1-Year-Old Child Development Milestones

During the 12 months between ages 1 and 2, you'll watch your baby start to become less like an infant and more like a budding toddler! You'll witness a physical transformation as your 1-year-old begins to master new motor skills that help them gain a bit of independence and you'll likely begin to see their unique personality emerge.

"You are stepping into a beautiful but also challenging time," explains Victoria Tenenbaum, a board-certified behavior analyst who holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. She adds that babies learn from their environment, and parents and caregivers are the role models that they observe and follow in order to learn about the world around them.

Knowing how to set boundaries, encourage positive behaviors, help them explore their environment, and let them get a little messy every now and then will help you enjoy this transitional phase to toddlerhood!

1-Year-Old Language and Cognitive Milestones

You'll likely see some big changes when it comes to your child's cognitive development. Between 12 and 24 months, your child is likely to be able to recognize named items, like a cat or dog. They will also be able to play simple make-believe games and show an improved ability to follow your instructions. 

Here's a look at some of the biggest language and cognitive milestones.

Becoming More Talkative

At the end of your baby's first year, they are still likely to rely on nonverbal communication strategies, such as pointing, gesturing, or throwing items.

But the coos and screams of the early baby talk will give way to distinct babbling sounds like "da," "ba," "ga," and "ma." Your child will slowly begin to pull those together into recognizable words, and all the while, comprehend more of what you're saying.

Before your child's second birthday, they will likely be able to say simple sentences with two to four words and point to simple objects when you name them. (Both adorable and exciting!)

Following Simple Directions

Around 18-months-old, your budding toddler's thinking skills drastically improve. They can repeat actions by remembering past events and hold onto mental images of things that are out of sight.

The most helpful development for you, however, is their newfound ability to follow simple instructions! They may not remember on their own to grab their jacket before going outside, but they understand if you ask them to go get it. (Of course, they may not always comply!)

Becoming More Independent

Your 1-year-old will begin to try and become independent in many ways. They may insist on trying to help dress themselves and may want to test out new physical skills.

That said, they're also likely to be clingy and seek you out for comfort when feeling tired, scared, or lonely. By the time your child turns 2, you're likely to see some defiant behavior as they insist on doing what they want, even when you say "no."

1-Year-Old Movement, Hand, and Finger Milestones 

The 12-month mark will likely reflect some big changes for your child. In a short amount of time, they're likely to go from crawling to walking, and before you know it, trying to climb stairs and navigate through your home without any assistance. 

Here are a few of the biggest physical milestones for your 1-year-old.

First Steps

Some babies begin to walk around 12-months-old, while others wait a little longer (around 14- to 15-months). No matter when it happens, there are certain signs that show your little one may be ready to take those coveted first steps:

• Pulling up to a stand
• “Cruising,” or holding onto something (like a table) while walking
• Standing without support

There are quite a few things you can do to help your baby learn to walk! Once they learn to stand up, you can hold their hands while they wobble about. When it comes to the best toys for 1-year-olds, push toys can be a lot of fun. Look for sturdy items that will help your little one maintain their balance as they begin testing out new motor skills. 

More Concentrated Play

Play is important to a child's development at this age. Your 1-year-old's newfound dexterity will make them eager to investigate nearby objects.

Shaking or banging musical instruments and playing with toys that have levers, wheels, and moving parts are all popular at this age. Blocks are always a good choice, especially when your child gets to knock down a tower you build together.

Mastering the Pincer Grasp

The pincer grasp describes your toddler's ability to very precisely pick up objects with their thumb and forefinger. You may have noticed them attempting it before their first birthday, but now they are becoming a pro! This is especially helpful when eating and playing with toys. It also gets them ready for holding a pencil down the road!

1-Year-Old Emotional and Social Milestones

While you may notice your 1-year-old become a bit wary of strangers, you'll also see an amazing desire to interact with others, especially siblings and regular caretakers. Your child may even become excited to see other children!

Here are some emotional and social milestones to look out for.

