Toddler Development: A Comprehensive Guide For Aussie Parents

  By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh  

Toddler Development

As parents in Australia, it's a joy to witness your toddler grow, learn, and achieve various developmental milestones. These milestones are not only significant indicators of your child's growth but also vital in understanding their unique journey. 

While every child develops at their own pace, it's valuable for parents to be aware of typical developmental milestones and what to expect. In this blog, we'll explore essential toddler development milestones, tailored to Aussie parents. Understanding these milestones can help you better support and nurture your child's growth while enjoying this remarkable phase of parenthood.

1. Social and Emotional Milestones

Toddlers are like sponges, they soak up the world around them and learn to navigate their emotions. Here are some social and emotional milestones to keep a lookout for:

• Attachment and Separation Anxiety: Around 18 months, many toddlers in Australia start displaying strong attachments to their primary caregivers. Separation anxiety may also surface as they become more aware of separations from their loved ones.

• Imitating and Pretend Play: Toddlers often begin imitating the actions and emotions of those around them. Engaging in pretend play, e.g feeding a doll or teddy bear, is typical during this period.

  
  

• Temperament and Independence: Your child may start to show more signs of their temperament, such as shyness or boldness. They also begin to assert their independence by saying "no" or wanting to do things themselves.

  
  

2. Cognitive Milestones

Toddlers are rapidly developing their cognitive abilities, which lay the foundation for future learning. Here are some cognitive milestones to observe:

•  Language Development: Your child's vocabulary expands significantly during the toddler years. You can expect them to start using simple sentences, understand basic questions, and recognise familiar people and objects.

  
  

• Problem-Solving Skills: Toddlers begin to experiment with problem-solving. They may try to fit objects together, sort shapes, or complete simple puzzles.

  
  

• Memory Development: Short-term memory improves, during this stage toddlers can remember sequences of actions and events, such as bedtime routines and favourite stories.

  
  

3. Motor Skill Milestones

Physical development is a crucial aspect of toddlerhood. Here are some motor skills milestones to watch for:

• Gross Motor Skills: Toddlers become more confident in walking and may start running, climbing, and jumping. They often enjoy outdoor activities like playing in the park.

  
  

• Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills, such as picking up small objects, drawing, and using utensils, continue to develop. Your child may start to show more control over their hand movements.

  
  

• Toilet Training: Some parents begin toilet training during the toddler years. Every child is different, so the timing for toilet training can vary.

4. Social Language and Development

During the toddler years, your child's social and language development takes centre stage. Here are some key milestones to be aware of:

• Sharing and Cooperation: Toddlers start to understand the concept of sharing and may show a willingness to cooperate with others, however it can be a gradual process.

• Speech and Communication: Your child's vocabulary will undergo significant expansion. By around  age of 2, many toddlers can use short sentences, ask simple questions, and identify familiar objects and people.

• Understanding Emotions: Toddlers begin to recognize and name basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger. They may also show empathy and comfort others when they are upset.

  
  

5. Play and Exploration Milestones

Play is a vital part of a toddler's development. As Australian parents, you can encourage and enjoy these play and exploration milestones:

• Imaginative Play: Your child's imagination blossoms during this period. They may engage in pretend play, like pretending to cook or have a tea party

• Interest in Books: Many toddlers in Australia develop an interest in books and enjoy storytime. Reading together can foster a love for learning.

  
  

• Explore Nature: Encourage your child's love for the outdoors by exploring the natural beauty that Australia offers. Trips to the beach, the park, or local wildlife sanctuaries are both fun and educational.

  
  

6. Coping with Challenges and Delays

It's important to remember that all children are unique and may not develop at the same pace. If you have concerns about your child's development or suspect delays, don't hesitate to consult with a paediatrician or early childhood development specialist. As early intervention can make a notable difference in addressing any potential challenges.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Our baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All our products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.