16-month milestones: what is emerging next
16-month milestones: CDC has no checklist for 16 months, so the 15-month checklist (13 items) still applies; between two ages CDC says to use the earlier one. The 18-month checklist comes in two months; below are its 15 items with activities that fit a 16-month-old.
Updated
CDC 15-month milestone checklist
At 16 months use the 15-month checklist (CDC: use the earlier checklist between ages); next checklist at 18 months.
Mark what you see in everyday play, not in a test. Your marks stay in this browser only.
13 items · none marked yet
Social and emotional
-
At 16 months, try Kitchen Pot Band (3–8 min, 12–22 months)
-
At 16 months, try Window Watch Talk (3–8 min, 12–24 months)
-
At 16 months, try Goodbye Wave at the Window (2–5 min, 12–24 months)
-
At 16 months, try Teddy Wash, Dry and Tuck-In (5–10 min, 18–28 months)
Language and communication
-
At 16 months, try Finish-the-Song Pause (3–8 min, 18–30 months)
-
At 16 months, try Photo Wall Flap Hunt (5–10 min, 13–22 months)
-
At 16 months, try Cleanup Song Bucket Drop (3–8 min, 14–22 months)
-
At 16 months, try Egg Carton Latch Surprise (4–10 min, 17–25 months)
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
-
At 16 months, try Two of a Kind Kitchen Match (5–8 min, 14–24 months)
-
At 16 months, try Big Box Tower Topple (3–8 min, 12–18 months)
Movement and physical development
-
At 16 months, try Hoop Bus Walk (5–12 min, 18–28 months)
-
At 16 months, try Snack Signs: More and All Done (5–15 min, 13–22 months)
A checklist is monitoring, not a screening test. If your child loses a skill they had, or something worries you, talk to your pediatrician; in the U.S. you can also contact your state's Early Intervention program directly, no referral needed.
16 months at a glance
| CDC checklist for 16 months | None (CDC's checklists in this range: 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36 months) |
|---|---|
| Checklist that applies now | 15 months (13 items), reached one month ago |
| Next checklist | 18 months (15 items), in two months |
| Where this month sits | In-between month 1 of 2 from 15 to 18 months |
| Library activities that fit 16 months | 113 (age band overlapping 14-19 months) |
| Skills building at 16 months | 53 of the 67 everyday skills on this site |
| Born early | Corrected age applies: born 8 weeks early, 16 months is about 14 mo 1 wk corrected |
Which checklist applies at 16 months
The 15-month checklist has just passed, and CDC has nothing new for 16 months: between two checklist ages CDC says to use the earlier one, so a 16-month-old is still compared with the 15-month list. That stays true for two in-between months, until the 18-month list starts in two months.
The 18-month list has 15 items (5 social-emotional, 2 language, 2 cognitive and 6 movement). They are not expected at 16 months; they show what is emerging next. Fourteen of them have activities below that fit this month.