Interest in Other Kids

For the most part, 1-year-olds prefer to play next to other kids, as opposed to with them. But, you may see your child begin to include other kids in play at times. 

Of course, your 1-year-old won't understand what it means to share and might be very possessive of their own toys. Don't insist they share with the other kids—instead, give them a few items that are off-limits from everyone else so they feel like they have some control over their play. 

Reacts to Emotions

You'll notice that your 1-year-old smiles and laughs in reaction to someone else or while they are playing with toys. (This makes your playtime with them even more fun!)

On the flip side of this, they may also cry when they see another child upset—but that's not a bad thing! Research has shown that young babies are able to show empathy, meaning they react to the pain of others as though it were happening to themselves. If your 1-year-old has a sibling, you've likely noticed this quite a bit.

Enjoys Books

At this age, your baby loves looking at books with you. Reading to them isn't just fun, but a great way to prepare them for preschool. Why? Children who are read to more as toddlers tend to do better in school.

After their first birthday, kids start to make big strides in vocabulary while learning about letters, shapes, colors, weather, animals, seasons, etc.—all of which can be learned through reading!

Other Milestones for Your 1-Year-Old

Here is what else you should know about your growing 1-year-old.

Food Exploration

Now that your baby is a solid-food-connoisseur, you may be wondering what other types of food you can introduce at this age.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies and toddlers should have a consistent diet of healthy fats, such as those found in avocado, olive oil, fish, nut butters, and dairy. Try to avoid saturated and trans fats as much as possible, including fried foods, fast foods, and many packaged foods. Keeping your child's daily caloric intake at about 1,000 calories should prevent overfeeding and an increased risk of weight gain.

Separation Anxiety

It's an all-too-familiar scenario: You leave the room just for a moment and your baby starts crying uncontrollably. Hello, separation anxiety! Your 1-year-old is becoming very attached, and it is a normal part of their development.

Although it might be tempting to sneak away when you have to leave them with a family member, babysitter, or daycare, the best thing you can do is offer them a firm goodbye and assure them you will be back. The more consistent you remain, the easier it will get for both of you.

More Aggression

You may notice your 1-year-old becoming more assertive physically. Children at this age don't understand that other people have feelings too, so they may hit without realizing it's hurting someone else. 

"Many parents start to ask how to manage some behaviors commonly associated with little toddlers," says Tenenbaum. "As our babies become more independent, they also start showing their personalities. [They start] experiencing many frustrating situations during this year, so parents might observe emotional outbursts and challenging moments."

When these types of challenges pop up, she recommends trying to learn how to understand the behavior. You can reach out to your pediatrician, find resources online, or contact a behavioral specialist to help guide you through this phase.

Continue Breastfeeding

Experts recommend, if possible, breastfeeding your baby until at least the 1-year mark. Whether or not you choose to breastfeed beyond that point is a completely personal choice.

Breastfeeding has many benefits for your baby. Research has shown that it can reduce the chances of (or cause less severe symptoms in) diarrhea, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis. It may also protect children from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, obesity, and asthma.

That said, breastfeeding past the 1-year mark isn't for everyone! If you're feeling guilty about your desire to stop breastfeeding, you're not alone. "The decision to stop breastfeeding at any age can be upsetting for a number of reasons—sadness that baby is growing up, fear of losing a special connection and time together, and feelings of guilt," explains Carly Snyder, MD, a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist and director of women’s health for Family Health Associates.

She adds that any amount of time breastfeeding is great. By the 1-year mark, she explains that your baby has received tons of benefits from it, so there's no need to feel any guilt. "[Your] bond with [your] baby is eternal, regardless of breastfeeding status!" she says.

How to Help Your 1-Year-Old Learn and Grow

Talk about energy! Your 1-year-old is either on the move or working on it, which definitely keeps you on your toes. You're likely trying to get your picky toddler to eat three meals a day and keeping your fingers crossed that they actually nap.

This age is a fun time to play with your baby. You can support their budding independence by offering choices—hold out two different toys and let them pick which one they want to play with. You'll likely see problem-solving skills begin to improve as they figure out how to manipulate toys or how to put a block inside of a box.

