{"h1":"Emotional milestones for your 18-to-24-month-old","faq":[{"a":"Yes — frequent tantrums are completely normal between 18 and 24 months. Your toddler feels big emotions but the brain's regulation circuits are still maturing, so they rely on your calm to settle. Naming the feeling and staying close helps most.","q":"Are tantrums normal at this age?"},{"a":"Early empathy varies a lot at this age and may appear later. It's worth a friendly developmental check only if you also notice little shared joy, limited eye contact, or your child rarely seeks comfort from you.","q":"My toddler doesn't seem to comfort others — should I worry?"},{"a":"Reach out if your toddler rarely seeks comfort, shows little affection or shared joy, doesn't look to your face for reassurance, or has lost warmth or skills they once had. Trust your instinct — a check is reassuring, not alarming.","q":"When should I seek a developmental check?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached","title":"Emotional milestones for your 18-to-24-month-old","entity":{"key":"emotional","kind":"domain","name":"Emotional","slug":"emotional"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-18-24","value":"toddler-18-24"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Milestone","value":"milestone"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Behaviour-Therapy","value":"behaviour-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"icf","label":"b152 · Emotional","value":"b152"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities","value":"10"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor / Pediatrician","value":"doctor"}],"parent":{"key":"domains","label":"Developmental Domains"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-emotional","title":"When Do Children Become Emotional?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-my-12-to-18-month-old-have-reached","title":"Emotional milestones for your 12-to-18-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-emotional","title":"Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Emotion?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-a-12-to-18-month-old-reach","title":"What emotional milestones should a 12-to-18-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach","title":"What emotional milestones should an 18-to-24-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-emotional","title":"When Do Toddlers Develop Emotional Skills?"}],"summary":"By 18–24 months most toddlers share a range of feelings, look to you for emotional cues, seek comfort when upset, show early empathy and pride, and begin asserting independence — with big tantrums and little self-control still completely normal. These are guides, not a checklist; a clinician confirms any concern.","answer_md":"*Between 18 and 24 months, your little one is learning that big feelings can be shared, soothed and named — emotions are becoming a conversation between the two of you.*\n\n## In short\nBy 18–24 months, most toddlers show a widening range of feelings, look to you for emotional cues, and seek comfort when upset. You can expect affection, simple empathy (they may pat you when you're sad), pride in small successes, and the early — sometimes stormy — independence of \"me do it\". Every child blooms on their own timeline, so think of these as a guide, not a checklist.\n\n## What you might notice\n- **Shares feelings** — shows clear joy, frustration, surprise and affection, and looks to your face to gauge how to react (social referencing).\n- **Seeks comfort** — comes to you when hurt, tired or scared, and is settled by your closeness and voice.\n- **Early empathy** — may hug a doll, comfort a crying friend, or notice when you seem upset.\n- **Pride and self-awareness** — beams after stacking blocks or feeding themselves; may recognise themselves in a mirror.\n- **Big emotions, small control** — tantrums, clinginess and \"no!\" are normal; self-soothing is only just beginning.\n\n## The science\nIn the WHO ICF, emotional functions (b152) cover the range, appropriateness and regulation of feeling. At this age the brain's emotion-regulation circuits are still maturing — which is exactly why your calm, predictable responses are the toddler's borrowed \"off switch\" for distress. Naming feelings (\"you're cross the tower fell\") builds the very wiring they'll use later to self-regulate.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nDevelopmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Explore [emotional development](/emotional), gentle [behaviour therapy](/behaviour-therapy) support, and how the [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) gives an objective, multi-domain picture of your child's strengths.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with the WHO ICF (emotional functions, b152), and developmental guidance from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics on social-emotional milestones for toddlers.\n\n**Next step —** if any feeling seems missing, or tantrums feel beyond their years, book a friendly developmental check with Pinnacle on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-emotional-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-emotional-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"domains","label":"Developmental Domains"}],"meta_title":"Emotional Milestones at 18–24 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Name feelings out loud as they happen — \"you're sad the bubbles popped\". Hearing words for emotions while feeling your calm helps your toddler learn to settle big feelings themselves.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:10:00.215102+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-emotional-develop-from-birth-to-school-age","title":"How Emotional Development Unfolds from Birth to School Age","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-emotional-develop-in-the-early-years","title":"How does emotional development unfold in the early years?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-delays-in-emotional-development","title":"What causes delays in emotional development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-emotional-development-in-children","title":"What is emotional development in children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-emotional-area-of-child-development","title":"What is the Emotional area of child development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"why-is-emotional-development-important-for-my-child","title":"Why is emotional development important for my child?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":6},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach","title":"What emotional milestones should an 18-to-24-month-old reach?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-my-12-to-18-month-old-have-reached","title":"Emotional milestones for your 12-to-18-month-old","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-emotional-milestones-should-a-12-to-18-month-old-reach","title":"What emotional milestones should a 12-to-18-month-old reach?