Babies this age are maturing rapidly, and so is their understanding of the surrounding world. As they grow, they'll be seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching things that are all new.
Sight
Between 1 and 2 years old, your baby's sight will improve dramatically. By age 2, these young toddlers usually have 20/20 vision and can see details and appreciate all colors.
Your role is to provide pleasant, stimulating visual information. Picture books, colorful toys, and kids their own age are great things for babies to look at and learn about. Steer clear of disturbing or scary images, though — your toddler is not able to distinguish between the real and the imaginary yet.
Take your little one on frequent outings. The park, the grocery store, and a friend's house can all provide interesting and novel sights.
Hearing
No matter when toddlers say their first words, they'll already understand much of what is said to them before that. Your child should be able to respond to commands ("Roll the ball to Mommy or Daddy") and be fully aware of the names of familiar objects and family members.
By about 15 months, your child will be able to point to different body parts, even if he or she can't yet tell you their different names. This shows that your baby's hearing is functioning well and language skills are developing.
Although toddlers know a handful of words, most still indicate their wants and ideas in nonverbal ways. They enjoy the other pleasures of hearing: listening to children's songs and music, laughing and yelling with friends in the park, or having you read a bedtime story.
Taste and Smell
With their newfound language skills toddlers will tell you which tastes they prefer and which they dislike. At this age most like bland foods the best. Pasta, dairy, and chicken tend to be favorites.
But don't forget to offer a variety of foods to taste — fight the urge to serve only what your little one likes. Research shows that it can take a few attempts before a child will accept a new flavor. Just keep providing opportunities to try new things, and one day your child will surprise you by accepting!
Help your child label tastes and smells by using descriptive words during meals or trips to restaurants.
Touch
Although toddlers may seem too busy to enjoy a cuddle or kiss, such affection is still a necessary part of their lives. Your child is experiencing and understanding so much more, but still needs to feel loved and secure. Take every opportunity to show this.
Don't forget that little fingers this age will be into everything. Hopefully you've already childproofed your home well, but take another look around from a toddler perspective and put unsafe items out of reach. Then you can encourage your child to touch and learn as much as possible.
Toddlers also start to use their hands to show frustration or look for attention, so don't be surprised if your little one starts hitting. Although very common, teach your child that hands are not for hitting. Initially, finding a distraction may be all that is needed; however, using "time-outs" may be necessary if the hitting persists.
Should I Be Concerned?
By now you have probably addressed any concerns you've had about your baby's eyesight, but be sure to contact your doctor if any of these irregularities develop:- eyes that wander in or out
- inability to see or recognize distant objects or people
- persistent tearing, fluid discharge, crusting, or redness of the eyes
- eyes that don't move together
- frequent squinting or sensitivity to light
- droopy eyelids
- pupils of different sizes
- excessive eye rubbing or scratching
Don't hesitate to report any concerns to your doctor, especially if you feel your child is not babbling or responding to your speech patterns. Chronic ear infections can sometimes leave kids with excessive fluid buildup that can interfere with healthy hearing. Special tests can check for hearing loss at any age.
It's common for parents to feel concerned or frustrated with their toddler's behavior, as kids love to touch and explore everything. They're naturally very busy and curious little people, so it's important to make sure that yours has a safe environment to explore. If you're not sure about how to guide your toddler's behavior, talk to your doctor.
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