18-month milestones to watch for at 16 months
Each 18-month item with one or two activities for a 16-month-old, and how the activity's age band relates to 16 months:
| By 18 months (CDC) | Area | Try at 16 months |
|---|---|---|
| Wanders a short way from you but looks back to check that you are still close. | social-emotional | Everyday moments, no planned activity |
| Points to share something interesting with you. | social-emotional | Nature Tote Treasure Walk (new in its 16-28 mo band); Window Watch Talk (mid-band, 12-24 mo) |
| Holds out their hands so you can wash them. | social-emotional | Step-Stool Hand-Wash Song (new in its 16-28 mo band) |
| Looks through a few pages of a book together with you. | social-emotional | Sticky Tab Page Turner (mid-band, 14-24 mo); Where's the Dog? Book Hunt (a stretch, band starts at 18 mo) |
| Helps while you dress them, for example pushing an arm into a sleeve or lifting a foot. | social-emotional | Peekaboo Sleeve Push (mid-band, 14-24 mo); Toe-Tug Sock Off (mid-band, 12-20 mo) |
| Attempts at least three words besides "mama" or "dada". | language | Shopping Cart Spotter (a stretch, band starts at 17 mo); Finish-the-Song Pause (a stretch, band starts at 18 mo) |
| Follows a one-step direction given in words alone, like handing you a toy when you only say "Give it to me." | language | Grocery Tote Unpack (new in its 16-26 mo band); Hoop Bus Walk (a stretch, band starts at 18 mo) |
| Imitates you doing household jobs, such as sweeping. | cognitive | Scarf Copycat Dance (a stretch, band starts at 19 mo); Stir the Big Pot (a stretch, band starts at 17 mo) |
| Plays with toys in a simple, purposeful way, like pushing a toy car along. | cognitive | Teddy's Snack Time (mid-band, 12-20 mo); Two of a Kind Kitchen Match (mid-band, 14-24 mo) |
| Walks without holding on to a person or furniture. | movement | Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps (late in its 12-16 mo band); Towel Speed-Bump Walk (mid-band, 14-22 mo) |
| Makes scribbles with a crayon. | movement | Taped-Down First Scribbles (mid-band, 14-24 mo); Water Painting Walls and Steps (mid-band, 14-24 mo) |
| Drinks from a cup with no lid, sometimes spilling. | movement | Cheers! Open-Cup Clink (new in its 16-24 mo band); Two-Hands Open Cup Sip (mid-band, 12-20 mo) |
| Eats finger foods without help. | movement | Ice Tray Snack Picking (mid-band, 12-18 mo); Two-Choice Snack Pick (mid-band, 12-18 mo) |
| Tries to eat with a spoon. | movement | Basin Spoon Scoop (a stretch, band starts at 18 mo); Pre-Loaded Spoon Hand-Off (mid-band, 13-20 mo) |
| Climbs onto and down from a couch or chair without help. | movement | Cushion Mountain Climb (mid-band, 12-22 mo); Sofa Climb, Feet-First Down (mid-band, 13-22 mo) |
Activities toward the 18-month milestones
27 activities picked for 16 months, by CDC area. In Where's the Dog? Book Hunt, for example, watch for this sign of progress: points to the named picture without help.
Social-emotional at 16 months
Language at 16 months
Cognitive at 16 months
Movement at 16 months
Skills behind the 18-month list
What changes in the activity plan at 16 months
The family plan offers an activity from 3 months before its age band until 2 months after it. At 16 months, five activities join (band starting at 19 months) and fourteen bands start right at 16 months:
- Joins the plan: Sticky Note Body Spots, for 19-30 mo: press a sticky note onto your child's knee, hand or shoulder, name the spot together and let them peel it off, then swap roles in the mirror.
- Joins the plan: Block Bed for Teddy, for 19-28 mo: your child builds a simple bed and wall from big blocks for a stuffed animal, putting building to work inside a small pretend story.
- Joins the plan: Side-by-Side Sandbox Scoops, for 19-30 mo: two toddlers dig and pour side by side in a sandbox, each with their own bucket and scoop, while an adult narrates and steps in only when needed.
- Band starts at 16 months: Knob Puzzle One-Piece Start (16-26 mo), your child lifts a single knobbed piece out of an inset puzzle and works to fit it back, learning to turn a shape and line it up.
- Band starts at 16 months: Turn-to-Fit Slot Box (16-30 mo), your child posts big plastic tub lids through a long slot and soft balls through a round hole in a box, learning to turn a piece until it lines up.
- Band starts at 16 months: Rainstorm on a Baking Sheet (16-26 mo), your child drums a pretend rain shower on an upturned baking sheet, from soft fingertip drips to loud palm thunder, copying and changing sounds with you.
