What to expect 1 year old

Your toddler's developmental milestones at 1 year

Explainer

Everything you need to know about your growing 1-year-old

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Congratulations, you officially have a toddler! Toddlers are more active, curious and expressive. At this age, your child may begin to use words, be able to stand on her/his own and take a few steps. To help your little one learn and grow, read books to your child and encourage active play.

Social and emotional

Language and communication

Brain development

Movement and physical development

Food and nutrition

Things to look out for

Tips and resources

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Social and emotional milestones at 1 year

Some of the ways you’ll see your little one learning to connect with the people around him at 1 year.

Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story.
Cries when his parents leave.
Is shy around strangers.
He’ll put out an arm or leg to help with getting dressed.
Has favourite toys.
Repeats sounds to get your attention.

Tips for parents

Play social games with him like hiding something and coaxing him to find it.
Try to get him to help with getting dressed by asking him to put his leg out, stand up, etc.

Language and communication milestones at 1 year

How your toddler is expressing her needs.

Is using basic gestures like waving and saying basic words like “mama” and “dada.”
Her babbles sound more like speech.
Responds to simple requests you give.
She will try to repeat words you say.

Tips for parents

Encourage your toddler to say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye. ’ Praise your toddler when they do so, as this can help their socio-emotional development.
Praise your toddler when she repeats words or tries to speak with others.
Prompt her to point to characters and objects when you’re reading to her.

Brain development milestones at 1 year

Your child’s brain is growing!

He is copying movements and gestures.
Bangs objects together.
Drinks from a cup and uses other objects correctly.
Finds things that are hidden.
He looks at the right object when it is named.
Can follow simple directions and lets go of objects without help.
He puts objects in containers and can take them out.

Tips for parents

Give support and guidance to your toddler when he’s playing a game.
As you notice your toddler gaining skills and being able to do some things on his own, you can progressively reduce your support but still observe and guide him.

Movement and physical development milestones at 1 year

How she’ll move through her environment.

Can take a few steps without support.
Gets into a sitting position without support.
Pulls up to stand and walks while holding onto furniture.

Tips for parents

Try placing your toddler on flat surfaces to help her develop her gross motor skills like crawling and moving her arms and legs.

Food and nutrition milestones at 1 year

What mealtimes look like at 1 year.

Eats a greater variety of foods, such as soft-cooked vegetables and soft fruits.
He is starting to learn how to eat on his own.
Can thoroughly chew his food.
He is beginning to be able to use an open cup.

Tips for parents

Give your toddler half a cup of food four to five times a day, along with two healthy snacks.
Continue to breastfeed if he wants to.

Things to look out for

While all children develop differently, you should speak to your paediatrician if your 1-year-old:

Isn’t crawling.
Won't search for hidden objects.
Is unable to stand without support.
Doesn’t point.
Doesn’t say simple words.
Loses skills she once had.

True or False?

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1-Year-Old Baby Developmental Milestones

Written by Stephanie Watson

One Year Baby Milestones: Growth

Your baby’s weight has likely tripled since birth. At month 12, babies also have grown by 50% -- about 9 to 11 inches -- and their brain is about 60% of its adult size. After an incredible one-year growth spurt, your baby’s weight gain will start to slow down as their activity level increases.

One Year Baby Milestones: Motor Skills

Your 1-year-old should be standing alone and “cruising”-- walking while holding onto furniture. They may even have taken those first tentative solo steps. If they haven’t, hopefully you’ll have your video camera ready to capture the moment when they do.

One-year-olds are pretty good at doing a few things for themselves, such as eating with their fingers, helping their parents dress them, and turning the pages of a storybook. Your baby should be starting to use a few everyday items correctly, including a spoon, telephone, and hairbrush. Although their aim with these things might not be perfect, they certainly have the right intention.

You can help them develop their hand-eye coordination by introducing songs with simple hand motions, like "Itsy Bitsy Spider," playing patty-cake, and giving a "high five."

One Year Baby Milestones: Sleep

By one year, your baby should be sleeping less during the day and more at night. Most children at this age still need an afternoon nap, but their morning nap may be a thing of the past or the naps may have fused into a longer one in the middle of the day

One Year Baby Milestones: Eating

At one year, you can make the transition from breast milk or formula to cow’s milk. Start with whole milk. Your baby needs the extra fat for healthy brain growth and development. Don’t transition to low-fat milk -- or any other low-fat foods, for that matter -- until after your baby’s second birthday, or advised by your pediatrician.

