24-Month-Old Baby: Feeding, Sleep, and Milestones by Month

As your child reaches their second birthday, you’ll likely notice significant changes in their physical abilities, language skills, and social interactions. Reaching 2-year-old milestones represents an exciting time for you and your toddler as they approach 24 months with newfound independence and confidence. This article will explore key aspects of your 24-month-old’s growth, including feeding, sleep, and developmental milestones.

At 24 months, your toddler is advancing in several areas of development. Here’s what most 2-year-olds can do in the following areas:²

Your 24-month-old’s movement is becoming more refined, and they may be able to:^1,2,3

• Walk with confidence and balance
• Run without falling frequently and come to a stop from running
• Kick and throw a ball with better coordination
• Begin to balance on one foot or jump with both feet off the ground
• Walk (not climb) up or down a few stairs with support from holding a hand or railing

At this stage, their fine motor skills are improving rapidly, allowing your 24-month-old to:^1,2,3,4

• Draw basic shapes like circles and lines, showing control over their hand movements
• Turn the pages of a book independently
• Stack eight blocks and start building simple structures
• Complete puzzles with a few pieces
• Use utensils with more accuracy and precision, usually keeping them right-side-up and feeding themselves with a fork or spoon with less mess
• Turn knobs, flip switches, push buttons, and open containers on their own
• Show interest in dressing and undressing themselves, such as removing their pants or putting on their shoes
• Possibly start to show signs of hand dominance with whichever hand they use to throw, eat, or unscrew a lid

Language and Communication

Your toddler’s vocabulary is expanding significantly at 24 months! Wondering how many words a 2-year-old should know? They may be able to speak 50-100 words or more at this age, including simple phrases or sentences such as “Want cookie!” or “Big truck.” People they’re close to should understand their speech most of the time, and even unfamiliar adults should be able to understand them 50% or more of the time.⁵

Many 24-month-olds will also be able to:^1,2,3,4,6

• Follow simple two-step instructions, like “Pick up your toy and put it in the box”
• Ask “What’s this?” when they’re curious about new objects
• Begin to use pronouns like “me,” “you,” “my,” and “mine”
• Understand and use some prepositions like “on” or “under”
• Ask some basic questions like “Where’s mommy?” or “Why?”
• Use more complex gestures besides waving or pointing, such as sign language, shaking their head no, or blowing kisses
• Understand and use verbs or action words
• Enjoy listening to books

Social and Emotional Development

Social interactions become more complex as your toddler grows. They will:^1,2,3,7

• Begin to show signs of empathy, such as offering comfort to others or trying to help when someone is upset
• Gauge how to react in a situation by looking at your face for a reaction
• Participate in parallel play alongside (though not necessarily with) other children
• Possibly start to engage in simple cooperative play with other children (but parallel play predominates at age 2)
• Display more defiance or independence, expressing their desires or frustrations through tantrums
• Begin to recognize and label emotions like happy, sad, or angry
• Show an attachment to their favorite toys or comfort items (like a blanket or stuffed animal) and potentially seek out security objects

Your 24-month-old is becoming more aware of the world around them, demonstrating cognitive growth as they:^1,2,3

• Begin to understand concepts like “big” vs. “small” or “in” vs. “out” and sequence and timing words like “before” or “after” and taking turns
• Enjoy activities that involve problem-solving, such as shape sorters, cup stacking, or simple puzzles
• Imitate adult tasks, such as pretending to cook or clean or “taking care” of dolls and stuffed animals
• Understand how to use certain tools or writing instruments, even if you must demonstrate first
• Understand that they can use each hand for different tasks, like holding a jar in one hand and unscrewing the lid with the other
• Begin to conceptualize certain properties and ideas, like color and shape

Witnessing your child master their 2-year-old milestones is exciting and may fill you with pride! Supporting them with proper nutrition, sleep, and activities can also help them meet these targets.

At 24 months, your toddler should be eating three meals a day plus one to two snacks. Their average daily calories should be somewhere between 1,000 and 1,400, though this can vary greatly by the day and week, depending on their activity level and growth.⁸

Speaking of growth, anywhere from 22 to 34 pounds on average can be a normal weight for a 2-year-old, depending on the child’s sex and height. Meanwhile, the average 2-year-old height ranges from 31.5 to 37 inches, depending on the sex. If you’re concerned about your child’s size, their pediatrician should be able to reassure you or provide suggestions on their growth and nutrition.⁹

While it can be easy to get worked up over your toddler’s weight and diet, try to focus on their weekly nutrition instead of their nutrition in each meal or day. Offer the same variety of foods you feed the rest of the family, including balanced meals that support growth and development.⁸ Here are some general guidelines for what type of foods to feed a 24-month-old:⁴

• Protein: Meat, poultry, seafood, nuts (chopped), nut butters, eggs, beans, and tofu
• Fruits and vegetables: Fresh, cooked, frozen, or canned fruits and veggies in water or 100% fruit juice
• Grains: Whole-grain bread, pasta, rice, oats, and cereals
• Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.

