In the 14th month, toddlers show significant strides in development. Many are gaining confidence in walking, taking those initial steps toward independence. It’s crucial to ensure a secure environment as they explore their budding mobility. Language skills progress, with toddlers uttering a few words and comprehending simple commands. Promote communication by engaging in conversations and introducing new words through activities like reading.

Fine motor skills advance, and you may observe attempts at self-feeding with fingers or a spoon. Introduce toys that foster grasping and coordination.

Regular pediatric check-ups are vital for monitoring growth and milestones. Celebrate each achievement, creating a nurturing environment to support their ongoing progress.

What are the Toddler’s Development and Milestone on the 14th Month

At 14 months, toddlers experience various developmental milestones, including physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. Some of the key milestones for a 14-month-old toddler are:

Physical Development

  • Independent walking or with support
  • Grasping objects and picking them up again
  • Turning pages of board books on their own
  • Pointing at objects or people
  • Climbing

Cognitive Development:

  • Object permanence, such as placing small objects in a container and removing them again
  • Following simple instructions
  • Mimicking sounds and speech patterns

Social and Emotional Development

  • Displaying affection towards familiar people
  • Interacting with others and developing social skills
  • Developing a unique personality and expressing emotions

Language Development

  • Understanding more verbal communication
  • Naming a few words
  • Mimicking sounds

Behavior

  • Exploring the world independently
  • Testing boundaries and discovering their limits
  • Offering two choices when possible to minimize power struggles

What are the activities needed to Support your 14-month-old toddler’s development

Patty-cake

  • Toddlers at this age enjoy imitating grown-ups when they clap their hands

Push toys

  • Mini lawnmowers, shopping carts, and strollers are great toys for this age, as new walkers love to show off their skills while pushing along

Stacking blocks

  • This activity helps develop fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities

Pretend-play toys

  • Dolls and toy kitchen sets can encourage imaginative play and role-playing

Outdoor play

  • Exploring the outdoors helps develop sensory skills and promotes physical activity

Squishing Play-Doh

  • This activity helps develop fine motor skills and muscle strength

Putting things into another

  • This activity helps develop problem-solving skills and understanding of object permanence

What are the Mealtimes and Menus for Your 14-Month-Old

The mealtimes and menus for a 14-month-old typically include a variety of nutritious foods to support their growth and development. Here are some ideas and guidelines from the search results:

Feeding Schedule

A 14-month-old may follow a schedule that includes three meals and two to three snacks, spaced about two to three hours apart. A sample schedule could be:

  • 7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
  • 10:00 a.m.: Morning snack
  • 12:30 p.m.: Lunch
  • 3:30 p.m.: Afternoon snack
  • 5:30 p.m.: Dinner
  • 7:30 p.m.: Pre-bed snack

Food Ideas

Nutrient-rich foods to include in a 14-month-old’s diet are grains, fruits, vegetables, juice, milk, eggs, beans, cheese, and lean meat. It’s important to offer a variety of foods and allow the toddler to choose their preferred foods. Here are some meal ideas from the search results:

  • Mid-Morning Snack. Banana, cheese stick, paneer cubes, or yogurt
  • Lunch. Pasta with peas and spinach, apple, vegetable soup, and milk
  • Other food ideas include veggie pasta, whole grains, fruits, and bite-sized pieces of chicken, fish, or meat

It’s essential to provide a balanced diet that includes a variety of food groups, offer age-appropriate portion sizes, and be mindful of food allergies. Additionally, allowing the toddler to choose from a selection of nutritious foods can help encourage healthy eating habits.

What is the Sleep Schedule of your 14-Month-Old Toddler

Total Sleep

  • Your toddler needs about 12-15 hours of sleep a day

Wake Windows

  • For babies taking two naps, the first wake window is about 3 hours, and 15 minutes, while the second wake window is between 3.5 hours and 3 hours and 45 minutes

Nap Schedule

  • If your baby is taking two naps, each nap should be about 1-2 hours long
  • If your baby is taking one nap, it should ideally be about 2-3 hours long

Bedtime

  • The ideal bedtime is between 7:00 and 8:00 PM

Nighttime Sleep

  • Aim for 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep

Day in the Life of a 14-Month-Old Toddler

Eating

  • A 14-month-old toddler should be eating about three meals and two snacks per day
  • Refrain from feeding chunkier or larger pieces of chicken, fish, and meat to babies

Sleeping

  • Parents should watch for signs of tiredness and establish a positive bedtime routine to help their child settle for sleep
  • Common sleep challenges include separation anxiety, difficulty settling down, and waking up during the night

Developmental Activities

  • Allow the toddler to explore the outdoors
  • Parents can involve their child in daily chores, such as bringing laundry or using a dustpan and broom

Fun Facts

  • They are learning to imitate simple household activities like sweeping
  • They are becoming more independent and may show less interest in being spoon-fed
  • They can understand simple words and follow simple requests

Toddler’s Health at 14-Month-Old

Regular Check-ups

  • Schedule routine check-ups with the pediatrician to monitor growth and development.

Nutrition

  • Offer a balanced diet with various fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins.
  • Introduce new foods while being mindful of potential allergies.

