Northwest Spokane Pediatrics

• 2 Weeks

• 2 Months
• 4 Months
• 6 Months
• 9 Months
• 12 Months
• 15 Months
• 18 Months

• 2 Years
• 3 Years
• 4 Years
• 5 Years
• 6 Years
• 8 Years
• 10 Years
• 16-18 Years

What should I expect from my 12-month-old?

Behaviors

• Points at objects to share the experience.
• Stacks 2 blocks.
• Likes to pull push and dump things. (Watch the toilet!)

Neurodevelopmental

• Says about 3 words.
• Will respond to simple commands

Physical

• Crawls well.
• Sits well.
• Beginning to stand and cruise furniture.
• Likes to bang objects together.

All children are different. Some have learned to walk before their first birthday. Most 1-year-olds use and know the meaning of words like "mama" and "dada." Pointing to things and saying the word helps them learn more words. Allow your child to touch things while you name them. Be sure to smile and praise your child when he learns new things. Children enjoy knowing that you are pleased that they are learning.

As children learn to walk they will want to explore new places. This is normal. Watch your child closely.

Read to your child every day. Children that have books read to them learn more quickly. Choose books with interesting pictures and colors.

Nutrition

Now that your child is 1 year old, you can start using whole milk instead of formula. If you are ready to wean your child from breast-feeding you can now wean him to whole milk. Toddlers need whole milk (instead of low-fat or skim) until they are 2 years old. Some children have harder bowel movements at first with whole milk. Now is also the time to wean completely off the bottle and switch to the cup.

Table foods are best now. Baby food is usually not needed anymore. It is important for your toddler to be eating foods from many food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products). Most babies have 1 to 2 snacks each day. Cheese, fruit, and vegetables are all good snacks. Serve milk at all meals.

Your child will not grow as fast during the second year of life. Your toddler may eat less. Trust his appetite.

Safety Tips

Avoid Choking and Suffocation

• Avoid foods on which a child might choke (such as candy, hot dogs, raw carrots popcorn, peanuts).
• Cut food into small pieces.
• Toy chests should not have lids as the child can get trapped in a closed lid toy chest.

Prevent Fires and Burns

• Practice a fire escape plan.
• Check your smoke detector. Replace the batteries if necessary.
• Put plastic covers in unused electrical outlets.
• Keep hot appliances and cords out of reach.
• Keep all electrical appliances out of the bathroom.
• Don't cook with your child at your feet.
• Use the back burners on the stove with the pan handles out of reach.
• Turn your water heater down to 120°F (50°C).

Prevent Drowning

• Never leave an infant or toddler in a bathtub alone—NEVER.
• Continuously watch your child around any water, including toilets and buckets. Keep toilet seats down, never leave water in an unattended bucket, and store buckets upside down.

Avoid Falls

• Make sure windows are closed or have screens that cannot be pushed out.
• Don't underestimate your child's ability to climb.