Baby Milestone Markers: 15 Month

Physical Development

Pediatricians call this the “milestone” period. She seems to be crossing from baby-hood to toddler-hood, and is keen on trying different ways of moving such as climbing, trotting, running and jumping though she’s not sure-footed yet.
Wants to pull things off the shelves and carry those objects as she walks.
Fond of investigating or using the contents of your purse, such as lipsticks, keys, coins, especially because she sees you using those objects and she wants to imitate you.

Cognitive and Mental Development

Can follow simple commands, for example, “Bring me your book.” Understands phrases such as “No,” “Look,” “Come here,” and “Show me.”
Most can say “Mama” and “Dada” plus about three other words, mostly nouns, such as “milk” and “cookie.” Among the first words, too, are “More” and “No.”
Interested in looking at picture books.
Knows what certain “tools” are for. When she was younger, she would have used the hairbrush to bang on a pot or dip into food—now she will use it on her hair, as well as on her stuffed animals and dolls.
Engages in pretend play though it still closely mirrors her own real behaviors, such as getting a spoon to pretend to eat from it, or laying her head on a pillow and pretending to sleep.

Emotional and Behavioral Development

Has easily aroused yet short-lived temper, mostly in public places. These meltdowns are usually due to over-stimuli, perhaps from encounter with unfamiliar faces, loud noises, your being inattentive to her, etc.
Hungry for attention from you; and even when she’s playing she wants to know that you see what she’s doing.
Experiments which behavior of her will get his desired effect on other people. For instance, she’ll learn that whining is effective when she uses it on her grandmother but not with you.
Makes herself the center of attention by “clowning around”: doing silly dances, making faces, etc. After a “performance” she’ll look around the room to see how his audience reacts.
May treat you and your spouse differently.
May have nightmares, and will not be able to distinguish dreams from reality, so “monsters” from her dreams are very real to her.