my DS is 22 months & i still lift him fairly often. he's just getting to the stage that he can climb in & out of the car seat but if i want him to hurry then i'll lift him. he also loves cuddles & will ask to be picked up (which you don't have to do, of course). i think some of it might be personality - i.e. my DS is fairly affectionate & wary of new situations so he seems the sort who will want to be picked up maybe a bit more often than some others? i notice at playgroup it's kind of half & half - some of the kids never seem to want to be picked up really.