A typical feeding schedule for a 24-month-old might look like:

7:30 a.m.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with peanut butter and berries
10:00 a.m.
Snack: Whole-grain crackers with cheese
12:00 p.m.
Lunch: Hard-boiled egg, thin-sliced apples, and yogurt
3:00 p.m.
Snack: Cucumber sticks and hummus
5:30 p.m.
Dinner: Baked chicken, roasted cubed sweet potatoes, and steamed broccoli

It’s important to continue offering a variety of foods, as picky eating can become more common at this age. Be patient, and avoid making mealtime stressful by eating meals together as a family and offering new foods alongside familiar favorites.⁸

Sleep remains a critical aspect of your toddler’s well-being at 24 months. But exactly how much sleep does a 2-year-old need? Many children this age should have 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including one nap during the afternoon. In the past six months, your child likely dropped from two naps down to one, but they should hang onto this one nap until at least age 3, if possible.¹⁰

Naps are essential to a 24-month-old’s daily routine; they help with memory, learning, language, and even motor skills.¹⁰ Therefore, adequate daytime and nighttime sleep aids them in reaching those 2-year-old milestones! Your child’s nap may last between one and three hours — just be sure it ends at least three to four and a half hours before their nightly bedtime to protect overnight sleep.

A 2-year-old’s bedtime can vary depending on their nap wake time and your family’s schedule. Sticking to a routine is more important than the specific hour or minute, but here’s a sample 2-year-old sleep schedule:¹⁰

7:00 a.m.
Daily wake up
1:00 p.m.
Naptime
3:00 p.m.
Nap wake up
7:30 p.m.
Bedtime

It’s important to keep a consistent daily schedule and bedtime routine to help your toddler anticipate sleep and settle in for the night. A quiet, calming routine that includes activities like taking a bath, reading a book, and dimming the lights can signal to your child that it’s time for sleep.^10,20

Toddlers love routine, so creating a predictable schedule is beneficial for your 24-month-old. It can help them feel secure and understand what to expect throughout the day.¹⁰ Here’s an example of a typical daily schedule for a 24-month-old:

7:00 a.m.
Wake up, diaper change, get dressed
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast and clean up
8:30 a.m.
Free play
9:00 a.m.
Morning walk or outdoor play
10:00 a.m.
Morning snack
10:30 a.m.
Creative play, such as art or make-believe
12:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m.
Nap
3:00 p.m.
Afternoon snack
3:30 p.m.
Music and dancing
4:30 p.m.
Child helps with dinner prep or has free play
5:30 p.m.
Dinner and clean up
6:30 p.m.
Bath time
7:00 p.m.
Bedtime routine
7:30 p.m.
Bedtime

You can adjust this schedule based on your toddler’s and family’s unique needs, but setting a daily rhythm helps with transitions and emotional stability.

At 24 months, common illnesses are frequent. It can feel like your child is always developing a new illness (and often bringing it home to you!), but with time and exposure, their immune system will continue to mature.¹⁵ Wash hands frequently and focus on proper hydration and nutrition, and your household should be restored to health before you know it. Additionally, it’s important to continue immunization schedules to protect against serious illnesses. So, make sure to stay on top of vaccinations as advised by your pediatrician.¹⁶

Here are some common illnesses to be aware of and monitor your 24-month-old for:

Contact your pediatrician if your child has a high or persistent fever (over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for three or more days). You should also contact them if your child has other concerning symptoms alongside the fever, such as lethargy, extreme fussiness, or appearing very sick.¹¹

Unfortunately, toddlers can have six to eight (or more) colds per year, especially if they’re in daycare. The common cold can cause a sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, an earache, green mucus, and a cough. These symptoms can last nearly two weeks, but if they persist or worsen, contact your child’s pediatrician.¹²

The common cold, congestion, allergies, swimmer’s ear, dental pain, and ear infections can all cause ear pain. Your child may be unable to articulate that they’re experiencing ear pain, so watch for signs like pulling at the ears, fussiness, or trouble sleeping. True ear infections can be caused by either viruses or bacteria, and only bacterial infections will improve with antibiotics. If your child is experiencing persistent ear pain, take them to the pediatrician, who will examine your child to determine if they may benefit from antibiotics.¹²

