{"h1":"Sensory milestones for your 18-to-24-month-old","faq":[{"a":"Mild fussiness with new textures is common at this age as your child learns preferences. Watch for strong, lasting distress that interrupts everyday play, dressing or eating — that is worth mentioning at a developmental check.","q":"Is it normal for my toddler to dislike certain textures?"},{"a":"Reacting to sudden loud noise is normal. If your toddler is repeatedly overwhelmed by everyday sounds, or conversely doesn't respond to sounds or their name, a clinician-led sensory check can offer clarity.","q":"My child covers their ears at loud sounds — should I worry?"},{"a":"There is a wide normal range. Seek a friendly developmental screen if you notice persistent non-response to sound, strong lasting distress with sensory input, or any loss of skills — a clinician can guide you, and diagnosis is never made from an online list.","q":"When should sensory differences be assessed?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached","title":"What Sensory milestones should my 18-to-24-month-old have reached?","entity":{"key":"sensory","kind":"domain","name":"Sensory","slug":"sensory"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-18-24","value":"toddler-18-24"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Sensory","value":"sensory"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Milestone","value":"milestone"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Occupational-Therapy","value":"occupational-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"icf","label":"b2 · Sensory","value":"b2"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"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":"what-sensory-milestones-should-a-18-to-24-month-old-reach","title":"What sensory milestones should an 18-to-24-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-my-9-to-12-month-old-have-reached","title":"What Sensory milestones should my 9-to-12-month-old have reached?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-a-12-to-18-month-old-reach","title":"What sensory milestones should a 12-to-18-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-my-12-to-18-month-old-have-reached","title":"Sensory milestones for your 12-to-18-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-key-sensory-milestones-in-early-childhood","title":"Key Sensory Milestones in Early Childhood"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-12-to-18-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is My 12-to-18-Month-Old Developing Normally in Sensory?"}],"summary":"By 18–24 months most toddlers turn to sounds and their name, track moving objects, explore varied textures and tastes, and recover well from everyday noise or touch. Sensory development (ICF b2) varies widely, so look for steady progress. Persistent non-response to sound or name, strong lasting distress with textures or light, or not noticing touch is worth a friendly developmental check.","answer_md":"*At this age, your little one is becoming a busy explorer — touching, listening, watching and tasting their way through the world, and that sensory curiosity is exactly the point.*\n\n## In short\nBetween 18 and 24 months, most toddlers are using their senses with growing confidence — turning to sounds and their own name, watching and following moving things, enjoying a range of textures and tastes, and recovering well from everyday noise, light or touch. Sensory development (ICF b2) is about how your child takes in and makes sense of the world. There is a wide normal range, so look for steady progress rather than a fixed checklist on a fixed day.\n\n## What you may notice\n**Hearing & listening**\n- Turns to their name and to interesting sounds across the room\n- Enjoys music, rhymes and animal sounds; follows simple spoken requests\n\n**Seeing & watching**\n- Tracks moving objects and people; points to pictures in a familiar book\n- Notices small things on the floor and looks where you point\n\n**Touch, taste & movement**\n- Explores different textures — sand, water, dough — with growing comfort\n- Accepts a variety of food textures and temperatures\n- Enjoys movement play (swinging, bouncing) and settles afterwards\n\nGentle things to watch: consistently not responding to sounds or name, strong and lasting distress with everyday textures, noise or light, or seeming not to notice when touched. Any of these — especially with a parent's lingering concern — is worth a friendly developmental check.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nEvery child's sensory world is wonderfully their own. A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Explore [sensory development](/sensory) and how [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) supports comfortable sensory processing.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAligned with the WHO ICF framework for sensory functions (b2) and paediatric developmental guidance from the AAP and CDC.\n\n**Next step —** if anything here gives you pause, book a gentle developmental screen with the Pinnacle team 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-sensory-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-sensory-milestones-should-my-18-to-24-month-old-have-reached","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"domains","label":"Developmental Domains"}],"meta_title":"Sensory Milestones: 18–24 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Make a simple sensory basket — a soft cloth, a crinkly paper, a smooth spoon, a textured ball — and explore one item together each day, naming what you feel and hear.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:10:00.215102+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-sensory-develop-from-birth-to-school-age","title":"How Sensory Develops from Birth to School Age","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-sensory-develop-in-the-early-years","title":"How Sensory Develops in the Early Years","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-delays-in-sensory-development","title":"What causes delays in 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b2"},{"url":"https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/international-classification-of-functioning-disability-and-health","code":"b2","label":"WHO ICF · Sensory functions (b2)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren · toddler development"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC · Learn the Signs. Act Early."}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:10:00.215102+00:00","meta_description":"What sensory milestones (ICF b2) should an 18-to-24-month-old reach? Warm, plain-language guidance on hearing, seeing, touch and when to check in.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}