13–18 months

✅Key checklist for this stage

• At 15–18 months in Korea: DTaP dose 4.
• Hepatitis A dose 2 is given 6–12 months after dose 1. Check the next Japanese encephalitis date too.
• Prepare for the fourth infant health checkup (18–24 months) and the first infant dental checkup (18–29 months).
• Switch from bottles to cups, and eat meals together as a family.
• Keep screens to a minimum, such as video calls.
• If your toddler is not walking alone or has no meaningful words by 18 months, discuss it at a checkup.

🧠Development

Most children start walking alone in this period, and by about 18 months they walk well without holding on. They crawl up stairs, climb onto sofas, and try to throw a ball. They scribble with crayons, stack two or three blocks, and try to use a spoon.

Beyond 'mama' and 'dada', a few words appear, and they understand far more than they can say. They follow simple directions like 'bring your shoes' and point to show you something, then look at you. Pretend play, like feeding a doll, begins.

🌋Tantrums and big feelings

Toddlers want to do a lot but cannot yet say it in words, so tantrums increase. Tantrums are a common part of development at this age; they do not mean the child is bad or the parent is doing something wrong.

• If it is safe, wait a moment, then name the feeling once they calm down, like 'you were upset'.
• Say no briefly and consistently, and redirect to something they can do.
• Small choices, like 'this cup or that cup', reduce power struggles.
• Do not hit or yell as punishment. It teaches aggression and harms the relationship.
• Hunger and tiredness fuel tantrums, so keep meal and nap routines.

🍽️Eating and sleep

Toddlers eat softly cooked food at the family table. Appetite goes up and down, and suddenly refusing a favorite food is common. Parents decide what and when to offer; the child decides how much to eat. Foods they refused become familiar if offered again many times.

Move from bottles to cups. Give milk in moderation and make water the main drink. Keep avoiding choking hazards such as whole nuts, whole grapes, rice cakes, and hard candy, or cut them small.

Total sleep including naps is roughly 11–14 hours a day, and many toddlers move to one nap around this time. A consistent bedtime routine helps night sleep.

🩺Health, vaccines, checkups

Under Korea's national immunization schedule, DTaP dose 4 is given at 15–18 months, and hepatitis A dose 2 6–12 months after dose 1. Japanese encephalitis schedules differ by vaccine type, so check the next date. The flu vaccine is given every year.

In Korea, the fourth infant health checkup is at 18–24 months and the first infant dental checkup at 18–29 months. They include growth and developmental screening and advice on language, behavior, eating habits, and tooth care. Parents should brush twice a day with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste.

🛡️Safety and screens

• Walking and climbing raise the risk of falls. Check window locks and stair gates.
• Keep cleaning products, medicines, and button batteries up high with child locks.
• In parking lots and by the road, always hold hands or carry your child. Toddlers are hard to see behind cars.
• Stay within arm's reach near water and in the bath.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises avoiding screens other than video chat before 18–24 months, and WHO does not recommend screen time for children under 2.

🎵Play and connection

• Echo what your child says and add a little (for example, 'water' → 'do you want to drink water?').
• Look at picture books every day, point to pictures, and ask 'what's this?'.
• Kicking balls, push-and-pull toys, and outdoor play get them moving.
• Do simple chores together (tidying toys, putting away socks) and praise their help.

💉Vaccines & checkups in this stage

• General checkup 4 — Age 18–24 months
• Dental checkup 1 — Age 18–29 months

Korea's Childhood Vaccine Schedule →   Infant and Child Health Checkups →

💬FAQ