My, how time flies! Your toddler may always be your baby, but, well … she’s not really a baby anymore now that she’s turning 2 years old. Intellectually, that little brain is bursting with activity, arranging dogs and cats into the animal category, pants and shirts into the clothing category.
Your child's memory is also much more sophisticated than just a few months ago. She’s beginning to understand abstract concepts such as “now” versus “later” and “more” versus “fewer.” It’s been quite the journey — with many fun firsts to come — but there may be a few backward steps along the way too.
Here’s what else you can expect from your 2-year-old. Your toddler may be surprisingly self-sufficient these days — she can take off her socks by herself (and not always when or where you’d like) and “feed” her dolly. Your little one can speak and be understood about half the time, and may even be able to carry on a (very) brief conversation … which can lead to some not-so-pretty forms of expression, like whining, screaming and full-out tantrums. Her moods can vary wildly, with your toddler going from being happy and upbeat one minute to angry and upset the next. Tots this age are known for their big ways of expressing themselves no matter what they're feeling. Talk about dramatic! And don’t be surprised by your little one's compulsion to ask the question “why?” about a thousand times a day. She’s just eager to learn — and even if she knows the answer, she gets a real kick out of eliciting a response from you. Potty training mishaps can also occur around this time — usually the result of an emotional control issue, not a physical one — as can a sudden fear of the kindly pediatrician whom she’s known all her life. Fears of doctors, dentists and haircuts are, in fact, pretty common. Speaking of bumps in the road, lots of children — even those who used to sleep like logs — may start waking in the night, which is not pleasant for anyone involved. The cause of these toddler sleep problems? It could be erupting molars, nightmares or night terrors, fear of the dark, illness or even stress. Your goal: Figure out the problem so you can fix it — and get back to bed! At 2 years old, your toddler is growing, growing, grown — to a length that just might predict her future height. Most 2-year-old girls weigh 19½ to 32½ pounds and measure 31½ to 36½ inches tall. Boys typically weigh 21 to 33½ pounds and measure 32 to 37 inches tall. In fact, so much growth has happened these past 24 months that, by now, children have generally reached half of their adult height — so simply doubling their current length can give you a rough guesstimate of your tot's future stature. As for your toddler’s body shape — chubby thighs, pinchable cheeks, bigger belly — she’s likely to slim down as she gets older, especially if she’s within an average height and weight percentiles right now. Still, if you suspect that your child is showing signs of being overweight, talk to your doctor. You can expect the pediatrician to track your child’s height, weight and head circumference on a growth chart for at least another year; after 3 years old, doctors will likely just track weight, height and body mass index. Time for the 2-year well-child visit — and possibly a newfound fear of the doctor. Are you ready to bid bye-bye to the crib? While there’s no one right time to transition to a big-kid bed, toddlers should ideally stay in their cribs until as close to age 3 as possible. If, on the other hand, your child is 35 inches tall or is trying to climb out of the crib, it may be time to make the move. To help your toddler feel more comfortable with the change, try to put the bed in the same place where the crib was, and let her nap in it a few times before sleeping there at night. Keep the bedtime routine the same too — mixing it up now might make the transition even more overwhelming. Crooked teeth. A gap-toothed grin. Even at their most imperfect, baby teeth can be pretty darn cute. What looks adorable on a toddler, though, might not be as cute on an adult. Luckily, there’s no need to start saving up for braces just now — there’s no direct link between crooked baby teeth and crooked permanent ones. If, however, your tot’s pearly whites are looking a little less-than-white, she could be showing signs of tooth decay. Baby tooth enamel is thinner than the permanent kind, which makes them easier targets for plaque. Try to limit sugary foods and drinks and brush your toddler’s teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. Some toddlers find comfort in a portable security object, like a toy or a blanket, but others never take to one — and that’s just fine. Look on the bright side: There’s no need for you to drag around a blanket or lovey all time, no fear of losing it during a trip to Grandma’s, and no trying to persuade your child to leave it at home every time she goes to day care. Around the age of 2, toddlers start jumping. First, your child will leap in place on one foot, then take flight on both feet. Does she need a hand getting off the ground? Have your toddler lean on you during those first attempts. As your tot gets better, have her stretch out her arms to the sides or put her hands on her hips when she jumps, both of which will help with balance. Thinking about switching your 2-year-old to a toddler bed? Tots who are taller than 35 inches should be moved to a big-kid bed (at that height, they can topple over the bars), but with great freedom may come … lots of nighttime wanderings (“Can I have a drink of water?”). Here are a few safety precautions to take: Childproof your toddler’s bedroom. Cover any radiators or electric fans that aren’t childproofed, and move tripping hazards, like furniture and cords, out of the way. Make sure there are guards on the windows and that window blind cords are secured out of reach. Block off the door. To prevent your toddler from leaving the bedroom (and heading straight for the stairs or bathroom), either close the door or install a gate across the open doorway. Set up a nighttime policy. Do your little one’s nighttime wanderings take her straight to your bed? Tempting as it is to invite your tot in, you might want to take her back to her own room. Sit by her bed for a bit if she needs some reassurance, and remind your child that at nighttime, she sleeps in her own bed. What brings on a fear of the vacuum cleaner or the toilet? Growing up, actually. Your toddler knows more now than she did six months ago, and her mind has plenty of fodder for frightening scenarios. Your child is able to understand cause and effect, but can’t yet sort out the realistic from the unrealistic. If the vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt, can it also suck up me? If water gets flushed down the toilet, could I also get flushed down? Given your toddler’s growing imagination and newfound sense of vulnerability, try to steer clear of what scares her — within reason. You can’t avoid every loud noise, but you can avoid the neighbor with the barking dog. And when you have to run the vacuum? Let your little one play with it while it’s turned off, which may allow her to see that it’s not so scary after all. Some tots are out of diapers by the age of 2. Others aren’t potty trained until preschool. As with most other milestones, every child is one-of-a-kind. Up until the age of 20 months, toddlers pee so frequently that potty training is probably unrealistic. Older toddlers may be ready to start potty training if they show the following signs: You’re changing fewer wet diapers. If your little one is staying dry for an hour or two at a time, and occasionally wakes up without a wet diaper, she may be physically ready for potty training. Bowel movements are becoming predictable. Does she go number two right after dinner? Just before she goes to bed? A regular schedule will help you anticipate when to pull out the potty. Your tot is aware that she’s going. If your child announces that she’s going to pee — whether she shouts it out loud (“I go pee-pee!”) or hides in a corner and tugs at her diaper — she’s aware enough of her bodily functions to start potty training.Your 2-year-old child’s development
At a Glance
Your 2-year-old child’s growth
Your 2-year-old child’s health & care
Toddler tips & info
Reviewed March 22, 2022 From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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