1 year 8 mo

20 Month Old Baby Development

Animals, vehicles, colors — learning new words every day.

9.5 - 14.3 kgWEIGHT
78 - 90 cmLENGTH
46 - 51 cmHEAD SIZE

Ranges cover most babies this age. To see where your baby sits, use the percentile calculator.

What can a 20 month old do?

  • Understands 50+ words, says 10-20
  • Imitates animal sounds
  • Uses spoon properly
  • Climbs stairs holding on
  • Matches simple shapes
  • Throws ball overhead with two hands
  • Names pictures in books

Feeding

  • Discuss iron levels with your doctor — anemia risk
  • Ground or butter nuts, not whole
  • Leafy greens 3x/week
  • Fixed meal times
  • Day conversations at meals build language
  • Avoid sugar-packed packaged foods

Sleep

Sleeps 11-14 hours; nap 1.5-2 hours.

Tips for you

  • Rich descriptions — "big red ball"
  • Rhyming books support learning
  • Calm tone + short sentence during tantrums
  • Sibling? Practice turn-taking
  • Let them work at their own pace
  • 1 hour of free (unstructured) play daily
Tip of the month: Audio books over screens — eyes and language thrive together.

Frequently asked questions

How much should a 20 month old weigh?

A typical weight range for a 20 month old is 9.5 - 14.3 kg, with length around 78 - 90 cm and head circumference around 46 - 51 cm. Following their own growth curve matters more than any single measurement.

How much does a 20 month old sleep?

Sleeps 11-14 hours; nap 1.5-2 hours.

What should a 20 month old be doing?

Understands 50+ words, says 10-20. Imitates animal sounds. Uses spoon properly. Climbs stairs holding on. Every baby develops at their own pace, and differences of a few weeks are normal.

Every baby develops at their own pace. This is general guidance; talk to your pediatrician about any concerns.

Baby development by month