Around 19–21 months, many toddlers turn into determined little do-it-yourselfers: they may run, climb, carry toys in both hands, try short two-word phrases, insist on feeding themselves, and show strong likes and dislikes as their personality, independence, and sense of humour really shine through.

• At around 19–21 months, many toddlers eat mainly family foods in toddler-sized pieces, and they often want to copy how adults eat, including trying a fork, spoon, or open cup with your support.
• This age can bring strong opinions about food, with some toddlers suddenly refusing old favourites or asking for the same meal over and over, so parents are often encouraged to offer a mix of familiar foods and small tastes of new ones without pressure.
• Letting your toddler help in simple ways, such as putting pieces of fruit on a plate or choosing between two healthy snack options, can turn mealtimes into small learning moments about choice and independence rather than a battle.

• Many toddlers between 19 and 21 months still need a good amount of sleep over 24 hours, often with one daytime nap and night-time sleep that may occasionally be disturbed by teething, busy new skills, or big emotions.
• Some families notice the daytime nap becoming shorter or shifting later, and gentle routines around winding down before sleep, like a quiet story and dim lights, can help signal that it is time to rest.
• Calling out or getting out of bed to look for you can be common at this age, and keeping bedtime calm and consistent, with the same short phrases and comfort each night, can reassure your toddler while still keeping clear boundaries.

• Wet nappies or pull-ups spread through the day are still usual for this age, and many toddlers continue to have soft poos that vary with what they eat and drink, from several times a day to less often.
• Some toddlers show early interest in what happens in the bathroom, such as telling you when they are weeing or pooing, hiding in a corner, or wanting to sit on a potty with clothes on, which can simply be treated as gentle first steps in learning rather than a sign that training needs to begin.
• Talking calmly about body parts, nappies, and toilets, and reading simple picture books about using the potty, can help your toddler learn the words and ideas they will need later, even if they are not ready to stay dry yet.

• Short, regular playtimes through the day, such as a few minutes of building towers, pushing cars, or matching simple shapes, give plenty of chances for your toddler to practise problem-solving and hand-eye skills without needing long, formal “lessons”.
• A few times each day, you might spend 5–10 minutes looking at picture books together, naming what you see, pausing to let your toddler point or try a word, and following their interests if they want the same page again and again.
• Daily moments of singing, dancing, and simple pretend play, like making animal sounds, cooking an imaginary meal, or letting your toddler “help” with safe household tasks for a few minutes at a time, can turn ordinary routines into rich learning time for language, movement, and confidence.

Sources

• CDC – Milestones by 2 Years
• UNICEF – Your toddler’s developmental milestones at 2 years
• NCT – Your baby’s development 18–21 months
• GOSH – Speech and language development (from 12 to 24 months)

This content is general information only and is not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, or local emergency service.