16-Month-Old Baby: Milestones & Development

It’s wild. It’s whacky. It’s waddling. It’s a 16-month-old baby! Find out what you can expect as you creep closer to the 2-year mark. A 16-month-old baby is usually a tiny troublemaker.

But they also laugh at your jokes and can bust out some serious dance moves.

Thank goodness—or that tyrannical behavior wouldn’t be so easy to forgive.

Also, in their defense, all that self-centeredness is somewhat excusable.

At this point, your baby honestly thinks that the whole world revolves around them.

For real.

They don’t know that other people have feelings and desires as they do.

You know what else is happening?

Your 16-month-old baby has a body, and they’re not afraid to use it.

They’re walking. They’re kicking. They may even be running.

And if you’re really lucky, they may even be doing some climbing.

Watch out for some marvelous Houdini-esque tricks.

Needless to say: Bolt. Everything. Down.

Nothing is safe: kitchen utensil drawers, make-up kits, art supplies—every previously innocent object in your life is now potential chaos.

In this article 📝

Is 16 months considered a toddler?

Yep!

From 12 months of age (or one year old), your baby is officially classed as a toddler.

So welcome to toddlerhood, baby!

What should a 16-month-old be doing?

What should a 16-month-old be able to do? The dishes? That would be nice.

While that’s probably not the case, 16-month-old babies are pretty impressive.

Of course, it’s important to note that while it’s important to track your little one’s development to ensure that they’re not struggling in any way, this is not a race.

If you’re at all worried, check in with your doc to see if there’s any reason for concern.

Otherwise, happily enjoy the chaos.

What are 16-month milestones? Well…

They put the “but” in Social Butterfly

Two contrasting things are happening here.

Firstly, they’re learning that there are other them-sized humans in the world—and wow are they fascinated by this fact.

Secondly—and now for the big BUT—they may not be the most polite playmates.

Remember the part about them not having a clue that other people have feelings?

Yeah, not a huge chance they’re going to share that favorite toy.

Or even one that they merely tolerate but have earmarked as their own.

Baby’s got moves

Most babies at 16 months are able to walk and even run.

Adorably, they may also be busting a move whenever they hear their favorite jam—or simply when the mood takes them.

Why is my 16-month-old not walking?

While it’s true that most toddlers will be toddling at 16 months old, it’s certainly not the case for all toddlers.

Some can take up to about 18 months to take their first steps, but if you’re worried about your toddler not walking at 16 months, it’s worth taking a visit to the doctor, just in case.

The baby doth protest too much

Yup, separation anxiety.

You’re number one!

And everyone else can get lost.

Take it as a form of flattery. Why not?

But seriously, this can be tough.

Going to work, running errands, or, dare we say it, attempting a date night, can feel impossible when they kick up a fuss.

This can also happen in the middle of the night

They just miss you that much.

So. What can you do?

Getting a departure ritual going can be useful.

Rather than slipping away, part with purpose.

Tell them you’ll be back soon.

Curiosity is piqued

They’re into everything.

While this may feel overwhelming at times, find moments to simply marvel at them discovering this new world.

It’s all so extraordinary to them.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep them enthralled.

There are a variety of play ideas that can be born from items that you have lying around in your house at this very moment.

Cardboard boxes, blocks, and colorful paper do wonders.

It’s also a great time to throw books into the mix.

You may just be introducing what will be a lifelong love of reading.

Your baby is turning into Dracula

Those pointy fangs may start to emerge sometime within this period, accompanied by some [literal teething problems](https://www.peanut-app.io/blog/when-do-babies-start-teething.

Get prepped with teething rings for them (and breathing exercises for you.)

What is the normal weight for a 16-month-old baby?

The average weight for a 16-month-old baby (with allowances for outliers) is between 21.6 and 23.2 pounds.

This is according to the WHO.

Wondering how heavy that is? About 20 guinea pigs.

And the average height for a 16-month-old baby is about 31 inches.

A 16-month growth spurt is not so typical, but there are no hard and fast rules here.

How many meals should a 16-month-old eat?

The good news is that a 16-month-old baby can eat much of what you eat, and at about the same time ‒ 3 meals and 2 snacks per day.

What’s more, they may have mastered the art of feeding themselves with their hands, meaning you have it all a little easier at mealtimes.

So what’s on the menu?

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Healthy fats (avocado is a great go-to)
• Meat or vegetable protein sources
• Dairy (it’s fine by this point)
  Because a 16-month-old baby is starting to learn what they like and what they don’t, they may become a bit fussier over this period.

And, seriously, they will complain about it all, from the vegetables to the dishware.

So what can you do about these demanding customers?

Try not to give the demands too much attention, if possible.

Schedule regular mealtimes.

If you have the time, try to make food somewhat entertaining.

(Toast cut into a star, anyone?)

This is likely just a phase.

Soldier on, mama. You’ve got this.

Is it normal for a 16-month-old to have tantrums?

Uh, that would be an emphatic yes.

Your little one is starting to experience a range of emotions, and they don’t know how to process them all.