Vaccinations

  • Follow the recommended vaccination schedule to protect against preventable diseases.

Oral Health

  • Begin dental care by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Schedule the first dental visit by the age of one.

Development Tips for Your Toddler This Month

Encourage everyday skills

  • Support your toddler in practicing everyday skills like feeding themselves, drinking from a cup, and getting dressed. These activities help develop both small and big muscle movements, as well as your toddler’s ability to think about what they’re doing

Talk with your toddler 

  • Engage in conversations with your toddler, naming and talking about everyday things such as body parts, toys, and household items. This helps develop their language skills and understanding of the world around them

Play matching games and encourage exploration

  • Engage your toddler in activities like shape sorting, simple puzzles, and exploring new things. This helps develop their cognitive and language skills, as well as their growing independence

Provide safe opportunities for physical activity

  • Toddlers at this age are usually walking on their own and may enjoy activities like walking up and down stairs, climbing furniture with supervision, and engaging in physical activities like throwing and kicking a ball

Sensory play and language development

  • Engage your toddler in sensory play activities and encourage language development through music, singing, and playing with different sounds

Items Needed on the 14th Month of Your Toddler

Toys

  • Nesting toys, blocks, board books, musical toys, and simple jigsaw puzzles can be fun and educational for your toddler

Sippy Cup

  • Look for a sippy cup that is easy to hold and clean, as your 14-month-old should be transitioning from a bottle to a cup or sippy cup

Child-Proof Locks

  • Use child-proof locks to keep your toddler safe and prevent them from accessing potentially dangerous areas or items

Dental Care Items

  • A soft, child-size toothbrush and a dab of fluoride children’s toothpaste the size of a grain of rice are recommended for your 14-month-old’s dental care

Activities

  • Engage in activities such as reading, singing, playing, and visiting age-appropriate playgrounds to support your toddler’s learning and development

Life as a Parent on Toddler’s 14th Month

Life with a 14-month-old toddler can be both exciting and challenging. At this age, toddlers are becoming more independent, curious, and expressive. They are developing their personalities and may start showing preferences and opinions. Here are some insights and tips based on the search results:

Development and Milestones

  • Toddlers at 14 months old are becoming more social, understanding more words, and maybe starting to mimic sounds and speech patterns. They are also becoming more determined and may want to continue their favorite activities, even at bedtime.

Activities

  • Engaging in activities that encourage everyday skills, language development, and physical activity can support your toddler’s development. For example, encouraging everyday skills like feeding themselves, talking with your toddler, and providing safe opportunities for physical activity can be beneficial.

Challenges

  • Toddlers at this age may become more particular about things and may start to show signs of independence, which can lead to power struggles. Offering choices when possible and respecting their individuality can help minimize power struggles.

Safety and Childproofing

  • As toddlers become more mobile and curious, it’s important to ensure a safe environment by childproofing areas that they can explore, such as lower kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets, stairs, and the coffee table.

Routines and Communication

  • Establishing routines and explaining them to your toddler can help them understand what to expect. This can be particularly helpful when leaving them with a caregiver or in a new environment.

In summary, life with a 14-month-old toddler involves supporting their growing independence, engaging in activities that promote their development, and ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for their exploration and curiosity.

Checklist needed for the 14th Month 

Nutrition

  • Varied Diet. Provide a range of nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins.
  • Transition to Solids. Encourage self-feeding with appropriate utensils and introduce new textures.

Developmental Milestones

  • Walking Independence. Celebrate those first steps and provide a safe environment for exploration.
  • Language Development. Foster communication by engaging in conversations, reading, and introducing new words.

Safety Measures

  • Childproofing. Review and reinforce safety measures, ensuring a secure environment.
  • Supervision. Keep a watchful eye on your toddler, especially in areas with potential hazards.

Healthcare

  • Well-Baby Checkup. Schedule a routine checkup with your pediatrician.
  • Vaccinations. Ensure your toddler is up-to-date on vaccinations as recommended.

Social Interaction

  • Playdates. Arrange opportunities for socialization with other toddlers.
  • Family Interaction. Encourage bonding with family members through play and shared activities.

Communication

  • Encourage Expression. Respond to babbling and gestures, fostering language development.
  • Simple Commands. Use simple words and phrases to enhance understanding.

Independence Building

  • Self-Feeding. Introduce self-feeding with finger foods to promote independence.
  • Choice Making. Allow your toddler to make simple choices when appropriate.

Emotional Well-being:

  • Responsive Parenting. Be attentive to your toddler’s emotional cues and respond with patience.
  • Positive Reinforcement. Acknowledge and praise positive behaviors to boost confidence.

Safety Awareness

  • Teach Safety Habits. Begin introducing basic safety instructions, such as avoiding certain objects or areas.

Emergency Preparedness 

  • Familiarize yourself with emergency procedures, including contact numbers.

Wellness and Hygiene

  • Oral Care. Introduce gentle tooth brushing as part of the daily routine.
  • Hygiene Practices. Reinforce good hygiene habits, including handwashing.

Last Updated on January 15, 2024