15 month old baby milestones: Development, growth, speech, language, and more

Your 15 month old is entering the toddler years, which is an exciting time filled with many important milestones. At the same time, it’s understandable for parents to feel a bit confused. How does a 15 month old toddler act and think differently than an infant? Should they be talking? Are there new safety upgrades around the home to consider? 

In this article, we’ll cover the most important 15 month milestones to watch for as your baby approaches this age, including speech milestones and development (language development, physical development, and emotional development!). 

We’ll also give you a handy 15 month development checklist, and share tips to support your baby’s development.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

15 month old baby milestones at a glance

15 month developmental milestones

15 month milestone checklist

Tips to support a 15 month old’s development

Takeaway

15 month developmental milestones FAQ

15 month old baby milestones at a glance

At a year and 3 months, your toddler is in a period of rapid development. Doctors consider the 15 month mark a significant milestone in your child’s life [1,2]. Here’s why:

Development: At 15 months, most babies are starting to take a few steps on their own – walking (or maybe wobbling at this point) out of their baby years and into toddlerhood. 

15 month old toddlers may say their first words – including the basics like “mama,” “dada,” and other simple words for things around them (like maybe your family pet’s name). They may show you more affection and love at the 15 month mark, though it’s common for them to experience some tantrums and separation anxiety too.

Sleep: At 15 months, we recommend trying for around 13 hours of total sleep. This looks like about 11 hours every night and 1 - 2 naps during the day. Most babies this age need about 4 - 5 hours of awake time before bed to be sufficiently tired. If your toddler is taking 2 naps and sleeping less than 10 hours at night, that’s a good indication that your little one is ready to transition to a 1-nap schedule.

Keep in mind that sleep needs are unique to each child, and the range of what's normal and healthy can vary. Although general guidelines offer a baseline for recommended sleep hours, observing your child's mood and energy is equally vital. These observations can help to determine their specific sleep requirements.

Feeding: As solid foods become the primary source of nutrition, most toddlers grow more confident with their eating skills. At 15 months, it’s recommended to offer 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, toddlers aged 1 - 3 need around 40 calories per day for every inch of height. [3] Milk (whether animal, plant-based, or breast milk) can be used as a beverage rather than a meal, as solids likely will take up a majority of their diet.

15 month developmental milestones

The 15 month mark is an important milestone in your baby’s development. You can look forward to all sorts of exciting changes.

Physical development at 15 months

One of the biggest 15 month old milestones is that your baby is now moving around a lot more independently.

Gross motor milestones

At 15 months, most babies are in the midst of transitioning into the toddler stage. This means, in big part, that they’re now “toddling” around (pun intended) to take their first steps. This newfound independence often means that your child is now getting into, well, everything. They’re eager to test their legs and may be busy running, climbing, and exploring. As a parent, it’s not unusual to feel a little more tired at this age! It’s a good time to consider if your home needs childproof updates, such as gating stairs or locking cabinets.

Fine motor milestones

15 month olds are typically able to carry things, stack things, and use two fingers to try to feed themselves. This is also when you might start finding items in different places than you left them!

Appetite 

Your child is still growing rapidly, but growth does start to slow around the 2-year mark. You may notice a decrease in your baby’s interest in food but it’s still important to offer three meals and a few snacks a day. Even when they aren’t ingesting food, they are gaining valuable skills by sitting at the table and interacting with a variety of foods. [4] If you’re concerned about their growth, be sure to talk to your child’s healthcare provider.

Speech and language development at 15 months

Some of the most delightful 15 month milestones are the changes in how your baby communicates. As you read over the following, don’t be too concerned if your 15 month old’s language skills aren’t yet at this level. However, do talk to your doctor if you're concerned about how your little one is communicating [5].

Verbal and language skills

Most 15 month old babies can say a few very basic words, including names for caregivers (like “mama” or “dada”) and a few other words for things they use or see all the time. They might know simple words like “ball,” “doggy,” or “no”.

Don’t be alarmed if this doesn’t quite sound like a real word yet (“ball” may sound more like “bah,” for example).

Understanding commands

On top of budding language skills, 15 month olds are also learning about other ways to communicate. They’re more able to understand simple verbal commands, even if they can’t say the words. For example, they may know to open their mouth when hearing, “Say ahhh!” or look at an object when you name it. 

Pointing and gesturing

They can also point to things to communicate their desires – like pointing to a dog they want to pet or a toy to play with. This rapid language development can make interacting with your toddler a bit easier. Plus, you’re learning about their interests!

Social and emotional development at 15 months

Transitioning into toddlerhood also means that your baby is meeting lots of social and emotional development milestones as well.

Shows affection and emotion

At 15 months, babies may start showing more affection. They might do this by hugging, cuddling, or kissing you. They may also find other ways to show you how they feel, like clapping when they’re excited or using a wider range of facial expressions.

Temper tantrums

Though they can catch parents off guard, temper tantrums are a way for babies to show you how they feel. Although 15 month olds might be saying some words, at this age, they don’t yet have the skills to tell you how they’re feeling. Through tantrums, they’re able to show just how upset they are.