If you’ve been breastfeeding, you might decide that one year is the time to start weaning your baby. It tends to be easier on both mother and baby to wean gradually, dropping one feeding at a time. The bedtime feeding is usually the last one to go. To replace nursing, you can give your 1-year-old a cup of milk, a snack, or something to suck on.

Now that your baby is eating more table foods, be very careful about choking hazards. Avoid giving your 1-year-old whole grapes, pieces of hot dogs, popcorn, or any other foods that could get stuck in their throat. Always stay close by your baby during mealtimes. You can now give foods that contain honey. Eggs and nut butters are also acceptable.

One Year Baby Milestones: Communication

Your baby’s vocabulary is expanding quickly. You’ll probably hear a few words, like “Mama,” “Dada,” “no,” or “uh-oh” on a regular basis now. One-year-olds learn language by imitating their parents’ speech, so expect that your baby will turn into a little mimic, if they haven’t done so already. At this point, mama really refers to mama, and dada really means dada.

By one year, babies are becoming more social. They are starting to understand what people are saying to them, and they are using their newfound language skills to get the attention of those around them. In month 12, your baby will also start testing the limits, which can include responding to your requests with a “no” or even throwing a tantrum. Be firm and let your child know that these behaviors are not acceptable. Meanwhile, reward good behaviors with praise or a treat.

Pay close attention during play dates. Kids at this age may not realize they’re poking or squeezing too hard. Have plenty of toys available. Sharing isn’t a concept 1-year-olds understand, but you can start teaching it.

Your baby will prefer certain people to others now. You can see them becoming shy or anxious around strangers, and clinging to you when you try to leave. Both stranger and separation anxieties will pass. For now, be sympathetic to your baby’s worries. When you have to go out, make leaving as quick and painless as possible and assure your baby that you will return soon.

One Year Baby Milestones: Baby’s First Shoes

Now that your baby may be starting to walk, it’s time to think about buying that first pair of baby shoes. Though you might be tempted to reach for the cutest shoes on the shelf, comfort and fit are the most important priorities for your baby’s first pair of shoes. Go to a store that specializes in children’s shoes and ask a salesperson to measure your baby’s feet. Look for:

Soft, lightweight, breathable material
Soles with rubber grips to prevent slipping
Enough room in the shoes for your baby’s feet to grow

You’ll probably need to go shoe shopping again in 2 or 3 months as your baby’s feet continue to grow.

Tips for Your Baby’s 12th Month:

One-year-olds love to explore. Provide plenty of opportunities for safe exploration by filling cabinets with unbreakable Tupperware containers, wooden spoons, and whisks or by putting large, different textured items inside a box. Use a firm ‘no’ when something is off limits and redirect your baby's attention.
If your child is a good climber, think about dropping the crib mattress now so that they don’t get a leg-up and fall over the top of the crib railing. The should be no crib bumpers.
At your one-year visit, check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby is up-to-date on all vaccinations.
Make sure that the house is still baby proofed with stairways gated, no blind cords hanging down where baby can reach them, pots and dishes put back away from counter edges, and household cleaners out of reach. Keep bathroom doors and bedroom doors closed
Make sure your baby is in a rear-facing car seat.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no ”screen time” at all for children under the age of 18 months, apart from video chatting with relatives. Studies have shown that TV at this age can negatively affect a child's language development, reading skills, and even contribute to problems with sleep and attention.

Development of a child from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months of life: what a child should be able to do

For a child from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months: what he should be able to do

What should a child be able to do at 1 year and 3 months? As a rule, by this time the child is already confidently on his feet, and by 1 year and 6 months, calm walking develops into small jogs and even jumps.

At this age, the development of speech continues, the baby already knows about 10 words, and possibly more. By the age of 1.5, the child's vocabulary expands and can contain about 30-40 words. Such simple words as "mom", "dad", "grandfather" are pronounced with ease and correctly. At this age, you can see the attempts of the little one to connect a few words into a sentence, in addition, he already knows how to answer the questions “who is this”, “where”. Often words and speech are accompanied by gestures and vivid facial expressions, especially if the child is happy or dissatisfied.

