I enjoy documenting and sharing our third daughter, Arbor’s, development and milestones. Somehow Arbor is 20 months old – woah. Here is everything you want to know about Arbor at 20 months old.
Arbor – 20 Months Old Stats
Height: 2 ft 10 in
Weight: 27 lbs
Diapers: Size 3 Pampers Swaddlers
Shoes: Size 6
Clothes: Arbor wears 2T, but can still fit in some 18-24 month old items.
Teeth: Arbor has 16 teeth – the last four were TOUGH on everyone
Are you still breastfeeding at 20 months old?
I am no longer breastfeeding my 20 month old – and she is doing just fine without nursing twice a day. She has only asked a few times since I quit breastfeeding. I think it’s been harder on me than her when she looks at me sweetly and makes the “Mmm hmmm” sound (which means she wants to breastfeed). I simply explain my milk is all gone and offer food instead. She only became really upset once on the beach during vacation when I turned her down and that made me cry a little because I really loved our nursing bond.
All About Our 20 Month Old
Our 20 month old baby is full of love, laughter, and opinions. She wakes every morning with a secret agenda and a mission to complete it by bedtime. Arbor is energetic and rebellious, which has been challenging but expected for her age (and birth order). Arbor is so curious, often asking, “What’s this?” I absolutely love her genuine desire to know everything about her world and her ability to absorb new information like a sponge.
At 20 month old, Arbor is very determined to be independent. She will ask “Mommy, help please” when she can’t do something on her own though. She will hold our hand now when walking – which has been helpful when it comes to crossing streets. Before this she would take off towards an open space without any regard to her safety.
She plays well with her sisters, has moments of independent play, but often likes to just be around everyone in the house. Arbor is still in the “Pick me up” phase whenever I am trying to do something that needs two hands. I am considering a toddler tower for the kitchen this fall so she can watch me cook!
20 Month Old Behavior
Tantrums – Oh they have begun. Whether it’s a screaming jellyfish fit in our arms or a slow belly to the ground move, everyone knows when Arbor is throwing a tantrum. Most meltdowns occur when she cannot communicate what she wants (vs. not getting what she wants).
Arbor is opinionated (like most 20 month olds) and wants to be in control of picking out a snack, changing the channel, putting on her shoes, etc. She tried to put on her own pants recently, but thankfully asked for assistance when she became tangled. Speaking of pants, she’s finally quit taking off her diaper when she is pants-less so we haven’t had many accidental accidents lately.
Biting and Hitting – Arbor bites and hits her big sisters, and only her big sisters. She knows the behavior is unacceptable as we try to stay calm and tell her that we don’t hurt others.
Separation Anxiety – We are still struggling with her attachment to me, but it is getting better over time. She is not afraid of strangers, but will be shy in front of family/friends she has not seen in awhile. It’s funny because she will hide from an Uncle, but run up to a group at the beach to sit on their blanket. She says, “Hi Baby” to every little person she encounters and we think she will have no trouble making new friends someday.
Arbor’s 20 Month Old Milestones
Developmental milestones are tricky because not every baby hits the them at the same time. With that being said, I have always viewed my child’s development on a broad scale. If other babies are doing things she is not doing, and the pediatrician says we are on track – I’m not worried!
Arbor surprises us every day with a new move, word, or naughty trick. Sometimes I think she loves to see our reaction when she does something, but other times I think she is just doing her own thing without any regard to our opinions. For example, in one breath Arbor put on Annabelle’s tap shoes to march all over the kitchen just to hear the sounds herself. Then she kicked the shoes off, ran to climb on the toy box, and yelled for everyone to see her where she isn’t allowed to stand.
Arbor can tell us when she has a dirty diaper and will inform everyone if she is going number 2. The pediatrician said we could start thinking about potty training, but I am NOT ready for that mess. If we were to bring in a potty seat or mini toilet then Arbor will become obsessed with it. Since Ailey potty trained herself at 2 1/2 years old, we will let Arbor do the same thing.
Our 20 month old runs everywhere, but sometimes slows down to dance or march. She loves to climb on top of anything and everything – furniture, books, people laying down (she will yell KNEE “neigh” like you are her horse), etc. Arbor also likes to climb inside things – garbage cans, boxes, a suitcase, her yellow school bus. She likes to sit in the big recliner chair by herself and will tell her Daddy “I sit!” so he moves.
