Accurate Guide to Figuring Out Your Regression Age!
So I’ve seen lots of posts helping people figure out what age they regress to, and that’s great! The problem is that, a lot of the time, they tend to be kinda inaccurate. I’ve volunteered with babies and kids for pretty much my whole life (I helped in my church nursery from the time I was six), so while I’m not an expert, I thought I could maybe paint a more accurate picture!
See, when kids are really little, they change as much in a few months as older kids change in a year or more. A toddler that just turned two is going to be completely different than one that’s about to turn three, even though they’re the same age.
Starts to coo at about two or three months. Does not yet babble, though.
Might not even look at faces.
Really don’t do much at this age, they’re basically sleepy, soft little balls that occasionally start to scream.
They start off cooing/gooing and start to babble at about 4 months.
Basic playing would start in around this age (shaking rattles, peekaboo, etc.)
Will look at faces and smile.
Very stationary; might not be able to even roll over until 6 months.
Can usually start solids (purée, not actual solid food) at 4 months or so.
This is honestly a pretty big age gap but if I went month by month this would be a novel.
Understands simple words at about 9 months. (‘No’ is a good example)
Babbling at first but can potentially say their first word at 9 months or even a bit sooner (very rare, though) but usually won’t until about a year.
Starts out eating purées but will start eating regular food soon after (needs to be cut into small pieces, though, and usually doesn’t eat hard foods)
Will play with guardians and by themselves but will not play with other babies. They’ll play beside each other but not with each other. This is called parallel play and can last up until about almost three years old, but usually ends sooner, particularly if the baby goes to a daycare.
Will start to crawl at about 6 months, perhaps later, and can walk at about 9-12 months.
Some babies completely skip crawling and just go straight to walking though. It’s pretty funny.
These babies have practically no balance, though. They fall over pretty much constantly. It’s not uncommon for a baby to lose their balance and fall over just standing still.
Start becoming little stinkers at this age. This is when they can understand what their guardian is saying, but ignore them and do it anyway.
It’s cute but they’re such stinkers and get into everything.
Start learning a lot more words and can usually understand a lot of what their guardian says.
Can follow one-step instructions (“go get your boots”)
This is the age that they usually start being classified as toddlers. They’re toddling and waddling about and aren’t very solid on their feet, even if they can run.
Puts EVERYTHING in their mouths.
Starts being more compassionate. Might hug a crying sibling.
Will initiate some games, such as peekaboo.
Might start potty training at this age. It’s becoming increasingly rare, though. They’re capable of it but I find that guardians usually start later now.
Likes music and bobbing up and down to dance
Loves to play with guardian
Will interact more with other babies
This interaction is usually limited to fighting over toys, pulling hair, and pushing, though. General roughhousing. But they’ll also give hugs and kisses unprompted.
Around the age they start mimicking the adults in their lives. This is usually when they get a bigger interest in baby dolls.
Though potty training has often started most babies will still be in diapers at this age.
Knows many words and can say them on command. Might know a few colours.
Two+ word sentences (Ex. Leah’s hat, help please, Jack’s turn, go to park, stop it, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, kids pretty much never say things like ‘me do’ or ‘me want’. They usually use their names instead (Max’s turn, Max do, Max want). The only time I’ve ever met a kid who said 'me’ when they should say 'I’ was when it was older kids pretending to be babies for whatever reason.
Kids are really smart it’s awesome.
They can walk and run but they fall down all. the. time. Very uncoordinated. This is why they’re called 'toddlers’.
Becoming more independent but they will usually go back to their guardian at different points for cuddles and reassurance.
Starting to play with each other more, (mainly games like 'chase me’) but still mainly parallel play.
Will want to do what guardians do. Can do simple tasks like sweep or put things on table. Goes from carrying baby dolls around to pretending to feed and take care of them.
Loves being read to and usually sits through the whole book.
Pacifier use is still common enough at this stage but by now most parents are weaning them off of it.
Much more balanced. Pretty much never falls when walking but trips a lot when running.
By now is usually fully potty trained and in underwear. May occasionally have accidents, though. Might wear a pull-up at night.
By now is speaking in complete simple sentences. (Ex. It’s my turn, help me please, I gotta use the potty, etc.)
Again, they won’t say 'me’ instead of 'I’, but you know what they will mess up? Pronouns. “Her went to the park” “Him took that from me” “That doesn’t belong to she”, etc. This can last for awhile; the less extreme versions can last until four. These particular sentences will be used closer to three than two and a half, though. Might say things like 'go-ed’ instead of 'went’. This is usually the extent of their grammar issues and continues until sometimes five.
Can feed themselves but will make a mess. Uses sippy cups.
Will almost certainly be weaned off pacifier by three. Some still use it at 3 or even later but tbh everybody is seriously judging their guardians at that point. Is it nice? No…but it’s what happens.
Still puts stuff in their mouths. This is why a lot of toys won’t be recommended for kids 0-3.
Usually ends parallel play in favour of playing with other toddlers at this point.
Usually starts watching TV. Probably shouldn’t but they do.
Lots of tantrums. Wants to be completely independent but can’t yet.
Still loves cuddling with guardian.
Not a toddler anymore. (Seriously this is like my pet peeve) Very sturdy and balanced when walking and running. More likely to trip over things than older children, though.
Months don’t make as much as a difference as they used to anymore.
Usually drinks out of a cup at this point, but sippy cups aren’t out of the question.
Will prefer playing with other children to playing alone.
Plays more elaborate games of pretend.
Can have a conversation with an adult.
Will sing songs and do dances.
This is when the stereotypical princess and superhero phase usually starts.
Will probably have a favourite TV show.
Mostly independent but will likely be shy around new people and want to stay with guardian.
Pacifiers are not in the picture and most kids would be horrified at the idea of using one (that said, it’s totally fine for any age regressor to use a pacifier if it’s right for them.)
Often refers to themself as a 'big boy/girl/kid’ and will fight anybody who calls them a baby.
Still probably makes the same grammatical errors I mentioned earlier.
Plays with baby dolls, blocks, playdoh, trucks, barbies, etc.
Might sing the ABCs and be able to spell/write their name, but is unlikely to be able to recognize any other letters.
Runs everywhere, climbs on everything, jumps from things. Gives adults heart attacks.
Usually stops putting things in their mouths by now.
Knows a lot of stuff. Will know alphabet and can often write it, but usually can’t read or write words.
Biggest imagination you’ve ever seen.
Plays with the same toys as mentioned before but also puzzles and more complex toys.
I can make one for older kids but this is already way too long haha. Let me know if you have questions!
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