The development of children's speech begins, everything you say to the baby becomes meaningful. The foundations of language acquisition are formed, both understanding and speaking. By about 1.5 years old, the baby understands perfectly well when they are addressed to him, looks into his eyes when talking and listens with pleasure.

Despite the fact that each child develops taking into account individual characteristics, his main skills should fit into the list of skills characteristic of a certain age. Small deviations are quite acceptable and are not a reason for parental panic. Let them act as "bells" for more active participation of parents in the life of the baby.

A child at 1 year and 6 months old begins to try to connect information from different senses. He can determine the humor of the people around him, distinguishes gender, and even knows from whose lips this speech sounds.

Child skills from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months

In the second year of life, active development of the sensory-speech zone of the brain is noted. These changes correspond to a sudden jump in language abilities. During the second year, there is also a significant increase in the rate of myelination, which helps the brain perform more complex tasks.

Myelination is a highly organized process, considered one of the most significant indicators of brain maturation, and is often the main correlate of speech and language.

The child is now more aware of his own emotions and intentions. When he sees his reflection in the mirror, he fully understands who it is. He will soon start using his first name as well as personal pronouns such as "I" and "you".

Basic skills for a child from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months:

Tries to get on and off a high chair.
Quickly and confidently climbs the steps on all fours.
Climbing the stairs holding her mother's hand.
Stands confidently and walks (moves independently without holding on to a support).
Holds spoon, cup, bottle and other small items such as comb, pencil, etc.
Opens drawers, cabinets, takes out items inside.
Helps mother to dress herself (puts a leg up to put on shoes, gives a pen to put on a jacket).

A 1.5-year-old child is interested in everything that surrounds him, he tries to be independent, but remember that he still depends on you and you have a huge influence on his development.

Child height from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months - norms for boys and girls

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the height of a child during this period may be within the following limits:

Girls: 74.9(8) to 86.5(4) see
Boys: 76.9(8) to 87.7(6) see

The data of domestic pediatricians are slightly different:

Girls: 76.1 to 84.4 cm.
Boys: 77.4 to 86.9 cm.

Child weight from 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months - norms for boys and girls

According to WHO, the weight of the child during this period should be within the following limits:

Girls: 8.0 to 13.2 kg.
Boys: 8.7 to 13.8 kg.

According to pediatricians of domestic medicine:

Girls: 9.7 to 12.2 kg.
Boys: 10.1 to 13.1 kg.

The child's digestive system is already functioning and properly developed - the digestive enzymes are fully active. In a 1.5 year old child, the appetite decreases, which is associated with a slower pace of its development compared to previous months and, therefore, with a lower demand for calories. Now the child will gain weight at an average of 2 kg per year.

Mental development of a child at 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months

The second year of a child's life is the time when the baby shows itself, tries to be independent and often "revolts" against its parents. These are the inevitable stages of the emotional and psychological development of the baby, when the experience gained forms a causal relationship. At this stage of development, quite consciously, the child understands how to do and how not to do it. The psychological and emotional development of the child can be noted by the acquisition of the following skills:

The child imitates others, especially adults and older children.
He enjoys being with other children and playing with them.
He shows his independence.
May be indignant if he is not allowed to do what he is forbidden to do. Do not be nervous if the child cries and screams, do not react aggressively. Try to calm the child, ask him to explain what upset him. It is important that the baby learns to express his feelings from the first years of life.

Psychological parameters that a baby can show at this age:

Love for active games, where you need to run, search, throw the ball.
Increased curiosity - likes to open cabinets, drawers, examine the contents.
A vivid demonstration of one's feelings, emotions, both positive and negative.
Demonstration of an appropriate response to simple requests - "put down the toy", "give me your hand".

Sometimes a baby at this age has nightmares. The child may wake up screaming in the middle of the night. This is because at 1.5 years old he already notices a lot, but interprets little correctly.

Learn to praise your baby for progress and appropriate behaviour. Parental support is an important element that contributes to the proper psychological development of the child.

Child care at 1 year and 3 months to 1 year and 6 months

Children under the age of 2 years, as before, need rest during the daytime, namely, sleep 2-3 hours. At night, the duration of a child's sleep is 9-10 hours.

Changes have also taken place in the diet, the range of foodstuffs acceptable for consumption has expanded. Only the method of their preparation remains unchanged - boiled, steamed, baked.