What does our 20 month old say?
The more appropriate question would be: What can’t our 20 month old say? We lost count of her new words. When she figures out how to say a new word, she proudly repeats the word whenever she has the chance. Arbor talks/sings/babbles/yells all day long. She is rarely quiet and very expressive!
She speaks in short sentences to tell what she wants or how she feels: “Mommy pick up.” “I happy.” “I not happy.” “I want eat.” When she hears a phrase, she uses it well. For example, “ice cold juice” and “messy ants” or “big mess” are said often throughout the day.
Arbor tells us she is happy often and it is the most heart warming thing to hear a 20 month old say. Whether it’s happy playing in the ocean with her Dad or eating a popsicle, she says it appropriately. The first time she said “I not happy” was while I rinsed her off at the beach in the outdoor shower. We all laughed so hard because the water was freezing, so of course she was unhappy!
20 Month Old Favorites
Favorite Foods: “No-No” (donuts), “Cold aki” (popsicles), “bowl of milk” (cereal), scrambled eggs with kitchen, “hot chicken and french fries,” “ice cold juice” (juice box or iced seltzer + splash of juice), pizza, whatever I am eating, fruit pouches, raspberries, Pirate’s Booty, Goldfish, fruit snacks (she loves to say snacks), anything she can dip in ketchup. She picked up a few not-so-healthy food favorites while on vacation with big cousins, and is starting to become picky when it comes to what she will eat, which is difficult!
Favorite Books: Belly Button Beach (she giggles every time you say ‘Bee Boo’), Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great!, Goodnight Moon, My First Words, Blow Nose Book, Hello Cape Cod
Favorite Songs: She LOVES to sing and babbles these songs daily: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Up on the Rooftop,” “Baby Shark,” “Rain Rain Go Away” “Baa Baa Black Sheep” + a lot of what is on Cocomelon. Arbor still loves The 1975 music too.
Favorite Things to Do: Everything? Arbor loves to play with baby dolls and her sisters, especially reenacting bedtime. She enjoys pulling books off the bookshelves to pretend to read now (instead of just making a mess). She loves to dance and ‘kick the ball’ playing soccer with her family. Arbor wants to ride a bike, so we are considering a balance bike. Arbor likes to chase seagulls, Muffin, bunnies, etc. She enjoys playing in the rain and puddles. Our 20 month old loves to watch Cocomelon (much to our dismay), but her love of Ms Rachel has been fading.
Things Arbor Does Not Like at 20 Months Old
Foods she does NOT like: anything creamy, pasta with red sauce, sandwiches/wraps (unless I’m eating it, then she wants bites). Typically every day a new food will result in “Blech” and get tossed on the floor.
Things she does NOT like to do: Arbor does not like to be told, “No” and often repeats it back to you while she is doing whatever she is not supposed to do. She will say when she is too hot/cold and yell, “EAT” if she is hungry and you’re taking too long to feed her.
20 Month Old Daily Schedule
5:30am Wake-up: Arbor wakes up on her own anywhere from 5:30 – 6:00am every morning. She usually plays in her crib until I go to get her at 6 am. I follow the same routine when I enter the room: turn on lights and open the shades, turn off sound machine, remove her sleep sack on her changing table and change her diaper. Finally, we head downstairs for the day.
6:30am Breakfast
8:30/9:00am Snack (let’s be honest though, she snacks ALL day)
10:45am Lunch
11:30am – 1:15/1:30pm NAP: Ideally she is to nap from 11-2, but that rarely happens. We have tried a 12 o’clock nap time, but she still wakes up by 1:45.
1:45pm/3:45pm Lots of Snacks
4:30pm Dinner (she eats an early dinner with her sisters)
5:30pm BATH Arbor loves tubby time, especially with Ailey and playing Tubby in the Dark with glow in the dark toys.
6:00-6:30 Bedtime Routine: Post bath lotion/eczema cream + hairbrush, PJs, play in bedroom, read books, close shades, put on sleep sack, turn on sound machine, sing bedtime song, lay down in crib awake. She asks to sleep with her monkey (Eee Eee), bunny (Hop), puppy, and Mr. Fox. She cuddles Eee Eee in the crook of her arm most nights. Arbor sleeps the whole night!
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