Separation anxiety

You might notice your little one showing more signs of separation anxiety when they’re away from you. Some babies - including ones who might have been happy to be held by anyone as infants - may show a strong preference for a caregiver(s) at this age. While it’s difficult to experience as a parent, it’s helpful to know this is a good thing. When babies have built a healthy and secure attachment with you, they naturally feel safer when you’re nearby [6].

Mimicking behaviors

Toddlers at this age may copy others’ behaviors. For example, you might see them mimicking other children while playing together. They may watch you use items around the house and try to use them in the “right” way – like pretending to “cook” with pots and pans instead of banging them around. 

15 month milestone checklist

Here is a general checklist of milestones that some babies will reach at 15 months. 

But remember that every child is unique, and there’s a pretty wide range of “normal” when it comes to the exact age at which children reach milestones. Some 15 month olds may have reached some of these milestones months ago, while others won’t meet them for several more months. 

You know your child best – and if you think they’re not developing or if they’re losing skills they once had, then don’t wait to ask for support. Early intervention is proven to be the most effective. [7] If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, it’s best to talk to their doctor.

Milestones to watch for at 15 months:

• Says (or tries to say) 1 to 3 other simple words on top of names referring to caregivers like “mama,” “amma,” “papa,” “abba,” and “dada”

• Can walk or run on their own

• Stacks two blocks or other objects

• Points or gestures to ask for something

• Copies you or others when playing

• Gives kisses and/or cuddles

• Claps when happy or excited

• Can identify 1 to 6 body parts

• Tries to use things the “right” way (e.g., trying to brush their hair with the brush)

• Can feed themselves with fingers

Tips to support a 15 month old’s development

There are so many ways you can support your toddler as they navigate 15 month developmental milestones.

Tip #1: Build upon your baby’s speech

As your baby enters into their toddler years, they’ll continue to build their vocabulary. You can help your child with their language development by building upon the words they already say.

For example, if they say “Ball” (as they reach towards the ball), you can say, “Yes, that’s a ball! That’s a big, red, ball. Would you like to play with the ball?”. This adds context to the words your baby knows and helps them learn additional vocabulary as well. [8]

Tip #2: Sing songs with gestures

Songs with gestures, like Itsy Bitsy Spider, can be a great way to give your child opportunities to mimic you. Mimicking behavior is a milestone at 15 months – it’s a critical part of learning and development for toddlers and helps them grow prosocial and cognitive skills [9]. So the more chances they get to practice, the better.

Tip #3: Change your perspective on tantrums

You may notice more screaming, crying, and hitting than before when your little one is upset. Tantrums are normal! These tantrums indicate that they are feeling overwhelmed and tend to escalate when they’re tired or hungry.

These big feelings can be incredibly difficult to navigate as a parent. It’s natural to feel frustrated, and you may even feel helpless – but try to be patient and respond with a calm voice. At this age, it can be most helpful to try to distract your baby away from whatever is upsetting them. For example, engage your child in a challenge (Let’s see how fast you can put your toys away!), use humor to make your child laugh, or ask your child a question. Remember that, for your baby, these tantrums are often the only way they know how to express themselves.

Tip #4: Encourage self-feeding 

At 15 months, your baby may use their fingers to feed themselves. As a parent, it can be tempting (understandably!) to continue feeding them yourself – after all, who needs the mess? However, it’s important to let your child explore their newfound independence, especially when it comes to eating.

As much as you can, allow your child to feed themselves. This fosters adventurous eating and can help prevent avoidance of textures and certain foods in some cases. You can also use mealtimes to teach your child how to use a fork and spoon correctly, which is another important 15 month milestone. 

Tip #5: Use blocks to foster development

One of the important milestones in your 15 month old’s motor skill development is being able to stack 2 small objects. Provide plenty of opportunities to practice by engaging them with blocks. Playing together can also be a bonding time for you and your baby.

Tip #6: Give them options to teach independence

As 15 month olds’ language and movement skills develop, they’re eager to get out and explore their environment. Almost like a little teenager, they want to be independent – even though, as a parent, you know they’re not there yet.

One way to help your 15 month old feel more independent is to give them simple and appropriate choices [10]. For example, you might let them choose between their green jacket and their red jacket, or choose between 2 different books. 

Tip #7: Use positive behavior reinforcement

Positive behavior reinforcement is key to new behaviors. Immediately acknowledge and praise behaviors that you want to see them repeat. For example, when they are petting a dog nicely, you might say: “Wow, you’re being so gentle with the dog! I like to see that. Thank you.” [11]

Takeaway

Your baby at 15 months is a toddler now! And that toddler energy is starting to show.

There are so many important 15 month developmental milestones for your baby, including gross and fine motor milestones, speech milestones/language development, and emotional development. Most children this age are:

• Walking and running

• Saying a few simple words on top of “mama” and “dada”

• Feeding themselves with their fingers – or at least trying to

• Mimicking behaviors and trying to use things in the intended way

However, keep in mind that each child develops at their own pace. Try not to panic if your baby hasn’t met every single developmental milestone on the checklist and consider where they’re at from a big-picture perspective. If you’re concerned that your child may have a developmental delay, talk to your pediatrician.