The CDC defines milestones as things most babies, 75 percent or more, can do by a certain age, and 1 year has its own checklist. By the first birthday, most babies pull up to stand and walk while holding on to furniture. Most pick things up between thumb and pointer finger, the famous pincer grasp, and can drink from a cup without a lid while you hold it. [1]
The social list is just as busy: waving bye-bye, calling a parent "mama" or "dada" or another special name, pausing when you say "no", playing games like pat-a-cake, putting a block in a cup, and looking for a toy they watched you hide. [1]
Now, walking. The AAP notes that many babies take their first steps around the first birthday, and that it is normal for children to start walking earlier or later than that. First steps are shaky, feet wide apart, and your baby may take one step and sit down in surprise. [2] Worth repeating: walking alone is not on the CDC 1 year checklist at all. "Takes a few steps on his own" appears on the 15 month list. A 12 month old who cruises the couch but will not let go is exactly on schedule. [3]
First words follow the same wide range. The AAP notes that some babies have a vocabulary of two to three words by the first birthday, but that it is more likely a 12 month old's speech is a sort of gibberish with the tones and rises of real sentences. For your child, a "word" is any sound that consistently refers to the same thing, so "ba" for ball counts. [4] Pointing, gesturing, and imitating your gestures are all part of the same language work. [4]
Separation anxiety is likely at full strength right now. The AAP notes it usually peaks between 10 and 18 months and then fades during the second half of the second year. A baby who clings at daycare drop-off is showing attachment, not a problem you caused. [5]
Your baby sits right at the border of two ranges this month. The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months, and 11 to 14 hours for toddlers 1 to 2 years, naps included in both. Anywhere in that neighborhood is typical, and babies vary, so count the whole day rather than judging the night alone. [6]
While your child still sleeps in a crib, the safe sleep basics hold: back for all naps and at night, a firm, flat sleep surface, and no soft objects or loose bedding in the sleep area. [7]
Expect some bedtime protest from separation anxiety too. A baby who cries when you leave the room at night is working through the same normal stage that peaks between 10 and 18 months. [5]
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Open the week calculatorMeals look almost grown up now. WHO guidance for children 9 to 23 months is 3 to 4 meals of solid food per day, plus 1 to 2 snacks as needed. [8] Portions stay small: a toddler serving is roughly one quarter of an adult's, so a typical meal might be an ounce of meat or 2 to 3 tablespoons of beans, a tablespoon or two of vegetables, the same of fruit, and a quarter slice of bread. [11]
The big change at 12 months is milk. The AAP advises whole milk for children 12 to 24 months, about 16 ounces (2 cups) a day, alongside water, about 8 to 32 ounces a day. Water and plain milk are the best-choice drinks for this whole stage. [9] Juice is still not on the menu: infants under 1 year should not drink juice, and eating fruit is always preferred to drinking it. [9]
Families who breastfeed do not need to switch anything. WHO supports continuing to breastfeed up to 2 years of age or beyond, alongside those meals. [8]
If your baby still takes bottles, this is the window to keep trading them for cups. The AAP advises completing the move from bottle to cup sometime between 12 and 18 months, reducing bottle feedings gradually rather than all at once. Longer bottle use tends to crowd out meals. [10]
Most of what a 12 month old throws at you is ordinary. A short list of signs deserves a call, so you never have to wonder.
Fever. A fever above 104 F (40 C) repeatedly, at any age: call your child's doctor. A fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child younger than 2 years: call, even if no other symptoms show. A fever along with a seizure, or a child who still acts sick once the fever comes down: call right away. [14]
Dehydration. Fewer than six wet diapers in a day, or a parched, dry mouth: the AAP lists these as signs of dehydration and advises notifying the pediatrician immediately. Fewer tears when crying and a sunken soft spot belong on the same list. [15]
Movement. Your baby uses one side of the body much more than the other, does not use each arm and each leg equally, or does not seem to be moving normally to you: discuss it with your pediatrician. A 12 month old who is not yet pulling up to stand is past the age when most babies do, so that is worth a conversation too. [2] [1]
Skills. Your baby has lost a skill they once had, or is missing several milestones on the 1 year checklist: share that with your doctor and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps, and most of the time the answer is reassurance. [1]
LEELALU is education, not medical care. Nothing here is a diagnosis. For anything on this list, or any symptom that worries you, contact your provider. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
By 15 months, the CDC milestone list includes taking a few steps alone, trying to say one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", like "ba" for ball, and using fingers to self-feed. Everything your baby practices this month, cruising, babbling, raking food off the tray, is rehearsal for that list. [3]
Once first steps do come, expect a wide stance and plenty of falls onto a well-padded bottom. That wobbly stage passes quickly, and it starts whenever your child is ready, not on a calendar date. [2]
And if goodbyes stay hard for a while, that is the expected shape of things. Separation anxiety usually peaks between 10 and 18 months and then fades during the second half of the second year. [5]
Yes. The AAP notes that many babies take their first steps around the first birthday, and that it is normal for children to start walking earlier or later than that. The CDC puts walking a few steps alone on the 15 month checklist, not the 1 year checklist. At 12 months, cruising along furniture is the expected version of walking. [2] [3]
The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months and 11 to 14 hours for toddlers 1 to 2 years, naps included in both. Around the first birthday your baby sits right at the border of those two ranges, so anywhere in that neighborhood is typical. Count the whole day rather than the night alone. [6]
The AAP advises whole milk for children 12 to 24 months, about 16 ounces (2 cups) a day, alongside 8 to 32 ounces of water. Infants under 1 year should not drink juice, and eating fruit is always preferred to drinking it. Families who breastfeed can simply continue: WHO supports breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. [9] [8]
LEELALU is education, not medicine. This page cannot diagnose or treat anything, and it never replaces your clinician. For anything on the "call your doctor" list, or anything that worries you, contact your provider. Found an error? Write to hello@leelalu.com and a person will read it. Our method: Editorial Standards.