16-18 Months Old: A Comparison



Nadia at 16 months (October 2009)

 1. Two weeks before Nadia turned 18 months old she weighed 24lb 14oz (64th percentile). One day before Ian turns 18 months old he weighs 23lb 15oz (25th percentile).

2. At 17 months old Nadia's vocabulary exceeded 40 words and included 3 syallble words such as "basketball" and two word combinations like "panda bear." Ian babbles a lot but presently doesn't really say any words. Some of Nadia's vocabulary at this age included: lunch, dinner, cookie, apple, pretzel, ice (cream), water, cracker, hot, bagel, cheese, bottle, hotdog, pizza, yummy, star, moon, kitty, doggie, tiger, turtle, hi, hello, bye bye, night night, eye, elbow, knee, toes, Daddy, Mommy, Grandma, Grandpa, PopPop, Lane, Abbey, Bob, ball, sticker, book, yes, no, uh oh, ah choo, all done, tickle, pop, up, down, push, draw, baby, wet, grass, out, house, wall, diaper, yucky, hat, shoes, and tissue.

3. Both children wanted to be outside ALL the time during this age span! Nadia was into collecting rocks.

Ian at 16 months (April 2011)

4. Nadia's first animal sounds were for a dog, cat, cow, sheep, bee, and tiger. She made all of those by 16 months. Ian's first animal sounds (by 17 months) were for a duck, lion, and cat. Of these three his best (by far) is his roar sound. His roar is better than Nadia's was at that age.

5. Nadia could identify far more body parts at age 16 months than Ian could at 17 months. Her favorite was definitely the belly button. Ian's favorites are my nose and ears, particularly if I'm wearing earrings.

6. Nadia did a much better job at responding to the word "no" during this age span than Ian. In particular he has a really hard time sitting in the bathtub. He wants to STAND.

7. Ian likes to go right up to the tv (as in he's holding on to the entertainment center). We have a constant battle to keep him back a reasonable distance. This was never an issue with Nadia.

8. Ian's fine motor skills are much better than Nadia's were at this age. He can put a small person (much smaller than "Little People") in a car or Lego pieces together. He's excellent at figuring out how to operate things with buttons that can be pushed.

Nadia at 18 months (12/24/2009)

9. Ian does a much better job of putting things on himself, and he loves to wear things (hats, necklaces, backpacks, jackets, etc.). He also spends far more time independently playing with toys (especially balls and vehicles)and looking at books than Nadia did.

10. Ian has 4 teeth (3 on the bottom); his third and fourth teeth came in very recently. Nadia had 12 teeth before she was 16 months old. She didn't get any new teeth during this age span.

11. During this age span Nadia would eat anything we offered her. This ended soon after she turned 18 months, but it sure was nice up until that point! Ian of course didn't want to eat anything by spoon during this span. Nadia was on table foods (pizza, chicken fingers, quesadillas, etc.). All of Ian's food comes by way of the Magic Bullet. Ian still drinks his milk (EleCare) warm. We transitioned Nadia to cold milk around 18 months.

12. Ian is wearing size 18 month clothing with the exception of pants (12 months). At 18 months old Nadia was wearing 18 month clothing except for dresses and pjs (24 months).

Ian one day before he turned 18 months old

13. Nadia was still taking 2 naps a day during this age span whereas Ian was only having one afternoon nap a day. She took her naps in her crib. He takes his naps in my arms or in a nursery worker's arms. Nadia slept an average of 11 hours at night. Ian improved a lot in how long he slept during this age span. He had to stay in the crib for at least 10 hours. For quite awhile that was difficult for him, but by 17 months he started sleeping 11 hours and sometimes as long as 12 hours for the first time in his life!

14. Ian puts his hands in his hair while he's eating All The Time, which isn't good because there is usually food on his hands. Nadia didn't ever have this bad habit although she had the habit of biting things like books which Ian has never done. I have to wash some of his hair after every feeding, which he doesn't like At All.

15. It was much easier to change Nadia's diaper. Ian is such a wiggle worm while I change his diaper, plus he often puts his hand down yonder before I've finished wiping him. Yuck! It was also much easier to clip Nadia's nails. Ian just recently has stopped screaming and flailing while I try to clip his nails.

16. Ian constantly tries to get into my purse and to open doors. Nadia has never at any stage been very interested in either activity. Ian loved being in a swing at this age (for the first time) whereas Nadia loved it from a much younger age.

17. Ian does much better with traveling in the car than Nadia did at this age, although she didn't have a DVD player at that point. He also does much better with being in the stroller. He actually LIKES to be in the stroller! I have to strap him in though, which I never did with Nadia or he'll try to get out (head first).

18. Nadia was (and continues to be) scared of loud noises - the lawn mower, blowdryer, and vacuum for example. Ian runs toward the lawn mower, vacuum, etc. He's definitely not scared of them!

19. Nadia loved to sit on Paul's basketball when she was this age. Ian loves to throw things. It's a habit we need to break ASAP. He hurls his sippy cup whenever he's done for example.

20. Ian is more of a "mommy's boy" than Nadia was at this age. Nadia could have been consoled by either Mommy or Daddy. For Ian, it must be Daddy. I always thought Nadia was a great hugger, and she has given great bear hugs for a long time, but Ian actually gives an even tighter squeeze, which I didn't think possible! Nadia was much better with being in the church nursery. She loved Sarah when she was this age. Ian still cries whenever I drop him off. He doesn't like to be separated from me, even if it means he'll be with Daddy.