To help them develop verbal skills, talk to them constantly. As you dress them, talk about the color of the clothes, the feel of the fabric, the name of the body part you're touching. Name items that you use every day, like towels, cups, the car, dolls, etc. Try to be consistent and avoid using cutesy names, such as "toesywoesy" for toes. This "labeling" will help your child learn the names of objects and actions and prepare for speaking on their own.

When it comes to sleep, most babies this age need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, including one or two daytime naps. By 18-months-old (or sooner), your baby may start to fight their morning nap, which is an indicator that they might be ready to condense two naps into one afternoon nap.

Tenenbaum explains that as your baby grows up and becomes more independent, you may start to observe sleep changes. "One of the significant challenges with sleep begins when the baby starts engaging in bedtime refusal behaviors," she says. "Suddenly, after the usual bedtime routine, the baby might start crying, sign to get [them] out of the crib, or have a tough time letting the parent walk away." This can also occur during daily naps.

While this can be challenging, it's important to harness your patience and remember that they're starting to become more engaged and delighted with the world around them. (And they don't want to miss out by sleeping!)

How to Keep Your 1-Year-Old Safe

Now that you're faced with a newly mobile and independent toddler, there are certain safety tips to keep in mind.

Baby-Proofing Your Home

Your 1-year-old won't understand which objects are stationary and which aren't safe to hold onto. As they begin learning to walk, folding tables, delicate breakables, and stacked items that can topple can all pose a danger, so it's important to remove unstable objects they may try to use for balance. Now that they're on the move, it's also easier to access different parts of the house, so brush up on your baby-proofing as well, including covering light sockets and sharp edges on furniture.

Sleep Safety

Although your little one is becoming more of an independent toddler, it's still important to follow safe sleep guidelines. At 1-year-old, it is okay to allow a light blanket or small stuffed animal, but you should avoid toys that are overly large. You should also ensure there are no unsafe items near the crib that your baby can grab or wrap around their neck, such as curtains, window blind pulls, pictures, or other wall hangings.

Water Safety

Your 1-year-old probably loves playing in the water, especially on warm summer days. It is so important to never leave them alone near a bathtub, bucket of water, swimming/wading pool, or any other water, even for a moment. Children of this age are at risk of drawing in as little as 2 inches of water. Always stay within arm's reach!

If you have a pool in the backyard, the AAP recommends adding a fence on all four sides at least 4-feet high. Many drownings occur when a child wanders out of the home and into the backyard, so take extra precautions to baby-proof your pool.

Car Seat Safety

The AAP recommends keeping your child rear-facing in their car seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer. Many convertible car seats allow you to keep your child rear-facing for as long as 2 to 5 years of age.

Research has shown that the risk of severe injury or death from a car accident in small children is five times lower if they are rear-facing versus front-facing. The longer you can keep your child rear-facing, the better!

When to Be Concerned

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends talking to your child's healthcare provider if by 18 months your child:

• Can't walk independently
• Doesn't point to show you things
  
• Doesn't copy others
• Doesn't try to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
• Doesn't notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
• Loses skills or abilities they previously had

While all babies develop at slightly different rates, you should talk to a pediatrician if your child isn't meeting certain milestones or if you notice potential developmental delays.

A Word From Verywell

Your child's first birthday comes with so many new and exciting milestones! That said, it can also be a tough time as they learn how to navigate their newfound emotions, independence, and physical abilities. Because of this, it's imperative to keep your own mental health a priority.

"Parental mental health is profoundly impactful throughout a child’s life," says Dr. Snyder. "As baby gets older, their sense of safety and ability to connect with others is profoundly impacted by interactions with adults in their lives."

She explains that being bubbly, engaged, and happy with your child is crucial to their development. If you find you are struggling emotionally, it’s best to seek support from a mental health provider not just for your sake, but for the sake of your child.

Remember that your child is looking to you for guidance, love, reassurance. "You know your baby better than anyone," says Dr. Snyder. "Your job is to protect them, enjoy them and help them grow and learn."