The development of babies from birth is impressive in every respect. As they grow, they also grow and develop their parents in the roles of mother and father. They taught them to be more patient, to be smiling despite less sleep, to concentrate on more than one thing at the same time in the same way 🙂 Your baby’s twentieth month is one of the most beautiful stages of development. 20-month baby development is evaluated both physically and mentally. Each baby’s development adventure is unique. However, an evaluation can be made within some specified development periods. So, what is the answer to the question, how should twenty-month-old baby development be?
How should babies develop in their 20th month?
Although we use the word “should” in the title, the approach to the development of babies is that each one is unique and will follow a unique development. Developmental period charts, which are determined by researches conducted worldwide and taking into account local characteristics, are taken into account in the follow-up and evaluation of the process. 20-month-old babies can use some clues to monitor their development. For this purpose, the baby’s growth process is observed under two headings: physical development and mental development. growth in 20-month-old babies is examined by taking into account the baby’s height and weight. in 20-month-old babies, the evaluation of mental skills is done by looking at some skills. Now, let’s examine them one by one.
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20 Month Baby Physical Development
20-month-old babies look at the percentile chart for physical development. For this purpose, you can visit your health care provider to get accurate weight and height measurements and ask them to interpret the percentile. The percentile chart is based on the average of physical values according to the age and gender of the baby. The percentile table is different for boys and girls due to differences in development. The table is based on the baby’s height, weight and head circumference. The P value in the table represents the average. Above P indicates above-average development and below P indicates below-average development. So, what should be the height and weight of a 20-month-old baby?
According to Percentile, height and weight values suitable for P value in 20-month-old babies are as follows. for the development of a 20-month-old baby girl, 83 cm height and 11 kg weight and values close to this are expected. for a 20-month-old baby boy, 84 cm height and 11 kg weight and values close to this are considered average. If your baby’s height or weight is below these values, this does not mean that his/her development is inadequate. Each baby’s development and speed of development is unique. The health professional makes the assessment here.
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20 Month Baby Mental Development
Parents want to learn about their baby’s level of mental development by asking questions such as what a 20-month-old baby can learn, what they can do or what they can understand. Here, the developing skills of the baby are evaluated according to the month. So, what can a 20-month-old baby do? Skills such as walking, running, holding objects and throwing them towards a target, looking when they hear their name, understanding and reacting to being spoken to are common characteristics of this period. There are also mental skills such as building a tower from toy cubes and drawing an uneven circle with a pencil. They can make sentences by combining words and say the names of the parts of their body. speaking of “saying”, what words can 20-month-old babies say or how many words have they learned? It is difficult to reach a clear conclusion on this issue. Each baby’s development follows a unique course. However, as a general approach, he/she can use more than fifty words.
20 Things to Consider in Baby Development at 20 Months
In the twentieth month, the development process continues rapidly for the baby, who now receives a greater variety of nutrients and is much more active. Moreover, the desire to explore is quite high. Skills such as walking, running, using their hands, talking are developing and your baby is very excited. Eye and hand coordination is also much more developed. As a result of development and change, some extreme behaviors can be seen. After all, growing up is not easy 🙂 So, what are the duties of self-caregivers for the development of a 20-month-old baby? In other words, what should or should not be done to support the development of 20-month-old babies?
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Adapt to His Rhythm!
This is easy to say but very hard to do. Try to follow his rhythm as much as you can. Of course he is never in a hurry to get dressed, brush his teeth, pick up his toys or eat. But for you, time is a train that has to be caught up and one thing has to end and another has to begin. This time conflict can strain the parental relationship with babies and toddlers. Your baby also needs time to explore.
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Offer Opportunities to Explore More!
The desire to learn is very high during this period. Small trips, travels that will not tire him/her too much, crowded relatives gatherings, spending time in nature will respond to his/her need to learn. He will want to take advantage of these learning opportunities and will tire you a little by constantly moving from place to place with tiny steps. But it is important for his mental and physical development that you offer him this opportunity and let him explore.
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Keep Away from the Screen!
Another piece of advice that we hear very often but is difficult to implement. Contact with the screen during this period is not recommended for his mind and general development. Responding to the constant need to explore by offering different pursuits whenever possible can help them stay away from the screen.
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How should 20-month-old babies be fed?
Consult your 20-month-old baby’s health care provider about nutrition. Be sure to incorporate the advice he or she gives you into your baby’s feeding plan. On the other hand, focus on transforming mealtimes into times when your baby has fun and communicates closely with you, rather than times when he/she is forced to eat. Don’t force them when they don’t want to eat. Make him feel that his personality and choices are respected.
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How should 20-month-old babies be handled by their parents?
Games are a way for children to learn. They are also important for communicating with their parents. Therefore, play whenever you can and be eager to play. Every game you play with your 20-month-old baby will be a valuable step for his/her psychological resilience and mental development. On the other hand, do not suppress his curiosity during this period when he is very curious. Let him explore and develop a sense of confidence as he tries. Do not pick him up every time he falls, let him get up himself.
How many hours does a 20-month-old baby sleep?
In a 20-month-old baby’s development, feeding, play and sleep patterns are important together. a 20-month-old baby is expected to sleep for 13-14 hours a day, but sleep hours may vary for each baby .
20 Month Baby Vaccinations and Other Checkups
In Turkey, the vaccination schedule is followed by the family medicine unit to which you are affiliated. For this reason, you should contact your family doctor for your child’s vaccinations in the 20th month. It is very important to keep your baby’s vaccination card and follow the vaccination schedule.
20 Month Old Babies’ Needs
For 20-month-old babies, there are some needs that are specific to their stage. For example, many babies may move from a crib to a bigger bed at this stage. Month-appropriate toys should also be offered to help the baby’s development. New arrangements for new toys may need to be made in the room, and changes can be made to make the home more child-friendly. Special plates, spoons, forks and cups can also be offered to support self-feeding habits.