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, pain, or fever could signal a stomach virus or gastroenteritis. Ensure your child stays hydrated with an oral rehydration solution, and be sure to have everyone wash their hands regularly and sanitize high-touch surfaces and restrooms during an infection. Don’t share food or drinks with your child to mitigate the spread of the virus.¹³

Rashes can be caused by a virus, a contact reaction, allergies, heat, medications, and more. If a rash accompanies difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If other rashes don’t go away, are widespread over the body, or move to sensitive areas like the face, hands, or groin, you should contact a doctor.¹⁴

At 24 months, your toddler is eager to explore and develop new skills. Here are some fun activities that promote growth:

• Construction games: Help your child create towers and buildings using blocks, magnetic tiles, or building bricks like Legos. This activity helps them pursue goals, learn about gravity (as their towers fall over), and strengthen their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.^17,22
• Imaginative play: Encourage your toddler to engage in pretend play with dolls, animals, or kitchen toys to foster their creativity and social development. Participate in their imaginary world to bond with them as well. You can use pretend props and make the storyline simple to keep your child engaged.¹⁸
• Simple puzzles: Two- to four-piece puzzles are perfect for your 24-month-old and can help with their problem-solving and fine motor skills. Doing puzzle play at age 2 can even help foster spatial awareness later on when your toddler reaches age 4 or 5.¹⁹
• Outdoor activities: Riding a tricycle, climbing on a jungle gym, or going on a nature walk all help develop gross motor skills. These activities can also expose your child to sunlight during the day, which will promote sound sleep.¹⁰

It can be overwhelming to feel like you have to entertain your 24-month-old all day. But when in doubt, follow their lead! They’ll guide you toward their interests, and you may enjoy doing an activity they love. If you’re running out of ideas, involve them in whatever you’re doing! My almost 2-year-old loves to “help” load the laundry into the washing machine, mop the floors, or mix up dinner on her helper stool.

Safety is the top priority for parents of explorative toddlers. As they become more mobile and curious, they may get into risky situations if not closely supervised. Keep these safety tips in mind:

You should only allow eating when your little one is seated upright. Always cut food into small, manageable pieces, and avoid foods like whole grapes or hard candy. Also, be aware of nonfood choking hazards, such as marbles, dice, small game pieces, and button batteries.⁴

To avoid falls, teach your child not to climb on high furniture and countertops. Keep sharp furniture corners padded, and install safety gates on stairs or keep stairway doors locked. Also, keep your furniture away from any window openings and balconies, which your child could climb over and fall off of. In addition, ensure that windows can’t be opened more than 4 inches.^4,21

Never leave your toddler unattended near water, whether they’re in a pool, bathtub, or even near a bucket of water. Close the bathroom door and toilet lid. Empty any buckets and pools as soon as you’re done using them. Teach your child to stay away from water, and consider having them take swimming lessons, but don’t trust that your child will be able to swim sufficiently in a drowning situation.⁴

Ensure your toddler is securely strapped in an appropriate car seat based on their size and weight. Keep them in a car seat (which should be properly installed) as long as their size will allow, and keep them in the back seat until at least age 12. Also, never leave your child unattended in a car.⁴

To avoid burns, never leave hot liquids or handles near the edge of a surface where they can be spilled. Keep children away from hot appliances like burners, hot plates, ovens, irons, and hair styling tools. You can prevent scalding by setting your water heater to no higher than 120 F. You should also check your smoke detectors regularly, create a fire escape plan, and not allow smoking in your home.⁴

Additionally, it’s important to protect your little one’s skin from the sun. To prevent your child from getting sunburned, apply mineral sunscreen 30 minutes before any sun exposure and make sure to reapply every couple of hours.⁴

Store toxic chemicals like cleaning supplies, medications, and other hazardous items out of reach or in locked cabinets. It’s best to store all chemicals in their original containers and supervise your child at others’ homes so they don’t accidentally come into contact with any dangerous chemicals. If any accidental ingestions do occur, contact poison control right away.⁴

Your new 2-year-old will continue to grow, develop, and learn by the day! Witnessing their growth and assisting them can be both challenging and rewarding. By keeping a consistent routine, focusing on healthy eating, and providing opportunities for exploration, you can support their learning and ensure they reach their 2-year-old milestones with confidence. Don’t forget to cherish these moments as your toddler’s personality and abilities continue to blossom!