What should I know in treating 24-month-old children?

Development & Behavior

How should my child develop on the 24th month?

Your toddler is currently 2 years old. There have been many achievements that he has done so far. Your child may have been able to wear or take off his own clothes. He can also choose what he wants to use. This shows strong coordination and independence capabilities.

Your child's motor skills also increase. He already felt confident in moving. He may have been able to bend down and take something from the floor. He may also be able to jump or tiptoe.

At the age of 2 years, your child will understand the concept of objects and their relationship to their surroundings. He began to understand more about the size of objects and their relationship with other objects. He may be able to follow certain orders, such as "get a ball at the end" or "look at the bed."

How can I help my child develop on the 24th month?

You can support your child by buying clothes with little buttons, or clothes with hooks, to help him learn to wear his own clothes. Your toddler will do his best in wearing his pants, clothes and shoes. By filling the drawers of clothes that are easily worn, you are easier in the morning. Introduce new challenges in the form of one big button once in a while.

You can also support it with a new understanding. You can do this by:

• Talking about people in their lives who are not with him: "Father is at work." "Grandma lives in a distant place."
• Give a simple set of instructions that use various rules, such as first putting a toy on a bench, then under a bench, and then returning it to you.
• Ask about the location to him: "Where do birds live?" "Where is the airplane?" "Where is the door?" Don't always expect the right answer or turn it into a quiz; ask questions like part of everyday conversation.

Health & Safety

What should I discuss with the doctor on the 24th month?

Control at 2 years is very important. The doctor will check the child's general health and make sure your child develops according to his age. To help doctors evaluate correctly, you should discuss with the doctor the following:

Your child's sleep habits

Most children of this age sleep around 11 hours at night and take a nap for 2 hours. Some children do not want to take a nap, preferring a longer night's sleep. If your child wakes up because of a nightmare, tell the doctor. Nightmares often occur during this time, but your doctor may suggest how you calm your child.

Your child's eating habits

Until now you can still limit the amount of sweet foods your child eats, but if he spends more time with other children, he may be more interested in fast food. If your child continues to eat sweet foods, talk to your doctor, who may have suggestions about some healthy snacks or can relieve your anxiety about the child's diet.

The way your child walks

Many children walk astride at this age because their legs are still developing, but are usually normal by themselves at the age of 7 years.

Your child's physical activity

Nowadays children are more able to control their hands and feet, and are more coordinated. It is not difficult to kick a ball, build a tower of beams, climb things, jump, and go up and down stairs. Make sure he has many opportunities to move and explore.

What should I know on the 24th month?

Your doctor will measure your child's weight, height and head circumference. According to the Centers of Disease and Control (CDC), the size of your child is in the following ranges:

• Weight: 10.7kg to 15.5kg (male), 10kg to 14.5kg (female)
• Height: 82.5cm to 93.3cm (male), 80cm to 91.4cm (female)
• Head circumference: 46.4cm to 50.8cm (male), 45.7cm to 49.5cm (female)

The doctor will calculate the body mass index (BMI). BMI measures body fat. If your child's BMI is the 85th percentile to 94 it means your child is overweight (fat). If the doctor says BMI in the percentile is ≥95, that means your child is obese. You should always talk to your doctor about your anxiety or further clarification. Don't feel bad. All these numbers are indeed confusing.

My attention

What should I pay attention to on the 24th month?

As a mother, you will always worry about how your child is developing and eating. At this age you might expect to talk longer with your child. You are not alone. There are some children who talk late. Maybe this is an anxiety for you but we are here to tell you to stop worrying.

Every child develops at different speeds. At 2 years old, your child should be able to speak more than 50 words and use 2 words in a sentence. If your child hasn't reached this, wait until next month. If it hasn't happened for several months, you can worry and discuss it with your doctor.

How will your child grow next month?