How babies develop at 16 months

Appointments and activities – What's coming up in month 16?

Dentist: For the first dentist appointment there is no perfect time. The dental care is, however, very important from the start. If you haven't yet taken your child to a dentist, now is the right time. Take your child with you when you have your own check-up appointment. This way the practice can already be explored and the little ones can see what happens – namely nothing bad. Maybe the dentist can also playfully examine the teeth and give you good tips on caring for baby teeth.
Playing in the sandbox: Not only do little ones like to play around with their food. In the sandbox they can also dig, shovel and knead to their heart's content. A visit to the playground is therefore just the right thing for your toddler. On the climbing frame it can satisfy its urge to move, and in the sandbox digging and experimenting is allowed. In good weather you can make real mud with a little water – don't be afraid of dirty clothes!

Walking independently: The first independent steps are not uncommon in this developmental phase! Where a support or a helping hand was previously necessary, your child may now manage the first steps entirely on their own. Regular practice is now needed. In addition, your baby wants to find out what it's like to walk on different surfaces – perhaps on the lawn in the garden instead of on the carpet in the living room.
Balance: Your child can now control their body much better and hold their balance more skillfully. For example, when walking (preferably still with your helping hand) they can turn around to look behind them without losing their balance.
Creativity and play: In the 16th month, the baby not only likes to build tall towers with blocks or enjoys sorting and stacking toys; it also likes to create its own artworks with pen and paper and scribbles imaginative designs.
Language development: Your baby now has a larger active vocabulary – and the number of words it understands, even if it doesn't use them yet, is even bigger. The toddler can already say its own name and recognizes more and more objects.

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