Every child is one of a kind. And just as his eyes are brown or his laugh is peppered with cute little hiccups, his physical and cognitive development is also all his own.
That's why comparing your newly minted toddler with another his age just isn't helpful. One may be zooming around the playground while the other is honing his verbal skills. Or one may reach every milestone consistently while the other develops in fits and starts.
Still, there are certain developmental milestones you can expect to likely occur by month 12. Just remember that unless your child seems to be really lagging in a particular area and your doctor is concerned, your little one will hit these 1-year milestones in his own time.
Developmental milestones for 1-year-olds
Age 1 movement milestones
Whether he’s pulling up to stand or taking his first steps, your toddler is actively honing his gross and fine motor skills around his first birthday.
- Sits without help. Your little one likely started sitting up with support around 4 or 5 months. By the time he's officially a toddler, he'll be sitting unsupported and getting into the position without your help.
- Crawls and cruises. Not every tot will crawl, but some kind of creeping or belly slithering is a gross motor skill at this age — and this trick leads to pulling up and cruising.
- Stands up alone. Whether at the coffee table or in his crib, the ability to bear weight and balance on two feet is a precursor to those tentative first steps, followed by walking.
- Takes steps. Many 1-year-olds are ready to take a few steps with your help, but the official walking milestone is 18 months of age.
Age 1 cognitive milestones
You can expect your child to meet plenty of cognitive milestones around this age — learning, exploring, problem solving, thinking — all of which show just how much his brain is developing.
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- Explores objects. Your budding scientist is on a mission to find out how things work — you'll notice shaking, banging objects together and rolling along the way.
- Finds hidden objects. Where’s baby’s teddy? When you hide his stuffed animal under the blanket, your 1-year-old will now try to find it.
- Puts things in a container. Your tot’s manual dexterity is improving, which makes filling up a sand bucket (and dumping it back out again) great fun.
- Starts to use objects correctly. Around his first birthday, your toddler will be more comfortable using different objects correctly, such as drinking from an open cup.
- Follows simple directions. Pet the dog gently. Put the toy down. Your smart toddler can now understand and follow simple commands.
Age 1 language and communication milestones
Get ready for an explosion of language during the first year as your little babbler starts to form words and imitates speech.
- Uses simple gestures. Waving "bye-bye," shaking his head "no," clapping his hands together — by the 1-year mark, your tot is able to use gestures like these to communicate.
- Makes sounds with tone changes. From cooing to babbling, your little one's vocalizations have become more complex during his first year. As he approaches his first birthday, you'll notice that the sounds he makes more closely resemble speech, and have noticeable changes in tone.
- Says a few words. Your child can now likely say at least a few first words, such as "mama," or "uh-oh." At this age, he'll also try to repeat words that he hears you say.
Age 1 social and emotional milestones
Your child is already a very social being — you know this because he makes eye contact and smiles at you. But the next level of awareness involves deeper emotions and unexpected tears.
- Appears anxious with strangers. Does your tot become shy around strangers or cry when you leave? Although stranger anxiety often starts sometime around the 9-month mark, it can continue into your little one's second year.
- Plays patty-cake and peekaboo. Your tot's clapping skills are put to excellent use with these classic rhyming and cause-and-effect games.
- Has favorite objects and people. Your 1-year-old may have recently adopted a security or transitional object such as a lovey or stuffed animal, and he'll also start showing preference to the people he's most comfortable with (that means you!).
- Hands you a book to hear a story. Around this age, reading becomes a more engaging activity. You'll notice your toddler looking at the correct picture when something is named and selecting books he'd like to read.
When to talk to your doctor about your 1-year-old’s development
While every child progresses at his own pace, talk to your pediatrician if you notice any of the following.
Talk to your doctor if by month 12, your child:
- Doesn’t crawl or drags one side of the body while crawling
- Can’t stand with help
- Doesn’t search for objects when you hide them
- Doesn’t use a few simple words
- Doesn’t use gestures, such as waving hands or shaking head
- Doesn’t point to things or pictures
- Loses any skills he had previously mastered
Talk to your doctor if by month 18, your child:
- Hasn't started walking
- Can't point
- Can't copy others
- Doesn't know what familiar objects are used for
- Doesn't have at least six words
- Loses any skills he had previously mastered
As for what's next? Between ages 1 and 2, your toddler is developing new skills at a rapid pace — from taking his first steps to exploring new environments to starting to have a real conversation with you.
If it seems like he’s learning something new every day, that’s because he is! Good thing for you, you’ve got a front row seat to all the action.
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