At 14-months-old, your toddler’s personality is starting to come out in full force. Your little one is learning ways to express their independence, while also becoming aware of your presence and your absence, which can introduce separation anxiety and other 14-month-old milestones.
Your little one’s language is developing quickly, and they are beginning to show signs of affection. They are developing muscle strength and are learning to walk more independently, and even to push and pull objects.
There is so much to look forward to as you and your little one move further into the toddler phase. Continue reading to learn which 14-month-old milestones to look out for, what a 14-month-old sleep schedule looks like, and to discover activities for 14-month-old toddlers that can help them develop new skills, bond with their caregivers, and explore the world around them.
14-Month-Old Milestones
Here are some of the physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional milestones you can look forward to your 14-month-old meeting soon.
- They stop to squat down to grab an object while walking.
- They can follow simple, one-step instructions like “Pick up the toy.”
- They can insert objects into narrow spaces, like putting coins into a piggy bank.
- They imitate actions that they have seen adults do that involve more than one step, like taking a toy phone out of a purse and saying “Hello.”
- They point to familiar objects when you mention their name.
- They show affection to those familiar to them.
- They can carry an object, like a small toy, while walking.
- They stay balanced while standing without any help.
- They can push or pull toys while walking.
- They can hold a crayon with their whole fist.
- They can go from squatting down to standing up without any help.
- They are able to eat without help, with or without utensils.
Your child will reach their 14-month-old milestones in their own time and it is important to remember that every child is different. Babies who were born premature, for example, are expected to meet their milestones based on their adjusted age.
You can track your baby’s development, progress, and all their milestones by downloading the Kinedu app for free today!
14-Month-Old Sleep Schedule
Sleep is a critical part of making sure your 14-month-old is healthy, and able to reach their developmental milestones. Making sure your toddler gets enough sleep strengthens their immune system, supports neurological development, and helps them recover from and prepare for their busy days of learning and growing.
Your 14-month-old needs between 11 and 14 hours of sleep a day. Your toddler may need more or less sleep, but it is recommended that your toddler get no less than 9 hours of sleep and no more than 16 hours of sleep in a day.
Your little one may still be taking 2 naps each day that are about 1 hour to 90 minutes each or have transitioned to one longer nap each day. A simple 14-month-old sleep schedule might look like this:
- 7:00 – Wake Up
- 9:00 – Morning 1 hour – 90 minute nap
- 1:30 – Afternoon 1 hour – 90 minute nap
- 7:00 – Bedtime
One of the most important things you can do to encourage healthy sleep habits and a good night’s sleep for your 14-month-old is by following a sleep schedule and maintaining a consistent bedtime routine.
For more information or help with your 14-month-old’s sleep schedule, be sure to download Kinedu to join expert-led baby sleep classes.
Activities For 14-Month-Old Toddlers To Help Them Grow
As your toddler is growing and learning, it is so important to engage them in activities for 14-month-olds. These simple, fun exercises can be done at home, on the go, or anywhere you and your little one have some extra time to spend bonding, playing, and learning!
The more activities for 14-month-old children you introduce to your little one, the more you can reinforce their learning and help support their development.
Don’t forget to download the Kinedu app to access over 1,800 activities created by experts in Early Childhood Development!
Hula Time
- Development: Social and Emotional
- Goal: To strengthen the muscles your child needs for getting dressed.
- Skills Practiced: Self-care and autonomy
- Supplies Needed:
- 2 Hula Hoops
How To:
For this activity, find a place to play with your child. Place yourself inside one hula hoop and tell your little one to stand inside the other. Show them how to squat down to pick up the hula hoop and pass it all the way to the top of your head. Encourage them to squat and, when they reach the top, to extend their arms.
Help your toddler keep their balance when squatting. Practice this a few times. With this activity, your little one will strengthen the muscles they need for dressing themselves.
Imitating Animals
- Development: Linguistic
- Goal: To encourage your child to get to know the different animals and their sounds.
- Skills Practiced: First words
- Supplies Needed:
- Stuffed animals that make common sounds.
How To:
For this activity for 14-month-olds, find a place to sit with your little one. Take out a few plastic or stuffed animals. Show them to your child while you name them. See if they can recognize some of them on their own. Take one and say its name and demonstrate the sound it makes.
For example: “This is a cow. Moo.” Encourage your little one to imitate you by grabbing one of them and repeating the sound. Remind your toddler of all the sounds so they can identify and begin imitating them. This activity will encourage your toddler to use their language and imitation skills.
Paper Balls
- Development: Physical
- Goal: To practice making precise hand movements.
- Skills Practiced: Developing finger dexterity
- Supplies Needed:
- Paper squares of different colors
How To:
Begin this activity by giving your toddler small paper squares of various colors, showing them how to make paper balls. Now, allow them to try it, and help out if needed. Place the small balls in a glass bottle to make a beautiful vase. During this activity, you will be reinforcing your toddler’s fine motor skills as well as their coordination.
My Camping Tent
- Development: Social and Emotional
- Goal: To reinforce your child’s affective ties with you.
- Skills Practiced: Secure attachment
- Supplies Needed:
- Sheet
- Table
How To:
Complete this activity with your child and all their family members, where all of you together will make believe you are going camping in a camping tent. Improvise a tent by placing a sheet over a table and letting the ends fall all the way to the floor. Play guessing games, tell each other jokes, and have fun! This is a great bonding moment and will permit you to continue reinforcing the affective ties with your child.
Following the Rhythm
- Development: Cognitive
- Goal: To learn to play musical instruments.
- Skills Practiced: Developing musical skills
- Supplies Needed:
- Musical Instruments
- Music
How To:
Start this activity for 14-month-olds by giving your child musical instruments and allowing them to play with them freely. Ask your toddler to choose their favorite. Now, explain that you will play some music for them to hear. When the music is playing, tell them they will try and follow the rhythm of the music with their selected instrument.
When the music stops, they must also stop playing. You can have fun with your 14-month-old too! Grab an instrument and play along! During this activity, your child will be stimulating their brain’s right hemisphere, in charge of artistic expression and creativity.
Introducing simple, engaging, and fun activities for 14-month old toddlers is a great way to help them build skills, form attachments, and meet the exciting 14-month-old milestones.
To access more than 1,800 activities for your child at any age, created by experts in early childhood development, be sure to download Kinedu today!
