All babies have their own timetable, but you can watch for certain developments in your 12-month-old. Celebrate with your baby as he reaches or nears these milestones.
Cognitive
- Looks and listens simultaneously
- Understands how to use many objects (cuddling a stuffed toy, shaking a rattle, putting a cup to his lips)
- Understands that objects have names
- Understands object permanence well (looks for an object that’s hidden because he knows it’s there)
- Has an expanding attention span (about 15 minutes)
- Is attracted to novelty (new toys, objects)
- Explores playthings in new ways (touching, banging, dropping)
- Increasingly displays memory of recent events
- Follows one-step commands (“Lift your arm”)
Motor
- Has good accuracy when picking up small objects with fingers (pincer grasp)
- Getting better at releasing objects from his grasp
- Points and pokes with his index finger
- Can feed self, although messily
- Drinks from a cup
- May be able to put things into containers
- Crawls quickly
- Crawls up stairs
- Pulls up to standing position
- May stand alone briefly
- May cruise along furniture
- May take first steps or even walk
Communication
- Uses gestures to communicate
- Shakes head or frowns to express “no” or respond to “no”
- Holds out arms to be picked up
- Recognizes and responds to many familiar words
- Responds to simple questions and one-step commands
- Babbles in long groups of consonant-vowel sounds, like “tata upupup ba ba ba!”
- Uses the cadence and inflections of real conversation
- May use “Ma ma” and “Da da” to refer specifically to parents
- May say other early words
Social
- Accurately mimics the expressions and some sounds made by others
- Imitates the actions of adults and other children
- Enjoys watching older children
- Enjoys being around other babies but doesn’t play with them yet
- Watches for your reactions (to banging, laughing, testing limits)
- Shows stranger anxiety (shyness around strangers)
- Shows separation anxiety (crying or exhibiting distress when you leave the room)
- Shows increased affection with family
- Waves good-bye