Skills commonly building at 16 months
53 everyday skills on this site have 16 months inside their age window. Six of them, with where 16 months falls and their usual timing:
- Calming with help, early in its window (12-36 months): Calming down within about 10 minutes after you leave, such as at a childcare drop-off, is a CDC 36-month milestone.
- First words, mid-window (12-24 months): Calling a parent "mama", "dada" or another special name is a CDC 12-month milestone; trying one or two other words is a 15-month milestone, and trying at least three words besides "mama" or "dada" is an 18-month milestone.
- Helping with dressing, early in its window (12-36 months): Helping you dress by pushing an arm through a sleeve or lifting a foot is a CDC 18-month milestone; taking some clothes off alone, such as loose pants or an open jacket, is a 30-month milestone; and putting on some clothes alone is a 36-month milestone.
- Taking turns, early in its window (12-36 months): Joining in simple back-and-forth games, such as clapping rhymes, is a CDC 12-month milestone.
- Naming things, just starting (14-36 months): Trying at least three words besides "mama" or "dada" is a CDC 18-month milestone; saying about 50 words and naming pictures in a book are 30-month milestones; and saying what action is happening in a picture is a 36-month milestone.
- Tidying up, just starting (14-36 months): Following simple routines when told, such as helping to pick up toys when you say it is clean-up time, is a CDC 30-month milestone.
When to talk to your pediatrician at 16 months
Talk to your pediatrician if a 16-month-old loses a skill they used to have, if 15-month items such as “attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water” or “uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help” are still missing at 16 months, or if anything else worries you. The next AAP-recommended checks are a general developmental and an autism screening, both at the 18-month visit, two months after 16 months.
CDC milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by that age; the checklists are for monitoring and are not a standardized screening tool. In the U.S. you can contact your state's Early Intervention program for children under 3 yourself; no doctor's referral is needed.
Born early? Corrected age at 16 months
CDC suggests using corrected age (age minus the weeks born early) for a child born more than 3 weeks early, and the AAP advises it for the first 2 years. At 16 months by the calendar, that changes which checklist fits:
| Born | Corrected age at 16 mo | Checklist to use | 18-month list from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks early | 15 mo | 15-month | 18 mo + 4 wk (about 18.9 mo) |
| 8 weeks early | 14 mo 1 wk | 12-month | 18 mo + 8 wk (about 19.8 mo) |
| 12 weeks early | 13 mo 1 wk | 12-month | 18 mo + 12 wk (about 20.8 mo) |
| 16 weeks early | 12 mo 1 wk | 12-month | 18 mo + 16 wk (about 21.7 mo) |
Frequently asked questions
How much should a 16-month-old talk?
CDC gives no list for 16 months. The 15-month checklist says: attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water and uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help. By 18 months it adds: attempts at least three words besides "mama" or "dada".
What should a 16-month-old be doing?
Most children (75% or more) do the 13 items of the 15-month checklist by 15 months, such as: attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water and uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help. Emerging next, for the 18-month list: points to share something interesting with you and helps while you dress them, for example pushing an arm into a sleeve or lifting a foot.
When is the next milestone checklist after 16 months?
At 18 months, in two months: CDC's 18-month checklist has 15 items (5 social-emotional, 2 language, 2 cognitive and 6 movement). Until then the 15-month list (13 items) applies.
What if my 16-month-old has not reached these milestones?
The 18-month items are not due at 16 months. If 15-month items are missing, if a skill is lost or if you are worried, talk to your pediatrician now. The next AAP-recommended checks are a general developmental and an autism screening, both at the 18-month visit, two months after 16 months. In the U.S. you can also call your state's Early Intervention program without a referral.
My 16-month-old was born early: which age do I use?
Use corrected age until 24 months if your child was born more than 3 weeks early (CDC; the AAP advises corrected age for the first 2 years). For example, a child born 8 weeks early is about 14 months, 1 week corrected at 16 months, so the 12-month checklist applies.
Related
Milestones month by month
Plan for 16 months
Born early
Skills building at 16 months
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.