Although a child's diet becomes more varied after the first birthday, milk and dairy products are still an important part of the diet. It is recommended to give 2 servings of milk per day and 1 serving of other dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, high quality yellow cheese.

Remember! An important component of the diet is water, which is involved in many biochemical reactions, transports nutrients and maintains a constant body temperature. In children aged 1-3 years, the need for fluid is 50 ml per 1 kg of body weight. For children, it is better to choose water that is low in sodium and minerals.

Every child grows at their own pace, you can't predict exactly when your child will learn new skills. Different manifestations of the development of the child after 1 year give a general idea of the changes that parents can expect, but the process is always individual.

If anything in the child's behavior causes concern, the pediatrician should be contacted immediately to rule out possible developmental abnormalities.

Child development calendar: 1 year

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Child development calendar: 1 year

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Until the age of 12 months, the child is in close emotional connection with his mother and perceives himself as part of her. And in a year he becomes more autonomous, his personality begins to take shape. During this period, the child experiences the first internal conflict: on the one hand, he is used to the fact that his mother is always with him and fulfills all his desires, but at the same time he wants independence. When something doesn’t work out for him, he can start to act up, cry and get angry. Parents need to support the baby in his development, correctly correcting his behavior.

What can a child at 1 year old do?

One year old baby is able to:

pronounce easy words and imitate sounds by himself;
walk without support;
bite and chew solid food;
assemble a pyramid, build several figures from cubes;
make cakes, roll sausages from plastic material;
comment on what you are doing;
to use a cup and spoon.

A one-year-old child has clearly defined interests, likes and dislikes. He behaves differently with different people and shows independence in choice and action, and also actively expresses emotions, including negative ones.

Development of a child at 1 year: 7 principles

I am a parent offers seven simple tips for young mothers and fathers so that your baby develops quickly and easily overcomes the "threshold of one year".

1. Encourage familiarity with the world around you

At the age of one year, the peak of the cognitive activity of the baby falls, so parents should encourage the desire of the crumbs to get acquainted with the outside world. Very often, children at this age are not at all interested in toys, but show interest in household items that adults use. So if your child is enthusiastically twirling the lid of a pot in his hands or trying to open the door of a washing machine, it is worth giving him the opportunity to explore a new object and try it “in action”! Of course, this does not apply to sockets and other dangerous items for the health of the baby.

2. Respect independent choice

Let the baby try, without your help, choose toys that he wants to take with him for a walk, put on a shoe or hat, decide what kind of porridge he will eat for breakfast. Such simple actions will let the child understand that you respect his independence and reckon with his opinion. If the baby does not succeed in some action, and he begins to act up and cry, you should not do everything instead of him: help him with advice. If the child cannot assemble a pyramid from rings of different diameters in any way, lay out the rings in front of him in the right order, but let the child try to assemble the pyramid itself.

3. Develop physically together

Closer to 12 months, the child actively crawls, can crawl under obstacles, climbs boldly on an inclined surface, easily climbs onto a chair or sofa, can stand without adult support and takes his first independent steps.

One year old, you can already start doing the first exercises: children try to imitate the movements of adults. Repeating the simplest exercises after mom and dad will bring the baby a lot of fun and exciting minutes, and young mothers can combine business with pleasure - “throw off” a couple of kilograms!

4. Learn to use cutlery

One year old baby is able to use cutlery at the table. Some children at the age of one year already know how to prick small pieces of food on a fork.

5. Learn new words and counting

By the age of one, a child can already say a few words. Most often, these are imitating, lightweight words, consisting of simple repeating sounds: ba-ba, ma-ma, etc.

Children of this age distinguish between the names of close people and the names of certain objects. They willingly fulfill the requests of adults to show them a ball, a cube, a chair or a teddy bear. The child always looks in the direction of the person who was called by name, or the subject that is being spoken about. Therefore, if you call out loud new objects that fall into the field of view of the baby, your baby will quickly learn new words and learn to associate them with certain objects.

It is impossible to teach a one-year-old child to count, but a baby at this age can quite remember the meaning of the word “two”. Lay out pairs in front of the baby - socks, gloves, identical balls and say "two". Very soon the child will understand what is at stake, and imitating you, he will connect things in pairs.

6. Do not distract him from his studies

A baby understands the meanings of the words “possible” and “impossible” at the age of one, and when he is not allowed to do something, he will show his discontent in all ways.

One should not force a one-year-old child to do what he does not want to do.