Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

12-month-old child

By the first year, many babies are ready to walk. Because babies develop differently, some babies by this time may be just managing to stand alone. Walking is the crowning achievement of the baby's first year of life. When ready, babies focus their attention on the challenge of walking as though they cannot get enough. With or without help, they will stagger, topple, halt, and start forward again and again. Praise and enthusiasm from parents give them inspiration.

At this age, 70 percent of babies will accept an object with the right hand. The same preference will be seen in finger feeding, reaching, and thumb sucking. Twelve-month olds can undress themselves completely and will spontaneously become naked before naps, at night, and when in bed.

Definite food likes and dislikes appear. Intense excitement may hinder a baby's ability to sleep. Temper tantrums may begin to emerge. Although all children are unique, new growth and development milestones will typically occur by the end of 12 months.

The typical 12-month-old's motor skills include:

• pulling self up to standing position
• walking when supported
• preferring crawling to walking, unless walking without help
• climbing up and down stairs and
• taking covers off containers

The 12-month-old's language skills include:

• using the words "ma-ma" and "da-da" specifically for parents
• practicing familiar words such as "ba-ba" for bottle and "wa-wa" for water and
• babbling short "sentences" The 12-month-old's mental abilities include:
• reaching accurately for objects when looking away
• remembering events for longer periods of time and
• solving problems through trial and error

The 12-month-old's social traits include:

• expressing many emotions and recognizing them in others
• definitely preferring certain people to others
• refusing to eat a meal, new foods, and mother's feeding
• insisting on self-feeding and
• cooperating in dressing

Be sure your baby receives the following immunizations now:

• the fourth DTaP, Hib, and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) shots
• the third polio and Hepatitis B shots
• the first measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and chickenpox shots and
• the tuberculin skin test

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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