, as toddlers can be too friendly at times. Always keep an eye on your kids at this stage, as some have a habit of walking up to strangers to try and make friends!
Tips:
- Try to avoid shouting or getting angry at your child whenever they have tantrums or if he refuses to eat the food you're giving him.
- Do your best to keep calm, and be patient. A good thing to remember is that "persistence is key." Speak calmly, but firmly, and make sure your toddler understands what you mean.
- Encourage your child to make friends with other kids his age.
- Enroll him in playschool so that he has an opportunity to socialise with other children.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- If it seems that your child's behaviour is out of control, or if they're having trouble making friends or socialising, then it's a good idea to visit the doctor. This age is crucial since you'll start to notice various behavioural problems, if your child has any.
Speech and Language Development
At 29 months, toddlers already know a lot of words and are usually able to express themselves, albeit with some difficulty. By now, he should be able to name a few colours, as well as different body parts.
29 month old toddlers should be able to understand a wide variety of words. They can usually express themselves verbally, albeit they won't be able to always speak in complete sentences.
This is also the age when your toddler starts to charm other people. He may even try to start conversations by himself! This is very exciting for parents, since at this stage you can have conversations with your child and he is starting to understand the words that you're saying.
Tips:
- Talk to your child constantly. Make it a point to talk during mealtime and to ask your toddler about his day. This helps him practice his words and is also a good way for you to teach him new things.
- Try to include your 29 month old in your conversations so that he feels involved.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
If your little one has trouble understanding words or if his vocabulary still hasn't developed well enough so that you can understand them, then you should take him to a doctor.
Health and Nutrition
In terms of nutrition, there are a lot of 2 year and 5 month old development and milestones that are noteworthy.
Toddlers of this age may start getting fussy with food, especially fruits and veggies. If you used to cut up fruits and veggies into tiny pieces in their rice so that they won't taste them, you'll find that it might not work anymore.
This can be stressful for a lot of parents, since they start to worry if their child is indeed getting enough nutrition. However, this is totally normal behaviour.
Your child needs approximately anywhere between 1085 calories to fuel him/her through the day. This is, of course, depending on growth and activity level. Typically, the calorie intake for boys and girls of this age are as follows:
- Boys: 1,085 Kcal/day
- Girls: 1,068 Kcal/day
Their nutrition should be composed of the following:
Protein
Protein is crucial, but at this stage your child doesn't need a lot of it. Your child needs one serving of protein (in total, around 24g) each day. One serving equals one cup of greek yoghurt, a 3 oz of chicken breast or 4 hard-boiled eggs.
Fruits
Fruits are an important source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Your child needs about three (100g) cups of fruits everyday. One cup of fruit equals one cup of fresh, frozen, or canned fruit, half (1/2) cup dried fruit, half (1/2) of a large apple, one eight- or nine-inch banana, or one medium grapefruit.
If your child wants to drink fruit juice, make sure it’s 100 percent juice without added sugars.
Vegetables
Teach your child to eat vegetables early on. At this stage, your child requires 1.5 cups (150g) of vegetables every day. One cup of vegetables equals one cup of cooked or raw vegetables, two cups of raw leafy greens, one large tomato, or two medium carrots.
Aim to provide a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, beans and peas, starchy and others, each week. When selecting canned or frozen vegetables, look for options lower in sodium.
Grains
Introduce a minimum of three ounces of grains in your child’s meals. One ounce of grains equals one slice of bread, one cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or half (1/2) cup of cooked pasta or cooked cereal.
As much as possible, choose whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, popcorn, quinoa, or brown or wild rice. Limit refined grains such as white bread, pasta and rice.
Milk/Dairy
Your child should drink a minimum of 16 to 19 ounces of milk a day. You may also substitute one cup of milk with one cup of yogurt or soy milk , 1½ ounces of natural cheese (around the size of four stacked dice), or two ounces of processed cheese (around the size of five stacked dice).
In a nutshell, here’s what you child needs every day (refer above for what the amounts look like):
- Fruits: 3 cups for boys and girls
- Vegetables: 1.5 cups for boys and girls
- Grains: 3 ounces for boys and girls
- Proteins: 24g for boys and girls
- Milk: 16-19 ounces for boys and girls
- Water: 1,200mL for boys and girls
Of course, your child’s preferences and appetites may vary, so be sure to keep that in mind when preparing his food.
Tips:
- Part of your child's 2 year and 5 month old development and milestones is being picky with their food. In these situations, it's better to be patient and just give it time. Forcing them to finish their food can create a negative association with the food they eat. They might grow up connecting the negative experience to vegetables or fruits, which can lead to them disliking those types of foods even more.
- Try to avoid giving too many snacks to your child. Focus on making sure they eat properly during mealtime instead.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
- If your child's weight is going down, or if they're constantly refusing to eat the food you're giving them, then it's a good idea to take them to the doctor. At this age, kids can fall prey to worms and other parasites, so it is possible that your child might be sick if their appetite is low.
Vaccinations and Common Illnesses
For vaccines, your child should already have their chickenpox, MMR, flu, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B shots. 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, oftentimes together with coughs and colds. For the most part, you shouldn't be worried since these are common illnesses in children. However, if your child's fever lasts for more than a week, or if their cough and colds aren't going away, be sure to take them to a doctor.
To manage the three most common medical issues in kids – fever, cough, and cold – try the following:
- Fever
A fever is usually nothing to be too concerned about, but you need to keep a close eye on your child's health and monitor his/her temperature. If your child has a fever up to 38°C (100.4°F), give him/her plenty of fluids and encourage your kid to rest. You could also apply lukewarm compresses to your child’s forehead, armpits and groin areas to help bring the temperature down. If your child’s temperature rises above 38°C (100.4°F) you should bring him/her to the doctor and follow medical advise to manage your child’s health.
- Cough
For coughs, you should first try home remedies such as ginger and honey mixed in lukewarm water. Plus, ask your kid to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water a day to help ease the discomfort. If your child's cough does not ease after three to five days, or turns very phlegmy, bring him/her to the doctor for treatment and management advice.
- Cold
Avoid taking any over-the-counter medication for common colds. Colds are caused by a virus and so antibiotics will not help. If your child’s cold is accompanied by body aches and very high fever, it could, in fact, be influenza. The best course of action is to bring your child to a doctor for medical advice.
It’s crucial to note here that while some medications can be bought without any prescriptions, your first option of treatment for mild health issues should be simple home remedies. For example, a child with a cold and cough should be given extra warm fluids. He or she could gargle with warm salt water for a sore throat remedy. Meanwhile, nasal saline solution will help decongest the nasal passage.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If your child,
- Has a fever over 39 degrees Celsius
- Has unusual bruises, bumps or rashes
- Complains constantly of headaches or other aches
- Has been vomiting or has diarrhoea for more than two days
Republished with permission from TheAsianParent Singapore
Source: Toddler Development and Milestones: Your 2 Year and 5 Month Old
Reference: WebMD
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