It is normal for an 18 month old to not talk although some 18 month olds start talking some.
Most babies and toddlers say their first words around 12 months of age and some are just late talkers and start to speak or talk later.
If your 18 month old is not talking yet but are showing other signs of development of language like understanding of instructions or pointing to objects then it is often not a cause for concern.
Many 18 month olds can often say a few words other than mama or dada and may even try to say 3 or more words and they may begin to follow one step directions without gestures
The milestones that an 18 month old should be doing are beginning to walk independently, saying a few words, and beginning to show interest in simple pretend play as well as be imitating other people.
18 month olds also start to express their emotions such as through temper tantrums and even clinging to familiar adults in and stressful situations.
By 18 months most 18 month olds are able to walk without holding on to parents or something else and they often start to scribble and may drink from a cup without a lid, although they sometimes still spill the content of the cup and they may try to use a spoon when eating.
18 month olds also may begin to climb on and off a couch or chair without help and they can often say a few words other than mama or dada and may even try to say 3 or more words and they may begin to follow one step directions without gestures.
18 month olds also often show interest in other kids and may also engage in some simple pretend play and begin to show a wider range of emotions, including their temper tantrums, fear of strangers and affection for familiar people.
An 18 month old may also start to explore alone, with a parent nearby them and may show affection towards people they know well and may start to play simple pretend like feeding a doll and recognize everyday objects and understand what they are uses for such as a cup or spoon.
An 18 month old should take at least one nap a day.
The one nap a day that an 18 month old should take should last between 2 to 3 hours.
Some toddlers often still take 2 naps a day although by 18 months of age most toddlers transition to only needing 1 nap a day for to 2 to 3 hours.
However every toddler and child are different and may need 2 naps a day although some toddlers transition to only needing 1 nap a day earlier.
Toddlers also experience sleep regressions around 18 months of age, which can also affect the toddlers nap schedule.
So instead of focusing just on clock time, you should also pay attention to the toddlers "wake windows" which is the amount of time that your 18 month old or toddler is awake between their naps or their last nap and their bedtime.
Look out for sleep cues such as yawning to help you determine when your 18 month old or toddler is tired and in need of a nap.
Most 18 month olds should go to bed by 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM as babies and toddlers need earlier bedtimes than adults because they naturally wake up early.
Although babies and toddlers also have their own unique sleep schedule and wake windows but they should go to bed by 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the latest to get enough sleep before they wake up in the morning.