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-should-a-child-emotional","title":"When Do Toddlers Develop Emotional Skills?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-18-to-24-month-old-developing-normally-in-emotional","title":"Is My 18-to-24-Month-Old Developing Normally in Emotion?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-do-children-usually-emotional","title":"When Do Children Become Emotional?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"if-my-child-s-developmental-age-is-behind-in-emotional-what-does-that-mean","title":"If my child's developmental age is behind in Emotional, what does that mean?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-2-year-old-child-is-developmentally-behind-in-emotional-how-concerned-should-i-be","title":"Is my 2-year-old behind in emotional development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-3-year-old-child-is-developmentally-behind-in-emotional-how-concerned-should-i-be","title":"Is My 3-Year-Old Behind in Emotional Development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-4-year-old-child-is-developmentally-behind-in-emotional-how-concerned-should-i-be","title":"Is my 4-year-old's emotional development a concern?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-5-year-old-child-is-developmentally-behind-in-emotional-how-concerned-should-i-be","title":"Is My 5-Year-Old Behind in Emotional Development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-key-emotional-milestones-in-early-childhood","title":"What are the key emotional milestones in early childhood?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":30},{"key":"assess","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-developmental-age-assessed-for-the-emotional-domain","title":"How is developmental age assessed for the Emotional domain?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-0-100-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What does an Emotional AbilityScore (0–100) mean for my child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-100-200-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What an Emotional AbilityScore of 100–200 means for your child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-200-300-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 200–300 band explained for parents","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-300-400-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What does an Emotional AbilityScore of 300–400 mean for my child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-400-500-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What an Emotional AbilityScore of 400–500 Means for Your Child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-500-600-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What does an Emotional AbilityScore in the 500–600 range mean?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-600-700-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 600–700 Band: What It Means","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-700-800-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 700–800 Band Explained","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-800-900-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"What does an Emotional AbilityScore of 800–900 mean for my child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-900-1000-range-mean-for-my-child","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 900–1000 Band Explained","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-clinician-interpret-a-a-emotional-abilityscore-in-the-0-100-range-in-a-young-child","title":"How should a clinician interpret an Emotional AbilityScore in the 0–100 range in a young child?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":22},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-improve-my-child-s-emotional-skills-at-home","title":"How to Improve Your Child's Emotional Skills at Home","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-nurture-my-child-s-emotional-development","title":"How can I nurture my child's Emotional development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-my-child-s-emotional-development-at-home","title":"How can I support my child's emotional development at home?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-my-child-s-emotional-development-from-birth","title":"How can I support my child's emotional development from birth?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-do-i-check-if-my-child-s-emotional-development-is-on-track","title":"How do I check if my child's emotional development is on track?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-therapy-help-a-child-s-emotional-development","title":"How Therapy Helps a Child's Emotional Development","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-a-child-s-emotional-development-assessed","title":"How is a child's emotional development assessed?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-a-emotional-abilityscore-is-in-the-0-100-range-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Emotional AbilityScore in the 0–100 band: next steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-a-emotional-abilityscore-is-in-the-100-200-range-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Emotional AbilityScore® 100–200 Band — Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-a-emotional-abilityscore-is-in-the-200-300-range-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Emotional AbilityScore® 200-300 band: next steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-a-emotional-abilityscore-is-in-the-300-400-range-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 300–400 — Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-a-emotional-abilityscore-is-in-the-400-500-range-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Emotional AbilityScore 400–500 Band: Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":31}],"what_to_watch":"Seek a developmental check if your toddler rarely seeks comfort from you, shows little affection or shared joy, doesn't look to your face for reassurance, or has lost emotional warmth or skills they previously had.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"b152","label":"ICF b152"},{"url":"https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/international-classification-of-functioning-disability-and-health","code":"b152","label":"WHO ICF · Emotional functions (b152)"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC · Developmental milestones"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP · HealthyChildren toddler social-emotional guidance"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:10:00.215102+00:00","meta_description":"What emotional milestones an 18-to-24-month-old should reach — sharing feelings, seeking comfort, early empathy and pride — plus when to seek a check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}