Your 12-Month-Old Baby's Development
A guide to 12-month milestones like walking and talking
Walking. Talking. A greater sense of self. 12-month-old development brings discovery—and a birthday—all around. Let’s help their baby steps become amazing leaps forward.
Your 12-Month-Old Toddler’s Development
- Insists on doing things themselves
- May take first unassisted steps
- May understand 20–50 words; however, this is highly variable
12-Month-Old Development: Independence
Your toddler is turning 1! They’re learning to walk and talk and basically get what they want, when they want it. Good for them! They’re also developing a sense of who they are, which means a need to do things by themselves. Your kiddo may show frustration when things don’t go according to their plan. Not so good for them! By letting your child make little mistakes, you can help them learn and grow.
12-Month-Old Development: First Independent Steps
Toddlers tend to walk like ducks, with their little feet spread apart for balance and yes, it’s adorable. Enjoy the show! This precious phase leads to lots of chasing them around once they’ve figured out how to get going.
12-Month-Old Development: Vocabulary
Growth spurts don’t just happen in bodies, they happen with words, too. It's normal for your toddler to know anywhere from a few words to dozens of them. But don’t worry if your child takes longer; vocabulary is highly variable at this age. You can help their language skills by asking for a kiss, pointing out hands and feet, or by reading to them.
12-Month-Old Development: Learning
A great way to help strengthen your toddler’s memory can be through revisiting family events. Watching videos of the event or looking at photos is an easy way to promote their learning.
Congrats! That’s your little one’s first year! Let’s find new ways to support their growth at 12 months old and in the year to come.