Week-by-week library · 19 months old
Month 19
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at 19 months old?
This month, a pretend phone call might be the most serious conversation of the day.
What's developing
Cognition
Pretend play often grows more elaborate, talking on a toy phone, pretending to cook, feeding a stuffed animal a full meal.
Motor
Running and climbing continue to get more coordinated with practice.
Communication
Understanding often runs well ahead of speaking at this age; toddlers frequently follow multi-step requests they cannot yet verbally describe.
Try this together this week
- Join a pretend play scenario as a willing participant, not just a spectator.
- Try simple two-step instructions ("pick up the ball and bring it to me") to test the growing comprehension.
- Offer safe climbing structures at a playground for supervised practice.
- Narrate your own actions out loud during routines; toddlers absorb a lot passively.
What parents often notice
A toddler who seems to understand everything but says relatively little is following one of the most common and well-documented language patterns at this age.
Sourced to
- Zero to Three, Early Development guides
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.