12-Month-Old Baby Development Milestones You Need to Know

Time flies when you’re raising babies! Your little one is about to hit the one-year mark—Happy First Birthday! It's a momentous occasion, marking the transition from baby to toddler. Welcome to the ranks of parents who can't quite fathom where the past year went. While your heart may forever see your child as your "baby," the first birthday signals the onset of the toddler chapter. The truth, though, is that your brand-new toddler is still a baby at heart, with lots of new experiences ahead before those notorious twos, threes, and beyond. Month 12 brings a fresh set of baby development milestones, promising more laughter, challenges, and memories in the making.

12-Month-Old Baby Development Milestones to Look For

A 12-month-old child will typically show specific physical and mental abilities known as developmental milestones. That said, it's important to note that every child develops at their own pace. If you have any concerns about your child's development, discuss them with your child's healthcare provider. Here are some milestones your little one may have completed by one year of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Language Development Milestones

• Shows increased attention to speech
• Responds to simple verbal requests
• Reacts to the word "no"
• Uses simple gestures, like shaking the head for "no"
• Babble includes variations in intonation
• Utters words like "dada" and "mama"
• Expresses exclamations, such as "oh-oh!"
• Tries to mimic words

Motor Development Achievements

• Achieves a seated position unaided
• Crawls forward using a combination of arm pulls and leg pushes
• Assumes a hands-and-knees position
• Creeps on hands and knees with trunk support
• Transitions from sitting to crawling or prone positions
• Pulls up to a standing position
• Walks while holding onto furniture
• Stands momentarily without support
• Takes two or three steps without assistance

Cognitive Achievements

• Explores objects through various actions (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Easily finds hidden objects
• Matches correct pictures when named
• Imitates gestures
• Begins using objects appropriately (drinking from a cup, brushing hair, dialing a phone, listening to a receiver)

Social and Emotional Development Milestones

• Displays shyness or anxiety with strangers
• Cries upon the departure of parents
• Enjoys imitating others during play
• Shows preferences for specific people and toys
• Tests parental responses to actions during feedings and general behavior
• May exhibit fear in certain situations
• Displays a preference for the mother or regular caregiver
• Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
• Finger-feeds independently
• Extends arm or leg to assist during dressing

Fine Motor and Finger Skills Advancements

• Utilizes the pincer grasp
• Bangs two cubes together
• Places objects into a container
• Removes objects from a container
• Releases objects voluntarily
• Points with the index finger
• Attempts to imitate scribbling

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When to Talk to Your Doctor

Every baby follows a unique developmental path, making it challenging to predict when specific skills will emerge. While the developmental milestones listed here offer a general guide, variations are normal. Some babies may take a little longer, and that’s okay. 

That said, if your baby exhibits signs of a potential delay between eight to twelve months, such as not crawling, dragging one side while crawling, inability to stand with support, lack of interest in hidden objects, absence of single words, failure to use gestures, or not pointing to objects, it's advisable to consult your pediatrician.

12-Month-Old Baby Development Milestones Chart

You can review the milestones your child has reached at 12 months by using the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) free Milestone Tracker mobile app (for iOS and Android devices). You can also use the CDC’s Digital Online Checklist or by print the checklist. 

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. Please contact your health provider if you have any medical questions or concerns about your child or yourself.