Baby at 2 years
Updated 25 Oct 2026
What most children can do at 2 years
Social and emotional
- Your child likes copying others, especially you and older brothers/sisters
- Your child is excited and happy to be with other children
- Your child is becoming more and more independent
- Starts showing defiance by doing what you or other adults have told them not to do
- Your child mostly wants to play alongside other children and enjoys group games with friends or siblings, such as chasing games
Language and communication
- Your child can point to pictures, objects and animals when they are named
- Your child knows the names of familiar objects and body parts.
- Your child can say sentences of 2 to 4 words
- Your child can follow simple instructions.
- Your child repeats words they hear in conversation.
- Your child points to things they see in a book
Cognitive (learning, thinking and problem-solving)
- Your child will look for things even when they are hidden under two or three covers
- Your child is starting to sort shapes and colours
- If you read a familiar rhyme from a book and leave out some words, your child can finish it (saying the right words you left out)
- Your child plays simple pretend games, such as pretending to be mum and feeding a doll
- Your child can build a tower of 4 or more blocks. For example, stacking 4 blocks on top of each other
- Your child may use one hand more than the other.
- Your child can follow two-step instructions such as "pick up your shoes and put them in the cupboard"
- Your child names pictures they see in books, such as dog, cat, bird...
Movement / Physical development
- Your child stands on tiptoe
- Your child kicks a ball
- Your child starts to run
- Your child can climb onto and down from furniture (bed, table, chairs) without help
- Can walk up and down stairs
- Your child can throw a ball overarm
- Your child can draw or copy straight lines and circles
If your child shows any of the signs below, take them to see a doctor early
- Your child does not use two-word phrases such as "drink milk"
- Your child does not know what to do with common objects such as a brush, a phone, a spoon…
- Your child does not copy the actions and words of people around them
- Your child does not follow simple instructions
- Your child cannot walk steadily
- Your child loses skills they once had
Things you can do for your 2-year-old
- Encourage your child to help with simple chores at home, such as sweeping and cooking dinner. Praise them when they help willingly.
- At this age, children play next to (not with) each other and do not know how to share. During playdates, give them plenty of toys. Watch closely, stay calm and step in if they hit or argue with each other.
- Pay attention to your child and praise them when they follow instructions. Don't pay too much attention to defiant behaviour. Spend more time praising good behaviour than punishing poor behaviour.
- Spend time teaching your child to identify and name body parts, animals and other everyday objects.
- When your child says something incorrectly, don't correct them. Instead, say it back correctly. For example, "That's a ball."
- Encourage your child to say the word instead of pointing. If they can't say the whole word ("milk"), prompt them with the first sound ("m"). Over time, you can prompt them to say the whole sentence — "I want milk."
- Hide your child's toys around the room and let them find them
- Help your child play with Lego using shape pieces, colours or farm animals. Name each piece as they put it in place.
- Encourage your child to play with blocks, or take turns building towers and knocking them down together.
- Do art projects with your child using crayons, watercolours and paper. Describe what your child has made and hang it on the wall or the fridge. Your child will love it.
- Try asking your child to help you open doors and drawers and turn the pages of a book or magazine.
- Once your child walks steadily, try asking them to bring you small things.
- Kick a ball back and forth with your child. Once they kick well, encourage them to run and kick.
- Spend time taking your child to the park to run and climb on play equipment, and go for walks along green, leafy paths close to nature. Stay close to keep your child safe.
Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Bluish skin around the lips, hands and feet, or the whole body
A bluish colour around the lips, on the hands and feet, or over the whole body is a sign the baby is short of oxygen. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once.
Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, chest indrawing
Breathing faster than 60 breaths a minute, chest indrawing, flaring nostrils or pauses in breathing are signs of breathing difficulty in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now. If the baby stops breathing or turns blue, call 115.
Convulsions (fits) in a baby
A convulsion in a young baby is a danger sign. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once; lay the baby on their side and do not put anything in the mouth.
Signs of dehydration
No wet diaper for 6 hours, a dry mouth and lips, and few or no tears when crying are signs of dehydration. Sunken eyes, a sunken soft spot, cold hands and feet and excessive sleepiness are signs of severe dehydration and an emergency. Please take your baby to the nearest emergency department now or call 115.
Source: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
Fever of 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs to be seen by a doctor, even if the baby seems otherwise well. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Jaundice spreading to the belly, arms and legs, or appearing early
Jaundice that spreads to the belly, arms, legs, palms or soles, appears within the first 24 hours after birth, or lasts more than 2 weeks needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby in now, especially if the baby is feeding poorly or very sleepy.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
Poor feeding, lethargy, hard to wake
Feeding problems, clearly reduced activity, or a baby who feels cold are danger signs in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Fever after birth
A temperature of 38°C or higher after giving birth can be a sign of infection. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Heavy bleeding after birth
Soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or passing large clots, is a sign that needs emergency care. Call 115 or have someone take you to the nearest hospital now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
You are not alone, and these thoughts need a doctor's support soon. Please tell someone you trust right away and go to the nearest health facility today. If you feel unsafe right now, call 115.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- CDC – Milestones by 2 Years | Learn the Signs. Act Early. | CDC (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Developmental Milestones: 2 Year Olds - HealthyChildren.org (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Triệu chứng suy hô hấp ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: WHO – Newborn mortality (fact sheet)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Trẻ bị sốt, khi nào cần đưa đi khám?
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.