Your baby was born just a moment ago, and yet time has flown by. The baby stage is coming to an end because your baby is 1 year old, and with the first birthday, a new adventure begins: toddlerhood. You probably still remember well what it was like to hold your newborn baby in your arms, and now your little treasure might already be walking independently through your home, can say a few words, and has grown into a real personality. 12 months have passed in which you have celebrated many milestones, your baby has gained new skills, and you as parents have grown with and because of your child. Is your little one sleeping poorly right now and can hardly bear to be away from Mom or Dad? That's because a major developmental step takes place around the first birthday. In this article, you will find out everything your baby can do now and what updates have taken place in their development from the eleventh to the twelfth month.
What's new with babies at 1 year
The last 12 months have certainly been challenging for you as parents. Two people became three or even more, and everyone had to find their new role first. It is only understandable that there were one or two obstacles to overcome. From one growth spurt to the next phase and back, life as Mom and Dad changes completely, and so you as parents have also had to go through a development and develop new skills. 12 months of parenthood are now behind you; your baby has become a toddler. But what does that actually mean? And what new development does the new month of life bring? You can find out here.
Sensory development in babies in the 12th month
From birth until now, your baby has sharpened and trained their senses. This effort is now paying off, especially in the areas of seeing and hearing: at 12 months, children master spatial vision and are capable of so-called directional hearing, which allows them to determine the direction a sound is coming from. So it can happen that a noise throws your baby off balance and they fall down. The focus is currently on their sense of balance, which they need to safely complete their first free steps.
Your baby's sense of taste is also becoming more refined. While they were initially busy taking in and processing all the new impressions, their personal and very individual taste is now emerging in the 12th month. So it can happen that foods that otherwise had a fixed place in their diet are now vehemently rejected. Even though the oral phase is slowly coming to an end, caution is still advised – the sense of touch is now well developed, but your little one can still choke.
Motor development – 12-month-old baby
Sitting has long since ceased to be a challenge for your baby, and they have probably been able to walk along furniture for a while now. To master the first steps, it is the balance that now needs to be trained. Have you already observed how your baby wobbles slightly back and forth while standing, with their whole body swaying? These are the preparations that train the sense of balance and are intended to help with managing the first steps. Standing freely, on the other hand, will only come after the first steps. These mostly end on your darling's bottom, but don't worry, the little ones don't actually hurt themselves. Even if walking by the hand of Mom and Dad seems tempting, you should wait until your baby manages the first steps alone before offering your hand.
Testing boundaries and discovering the world is the greatest thing for your baby at this age. You may have already noticed that stairs and steps now have a great attraction for your child and they try to master them alone. Make sure that your little one faces stairs backwards and feet-first on the way down. Once this rule is established, your sweetheart will be quite proud when they have reached the floor again.
Language development in babies in the 12th month
You have waited so long for the first word; was it Mama, Dada, or even something completely different? Your toddler will now add more and more words to their vocabulary, and on some days you will be amazed at how many words your baby can already use to communicate. Starting with so-called one-word sentences, your little one can communicate more easily and let you know what need they have at the moment. At first, it will probably still be difficult for you to understand every word, but soon you will be the experts in your darling's language and will know what's going on even when others just shrug their shoulders.
What a child should be able to do at one year old:
Growth, weight, and developmental steps in children do not always follow the textbook. Different birth weights or sizes are just as normal as varying social, emotional, or motor development. All this data is irrelevant as long as your child is developing appropriately for their age. If you have concerns or questions, you can always contact your midwife or pediatrician. For an easier overview, here is a summary of how the average baby is developed in the 12th month.
- Babies in the 12th month can actively remember things and search for them when they have disappeared from their field of vision. Hiding something to distract your child's interest unfortunately no longer works as easily as it did a few months ago.
- Stacking things is fun – but it is even more fun to stack objects and then knock them over. Your child is aware that things have a center of gravity and how to stack them so that the tower falls safely.
- Your little one trusts that you will return when you leave the room. They can now estimate times more easily, but can also be as happy as if you hadn't seen each other for years.
Babies in the 12th month: Sleep, nutrition, and encouragement
Just a baby, now already a toddler. Even if the birth feels like it was only yesterday, you have now had 12 months with your child. Not only has your little treasure grown, but you as parents have also developed and become a team. The development from newborn to toddler is remarkable, and even if your child's movements still seem robotic and clumsy, that will pass quickly and the last baby traits will disappear. Many parents now wonder if sleep patterns also change when babies become children. We shed some light on the matter.
How your baby sleeps in the 12th month
The time of many daytime naps is over and a fixed midday nap has probably already been established for you. Your baby sleeps between 30 minutes and 2 hours in the 12th month. At night, however, the phase of sleeping through the night extends to about 6 hours – if your child then asks for a bottle or wants to be breastfed, you can calmly give in; it is not always hunger, but the need for closeness that gives your child security and helps them find their way back to sleep. Overall, your darling needs between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day. Good tips for a restful midday nap are:
- a loving routine where your treasure knows exactly that a break is now taking place.
- creating a quiet environment that signals to your child's body that it is now time for a nap.
- an Automatic baby hammock, like the swing2sleep, in which your baby is gently rocked to sleep and can feel completely secure in the cozy hammock.
Baby in the 12th month – What's on the menu
A meal for your child probably looks just like yours now, because at one year old, your treasure can easily eat at the family table. Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner – your child can now eat almost anything and has probably already developed their own taste. Even at 12 months, a child is still considered an infant; the natural weaning age is actually not until 2 years. Therefore, you should definitely continue to offer the breast or bottle alongside meals so that your child receives the necessary nutrients and antibodies they need for their development and immune system through the milk.
How you can encourage your child
Encouraging children in infancy and toddlerhood is not a must. Your child acquires most skills while playing and discovering. An activity board can satisfy this urge to explore, as fine and gross motor skills can be trained. When reading aloud, you can dive into the world of words and expand your child's vocabulary along the way. A "yes-environment" can also be helpful so that your child can move freely and experience fewer restrictions. All objects in this environment should be safe for your child and not break too easily.
Even if you are itching to help when they learn to walk, your treasure will manage that all on their own. Baby walkers and walking by the hand can lead to postural damage. It is best to trust your child completely and create a safe environment.
One year of babyhood, a year of milestones and developments. Having a child is something no one can ever prepare you for. Not just for the sleepless nights, the effort, and the full diapers – no, also not for the unconditional love for these little beings and everything that this love brings with it. We couldn't prepare you, but we hope that our summary has given you a good overview of what to expect this month.
