15-Month-Old Child

Until the age of about 18 months, most toddlers appear ambidextrous, preferring to use their left hands as often as they use their right.

Odds are good, however, that your child will end up favoring the right hand — only about 10 percent of people are lefties. Genetics play a big role in determining hand preference, too; many people who are left-handed had at least one parent who was left-handed as well.

Whatever you do, don’t try to force him to use the “correct” hand. Pushing a child to be right- or left-handed when he’s favoring the opposite can lead to unnecessary stress on the child. Just let nature take its course!

Toddlers have a reputation for being demanding, but some children are more passive than pushy, even allowing other kids to take the toys right out of their hands. As a parent, this might be hard to watch, but it’s not necessarily a cause for concern. 

As long as your child is happy — maybe he finds another, better toy to play with — there’s no reason to intervene. After all, what he doesn’t miss won’t hurt him. 

If, however, your toddler is tired of all the toy-snatching, it’s okay to step in. Simply ask his more assertive peer (nicely, but firmly) to give the toy back. If the grabber gives in, say “thank you,” but if not, don’t snatch it back. Remember, your toddler is watching your every move and will mimic your behavior later on. 

Most importantly, know that meek or shy toddlers don’t necessarily grow up to be pushovers as adults. With time, he’ll understand that he has rights and develop the confidence he needs to stand up for himself.

Your child may be feeling under-the-weather, but a mild illness, like a cold or even a low-grade fever, probably shouldn’t push back a scheduled vaccine unless your pediatrician has said otherwise. In fact, skipping a shot could leave your child vulnerable to something more serious. 

Another reason not to put off the vaccine: Toddlers — especially those who attend day care or have older siblings — catch colds fairly often, so the odds of finding a sick-free day on his schedule may be slimmer than you think.

If, however, your child has something more serious, or has a fever that’s 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your pediatrician may recommend delaying the shot. Talk to your doctor before making a decision.

Until about 18 months, most toddlers need two naps a day, ideally for about one to two hours each. Problem is, a toddler who dozes off for 15 minutes in the car and then 15 minutes in the stroller isn’t likely to log very much daytime shut-eye. 

Even if his naps total an hour or two per day, those small snippets of sleep aren’t likely to lead to a well-rested toddler — and that, in turn, can lead to a frustrated, cranky toddler. 

To reinforce the napping habit, stick to a regular sleep schedule, even on the weekends. Waiting too long to put your toddler to bed can backfire, since it’s harder for an overtired child to settle down to sleep.

There’s a lot to love about sippy cups. Not only are they practically spill-proof, but compared to an open cup, they’re also easier for toddlers to use. Still, there’s a good reason to make the switch to a regular cup sooner rather than later. For starters, the older your child gets, the more he may cling to his sippy.

To help your child make the transition, give him lots of praise when he drinks from an open cup (and be sure to demonstrate the process yourself). You can also take your tot shopping to choose his own cup — maybe that Paw Patrol motif will lure him away from that beloved sippy.

You should expect a few messes as he learns how to use an open cup. The good news: Toddlers love cleaning up!

Right now, you may be your toddler’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean you have to be his only one. There are lots of benefits of going on a playdate: It gives your child a change of environment, a chance to observe one of his peers and an opportunity to practice those burgeoning social skills.

Plus, there’s something in it for you too (besides the adult conversation). Playdates give you a chance to compare notes with other parents and caregivers about feeding struggles, sleep habits and even local pediatricians.

Just make sure you feel comfortable in whatever social setting you choose, especially in light of COVID-19 concerns. You can opt to only meet outside or virtually, or only with other parents who are vaccinated against COVID and/or wearing masks.

Remember that the risk of little ones catching COVID at this age may be higher because children this young aren’t supposed to wear masks and may not be vaccinated. So err on the side of caution and safety.

You finally finished storing your toddler’s toys back in the toy box — only to have him scatter them all over the floor again. Frustrating? A little. Normal? Totally.

Believe it or not, your child's ability to empty out boxes, baskets and bags is a sign of his developing fine motor and cognitive skills. (“What happens if I pull this?”)

Rather than discourage the behavior, give your tot some safe toys to dump onto the floor, like stuffed animals, nesting cups or small squares of fabric. During bathtime, you can fill up a bucket with plastic cups or bottles.

You should, however, secure child-resistant locksand latches on any of the boxes, cabinets or drawers he shouldn’t open — like anything that contains medications, glass, cleaning products and other harmful items.