So even if things go their way and they’re really happy, that could easily become a tantrum.

It’s all to do with emotional regulation, which comes with age and practice, so think of tantrums as your 16-month-old’s first emotional steps ‒ they can’t run before they can walk.

Why does my 16-month-old get so angry?

So what’s the cause for 16 month old tantrums?

Well, it depends.

Anything could set them off, like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

They might be overtired, hungry, overstimulated, excited, nervous, scared, upset, or something might have happened that they weren’t expecting.

Toddlers aren’t big fans of change.

And any emotion can swiftly turn into a tantrum.

As for how to deal with 16-month-old tantrums?

Try creating a calming space for them, allowing them to feel their emotions, and speaking in a calm voice (not raising your voice to their level).

And if that doesn’t work, go for a distraction with a toy, game, or their favorite TV program.

Then once they’ve calmed down, have a chat with them about the “big emotions” they were feeling earlier so they can process them.

Activities for 16-month-old

Now, how to entertain a 16-month-old.

One of our Peanut moms’ favorite toddler activities is to encourage their little ones to help them around the house.

Tidying? Teach your 16-month-old where things go.

Cleaning? Arm them with a damp cloth to get scrubbing.

Laundry? It’s a perfect time for them to practice their color matching.

Toys for 16-month-old

For when the 16-month-old activities aren’t cutting it, or if you want something your little one can play with while you’re busy with other things, here are a few of our favorites:

1. Bluey 18" Stuffed Animal: What toddler doesn’t love Bluey? This jumbo plush is sure to quickly become their best friend.
2. Montessori Wooden Shape Sorting & Ring Stacking Toy: Sorting shapes and ring-stacking are some of the most popular toddler toys, and Montessori are one of the highest rated.
3. Little Tikes Go and Grow Lil' Rollin' Giraffe: Useful if your little one is crawling to encourage them to get on their feet.
4. Tuko Activity Table: A top-rated activity table to keep your toddler entertained.
5. Gojmzo Busy Board: Ideal for building their fine motor skills.
6. VTech Smart Shots Sports Center: Perfect for the sporty toddler.
7. Singing Dancing Talking Cat: Help your wordsmith develop their vocabulary.
8. Magnetic Drawing Board: All the fun of drawing with none of the mess!
9. Fisher-Price Little People Snack & Snooze: Because every toddler needs a doll to love.
10. Melissa & Doug Let's Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop!: To encourage your little one to help around the house.
11. My First Library: Boxset of 10 Board Books for Kids: Perfect for your little bookworm.
12. Banana Panda Match The Baby Puzzle: Another fantastic 16-month-old toy to get their brains whirring.

What words should my 16-month be saying?

By this stage, most babies have a vocabulary of at least 5 words in their mother tongue, and as many as about 20—as well as thousands of sounds that they string together to create their very own language.

Your baby is also communicating in all sorts of non-verbal ways.

If you are on the baby sign language train, words may just be another addition to the language you already have.

Is it normal for a 16-month-old not to talk?

While we’re not fans of the word “normal”, it can be worth paying a visit to your doctor if your 16-month-old hasn’t said their first word yet.

They might just be a little later than expected, but it’s worth checking it out, just in case, so you can find the best way to communicate with them.

How can I teach my 16-month-old to talk?

The best way to teach your 16-month-old to talk is to talk to them.

Ask them questions and answer them yourself.

Speaking about yourself in the third person and using their name whenever you talk to them can also help them link names to people, too.

How long should a 16-month-old sleep at night?

It varies from toddler to toddler, but generally speaking, most 16-month-olds tend to sleep for about 11 hours at night, along with 1-2 naps during the day (about 2-3 hours of napping in total during the day).

But 16-month-old sleep regression isn’t impossible, particularly if their sleeping schedule is changing as they’re growing.

Stick to the schedule, follow a bedtime routine, and know that this, too, shall pass.

What time should a 16-month-old go to bed?

It depends on when you want them to wake up for the day, but most of our Peanut mamas tend to put their 16-month-olds down for bed at about 7-8pm, to wake up at about 7am.

So it’s worth starting a bedtime routine about an hour and a half before you want them to go to bed so they can settle down and process the day.

How long can 16 month old stay awake?

Usually, a 16-month-old can stay awake for about 3-5 hours at a time before they’ll want a nap.

How many teeth should a 16-month-old have?

A typical 16-month-old will have anywhere from 4 to 12 teeth.

For most children, they’ll have a full set of 20 at about 3-2 years old.

So if your little one is teething, we’re sorry to say that you may have a few more months left to go.

You and your 16-month-old baby

It’s a lot. We know.

Suddenly you have to be all things for your 16-month-old.

An expert cook, a chief negotiator, a health and safety officer—not to mention a professional entertainer.

Throwing self-care into the mix may seem like a real stretch.

Lean on your partner, your parents, your Peanut mama friends ‒ you’ve got this.

🤰 Read next: 17-Month-Old Baby: Milestones & Development