Toddler Milestones – What Can You Expect at 29 Months?

Some developmental toddler milestones for a 29-month-old are-

Dressing Up

• Your toddler will love to dress up themselves
• You will catch them trying to put on their own sock, shorts, t-shirts, or skirts
• They will sit, stand, jump, and do whatnot, to get that piece of clothing on – the right way or the wrong way doesn’t matter
• Toddlers are very patient and don’t give up easily at this stage
• They may not accept your help right away and will give in only after multiple attempts or if you get impatient with them and they know they are upsetting you

Independence

• Toddlers become more independent week by week
• Many will flatly refuse any help for many activities and try to do it on their own
• The focus for them is on doing it by themselves and not doing it “right”
• They may stack the toys the wrong way, use the cutlery upside down, or pour the water all around the cup and not inside, but they will insist on doing it themselves (1)

Communication

• Toddlers can now speak comfortably in short (3 to 4 words) sentences
• They will catch new words and use them in their sentences too. They may not speak full sentences that are grammatically correct but will know which words to use. For ex – me hungry (I am hungry), I go play Nina (I want to go play with Nina), I cold (I am feeling cold), she not sharing (she is not sharing)
• They will know where to use I, she, he, etc.
• They can communicate if it is about themselves or another person
• They can even remember and tell the other person’s name

Improved Coordination

• They can now hold a box in one hand and close the lid with the other
• They hold a bag in one hand, and pick toys and put them inside the bag with the other hand. Both hands can work independently

Socializing

• Toddlers love to socialize and make new friends with other toddlers their age or size
• Taking them to the playground can make them very happy and improve various skills

Wash And Dry

• Most toddlers can wash their hands with soap and water and also dry them on a towel, without any assistance
• Give them a stool to use to reach the tap, this will make them feel more confident and independent

Potty Training

• If you have been potty training your toddler, they can start communicating now
• They will tell you when they want to go
• Some can even tell in advance and wait till you seat them on the toilet

Growth Chart For a 29-Month-Old Toddler

An average 29-month-old height and weight will be as follows-

Girls

Weight – 10.0 – 16.0 Kg
Height- 83.4 – 96.4 cm

Boys

Weight – 10.5 – 16.4 Kg
Height- 84.9 – 97.5 cm

(This chart is just an indication and these parameters may vary from one toddler to another)

Tips to Boost Your 29-Month-Old’s Development

Here are some tips for parents to aid their 29-month-old’s development in attaining their toddler milestones-

1. Pouring Activity

Give them a glass of water and an empty glass. Ask them to pour from one glass or cup to the other. You can keep a tray or spread a towel underneath to reduce the wet mess. You can even give them a big bowl of water and ask them to use a cup to take the water from one bowl and pour it into another empty bowl. This improves coordination and hand control.

2. Sorting Activity

You can give them a box of mixed pulses and ask them to sort it into different cups when you are cooking in the kitchen. They can do this activity anywhere in the house when you are busy. It keeps them occupied and helps increase their attention span.

3. Matching Games

You can find many matching games in the store. They can be exact matching, finding the pair, front and back of the same item, big and small, etc. expose your toddler to different games that require them to think and find identical images. This will help improve their focus.

4. Multilingual Conversations

Start conversing with your toddler in more than one language. Encourage them to talk in other languages to friends or family who use other languages. This will help them learn the words and connect the meanings easily (2). For example – if your house help speaks a different language, encourage your toddler to learn words in that language too.

Health And Care of Your Toddler

Here are some ways to effectively take care of your growing toddler’s health to help them attain those toddler milestones-

• Some toddlers may experience pain in their leg joints when they stand or walk around for a long time. This could be growth pain. Consult your pediatrician for proper guidance
• Toddlers will try to get into tiny spaces and their bodies can twist in unimaginable ways. They can sprain their arm or leg when playing. A gentle massage with hot or cold fermentation will ease the pain
• Stomach bugs are common as your toddler eats newer foods or goes to playgroups. Ask your pediatrician about deworming and follow the recommended dosage and frequency
• Toddlers will bring in germs from outside as well as their peers. Regular cleaning of surfaces your toddler comes in contact with can reduce the spread of infections

Some Useful Tips For Your Toddler

Here are some useful tips to aid your kid in meeting their toddler milestones-

• If the weather is hot and tends to get chilly in the evenings or if you are going to a place with an air conditioner, dress your toddler in layers. You can remove the layers if they are feeling hot
• If your toddler gets into a fight with their peers, be quick to interfere if someone is going to get hurt. Otherwise, just stay close and observe how the toddlers sort it out themselves
• If your toddler is stuck when doing a jigsaw puzzle, get the right pieces and one another and keep it closer to them. This will prevent them from giving up and moving on to the next toy because this is too tough

29 months old and your toddler only seems to be picking up speed in attaining those toddler milestones. They start showing preference for certain people and toys over others. Their individual personalities are developing and you can enjoy watching them grow. Remember to not force your likes and dislikes on them. Let them grow up into their own unique selves.

FAQ’s

1. What to Expect From a 29-Month-Old Toddler?

You can expect your 29-month-old toddler to become more active, social, and vocal. They will play better with peers, prefer the outdoors, show very little fear when it comes to exploring their surroundings, and even try to test boundaries. They may also show a preference for certain family members, toys, and friends and sometimes even prefer one parent over the other. As their personality develops, you can expect a lot of changes in their behavior too.

2. What Are The Gross Motor Skills of a 29-Month-Old?

A 29-month-old should run, jump, and climb stairs comfortably with very little or no help. They should also be able to climb small stools, age-appropriate playground equipment, and throw a ball.

3. What Are Poor Motor Skills Examples?

Poor motor skills examples include the inability to hold items in their hands, being very clumsy when handling things or toys, and being unable to pick food off the plate and self-feed. The inability to hold a fat crayon, or pick small pieces off the floor also indicates poor motor skills.

4. What Happens if Children Don’t Develop Motor Skills?

If toddlers don’t develop age-appropriate motor skills, it can impact their overall development. Some toddlers will need extra help and guidance to learn the skills. Doing various activities and paying closer attention to them can help them learn the skills. In some cases, it can indicate a developmental delay, which requires professional help or interference (3).

References

1. Social Competence in Infants and Toddlers with Special Health Care Needs: The Roles of Parental Knowledge, Expectations, Attunement, and Attitudes toward Child Independence – [https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/1/1/5]
2. Multilingual toddlers’ vocabulary development in two languages: Comparing bilinguals and trilinguals – [https://shorturl.at/psDS8]
3. Fine motor skills and executive function both contribute to kindergarten achievement – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399936/]