Growth

Body

• I am growing much slower now than I did between birth and 12 months old.
• My height and weight are increasing steadily. I will gain about 1.4 to 2.3 kilograms (3 to 5 pounds) and grow about 6 cm (2½ inches) each year.
• I am losing baby fat and becoming slimmer. I am starting to look less like a baby and more like a young child.
• My legs and body (trunk) are growing more in proportion to my head.

Teeth

• I am still teething and will continue to get new teeth until I’m 2 to 3 years old. I should have all 20 baby teeth by the time I am 3 years old.
• Clean my teeth with a child’s soft toothbrush every day. Fluoride toothpaste will help prevent cavities. I might swallow the toothpaste so use only a pea-size amount. Teach me to spit out the toothpaste as soon as I can learn this skill.
• Give me juice or sweet drinks in a cup or glass, rather than a bottle.
• Fruit leather, raisins and other sweet, sticky foods stick to my teeth and cause cavities. Give me these kinds of food less often than other snack foods.
• I should start visiting my dentist regularly.
• As I get older, sucking my thumb or soother can cause problems with how my teeth fit together (this is called my “bite”). If you are concerned about my bite, contact our dentist or public health centre for help.

Development

Language

By the time I am 2 years old:

• I can point to an object or picture when you say its name. I love it when we look at books together.
• I know the names of familiar people, things and body parts.
• Talk to me when you dress me. We can talk about what is happening, e.g., “Your arm goes in the sleeve.”
• I can say 50 or more words.
• I can use phrases and might say 2 to 3 word sentences, such as, “Me do it.”
• I can understand almost everything that people say and can follow simple directions. I can also play simple games like hiding my teddy bear.
• I might constantly ask “why?” and “what’s that?”
• I might repeat words that I hear you or other people say to each other.
• I can count to two and can remember two numbers, like 4 and 7 or 6 and 3.
• I know the difference between “big” and “little.”
• I can answer simple questions, such as, “What is your name?”
• I might get ear infections. If I seem to be having trouble hearing, take me to a doctor as soon as possible.

By the time I am 3 years old:

• I can understand 900 to 1,000 words.
• I can say 3 and 4 word sentences.
• A person who does not know me should understand about 75% of what I say.
• I understand and can use words like “I,” “you,” “me,” “we,” and “they.”
• I can whisper.
• I have a longer memory and can remember things that happened yesterday. Talk to me about what we did together.
• I will listen to longer stories and stories that use complex sentences. I will probably know several nursery rhymes.
• I can follow more complex directions, such as, “Close the book and give it to me.”
• I know the difference between “on,” “in” and “under.”
• I can tell you my first name, age and whether I am a boy or girl.
• I might stutter or repeat words, especially when I am excited.
• If I am not using and understanding a lot of words or if my speech is hard to understand, I should see a Speech Language Pathologist.

Movement

• I am learning how to coordinate my arms and legs.
• I can turn a key or screw.
• I am getting better at kicking, throwing and catching a ball.
• I can run forward but am still learning how to run backwards.
• I can walk up and down stairs if I am holding onto something.
• I can eat and drink without any help.
• I can put on simple clothes by myself.
• I can climb on and off furniture without help.
• I can pull toys behind me when I am walking and can carry large toys or several toys when I am walking.
• I can pedal a tricycle.
• By the time I am 3 years old, I can turn pages of a book one at time, hold a pencil in the writing position and make lines and circles with a pencil or crayon.