Quick Facts
| Age | 16 months |
| Length | ~73–86 cm (WHO range, ~16 months) |
| Weight | ~7.8–13.1 kg (WHO range, ~16 months) |
| Daily Sleep | ~11–14 hours (1–2 naps + nights) |
| Milk | Whole cow’s milk or toddler formula, up to ~500 mL/day |
| Iron | ~7 mg a day (1–3 years) |
Length and weight are the WHO 3rd–97th percentile range (both sexes) from the WHO Growth Charts for Canada. Your provider tracks your toddler’s own growth on these charts.
Key Takeaways
At 16 months, most toddlers have the 12-to-14-month skills the Canadian Paediatric Society describes and are building toward the next set at 18 months.
Gross Motor
A 16 month old usually walks without help and may climb into chairs or up stairs with help, building toward the skills the Canadian Paediatric Society lists at 18 months. Give safe space to move and supervised places to climb, and stay close — falls and collisions come with the territory.
Fine Motor
A 16 month old scribbles, stacks a couple of blocks, uses a spoon (still messily), and drinks from a cup, building toward the 18-month skills the Canadian Paediatric Society describes, like a 3-block tower and turning board-book pages. Offer blocks, crayons and self-feeding practice — and let the mess happen. Handling food, smearing it and pushing it around is part of how a toddler gets comfortable with it, which is worth more over time than a clean tray.
Social & Language
A 16 month old points to things they want, uses a handful of words, copies others, and may follow a simple instruction, building toward saying 20 or more words and pointing to a named body part by 18 months, per the Canadian Paediatric Society. Name things, read daily, and respond to their attempts to talk.
DEVELOPMENT & PLAY
- Offer safe space to walk and climb, and toys to stack, post and scribble with.
- Read together daily, name objects and feelings, and respond to words and points.
- Give simple choices and one-step instructions to build language and cooperation.
FEEDING
- Offer a variety of family foods in safe textures; keep iron-rich foods coming toward the ~7 mg daily need for 1–3 years.
- Keep milk (whole cow’s milk or toddler formula) to about 500 mL a day, in a cup.
- Offer water with meals and snacks; continue vitamin D for breastfed and partly breastfed toddlers.
SAFETY
- Anchor tip-prone furniture, add window guards, and gate stairs. At the top of the stairs the gate must be hardware-mounted — drilled into the wall. A pressure-mounted gate can be pushed out by a toddler’s weight, so keep those for the bottom of the stairs only.
- Keep hazards and choking-risk foods out of reach, and supervise eating and climbing. Food is for sitting down — walking or running with something in the mouth is one of the most common ways toddlers choke.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 16 month old be doing?
A 16 month old usually walks well, climbs, scribbles, uses a few words, points, and copies others, building toward the Canadian Paediatric Society’s 18-month milestones (20 or more words, walking well, climbing into chairs, a 3-block tower). Around other children, expect playing alongside rather than together — sharing comes later, and a toddler who won’t hand over a toy isn’t being difficult. Every child develops at their own pace; raise concerns, especially in more than one area, with your doctor.
How many words should a 16 month old say?
There’s a wide normal range. The Canadian Paediatric Society lists saying 20 or more words among the skills most children reach by 18 months, so at 16 months many toddlers have a handful of words and are adding more, with understanding and pointing running ahead of speech. If your toddler isn’t using any words or gestures by around 18 months, raise it with your doctor.
How much should a 16 month old eat and drink?
Offer a variety of family foods at regular meals and snacks, with iron-rich foods still important (about 7 mg iron a day for 1–3 years), per the Canadian Paediatric Society. Keep milk to about 500 mL a day, in a cup, and offer water with meals. Let your toddler decide how much to eat — appetites swing normally. Avoid choking-risk foods and added salt and sugar.
When do toddlers drop to one nap?
Many toddlers move from two naps to a single afternoon nap somewhere between about 15 and 18 months, though there’s a wide range. Total sleep stays around 11 to 14 hours over a 24-hour period, per the Canadian Paediatric Society. Expect a bumpy transition; a consistent routine and avoiding late naps help settle it.
Is it normal for my 16 month old to have tantrums?
Yes. Tantrums are normal as toddlers’ wants outpace their words and self-control. Stay calm, name the feeling, keep limits consistent and kind, and reconnect afterward. They tend to ease as language grows. If tantrums are extreme, very frequent, or you’re concerned, your doctor or public health nurse can help.
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