Your Baby’s Development. What Most Babies do at 1 Year:

Social/Emotional

  • Is shy or nervous with strangers
  • Cries when mom or dad leaves
  • Has favorite things and people
  • Shows fear
  • Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
  • Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
  • Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing

Language

  • Responds to simple spoken requests
  • Uses simple gestures like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
  • Makes sound with changes in tone
  • Tries to repeat your words

Learning/Thinking

  • Explores things in different ways like shaking, banging, throwing
  • Finds hidden things easily
  • Copies gestures
  • Drinks from a cup
  • Bangs two things together
  • Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy”

Movement/Physical Growth

  • Gets to a sitting position without help
  • Pulls up to a stand, walks holding on to furniture
  • May take a few steps without holding on
  • May stand alone

Talk to your child’s doctor if your baby:

  • Does not crawl
  • Can’t stand when helped
  • Does not look for things that he/she sees you hide
  • Does not say single words like “mama” or “dada”
  • Does not learn gestures like waving or shaking head
  • Does not point to things
  • Loses skills he once had

All children develop at their own pace, so try not to compare your child to others.  If you ever have concerns, make sure to bring them up to your child’s provider.  If your baby was born premature, he/she will be on a different developmental milestone path.  This is a great thing to discuss with baby’s provider at the 12-month visit!

Source: cdc.gov