Thirty months, or two and a half years, sits between the standard 2-year and 3-year milestone checks and it is a significant developmental period. A lot changes between 24 and 30 months and it can feel like your toddler becomes a different person almost weekly. Language development at 30 months is usually quite impressive. Most toddlers at this age have 200 or more words in their vocabulary and are using sentences of 3 to 5 words regularly. They ask questions constantly, particularly who, what, and where. They refer to themselves by name or with pronouns like I and me. They are becoming increasingly intelligible: most speech should be understood by familiar adults around 75 percent of the time at 30 months. Physically, 30-month-olds are much more coordinated than they were at 2. Running is smooth and confident. Most can jump with both feet leaving the ground, kick a ball with aim, walk up stairs alternating feet with support, and begin to show preference for one hand over the other. Fine motor skills include drawing circles and lines, using scissors with assistance, and managing large zips and buttons with effort. Emotionally, 30 months is still very much big feelings territory. The ability to regulate emotions is developing but far from complete. Tantrums continue. Frustration is real. But you may start to notice your toddler is slightly more able to be reasoned with, and slightly more interested in the feelings of others. Talk to your pediatrician if at 30 months your toddler has fewer than 50 words, is not combining words, or is very difficult to understand even by family members.