Your baby is approaching their first birthday, and so much is changing! Between 9 to 12 months, you’ll see major leaps in movement, social interactions, and communication. This stage also brings new challenges like teething discomfort and occasional fevers, so it’s helpful to know how to provide relief safely.
Motor Skills: First Steps & Growing Independence
Between 9 to 12 months, your baby is becoming more mobile and eager to explore.
Pulling Up & CruisingMost babies will pull up to stand by this stage, using furniture for support. Many will start cruising—taking steps while holding onto furniture. This strengthens their legs and helps them prepare for independent walking.
First Steps: Some babies take their first solo steps before their first birthday, while others wait a bit longer. Both are normal! Encouraging floor play, barefoot walking on safe surfaces, and standing practice can help strengthen their balance.
Improved Fine Motor Skills: Your baby’s pincer grasp is becoming more refined, meaning they can pick up small objects using their thumb and forefinger. This makes self-feeding easier as they experiment with finger foods. They may also wave, clap, and point to express themselves!
Safety Tip: With increased mobility, baby-proofing is essential! Secure heavy furniture, cover sharp corners, and keep choking hazards out of reach.
Social & Cognitive Growth: Stranger Anxiety & Understanding Words
Your baby is becoming more aware of their environment and social interactions.
Recognizing Familiar Faces & Stranger Anxiety: Babies at this age form strong attachments to their caregivers and may become more hesitant around strangers. Stranger anxiety peaks around 9-12 months, so don’t be surprised if your baby clings to you in new settings. Giving them time to warm up to people at their own pace can help ease this transition.
Responding to Words & Simple Instructions: Your baby may begin recognizing familiar words, like their name, “no,” and common objects like “ball” or “dog.” They also start to understand simple instructions, such as "wave bye-bye" or "give me the toy."
Communication & Sleep: Babbling, Imitation, and Nighttime Changes
Expanding Sounds & Babbling: Your baby is experimenting with more sounds and may start mimicking words they hear often. Even though their speech is still developing, they’ll use gestures like waving, pointing, and clapping to communicate.
Sleep Patterns & Separation Anxiety: Around this time, some babies experience sleep regression due to separation anxiety or developmental milestones like standing and cruising. Maintaining a consistent bedtime routine and offering comfort without forming new sleep habits (like rocking them to sleep) can help ease these changes.
Teething & Fevers: What Parents Should Know
As your baby’s first teeth continue to emerge, they may experience gum discomfort, drooling, and irritability. Mildly elevated temperatures can sometimes accompany teething, though fevers over 100.4°F are usually caused by something else and should be checked by a doctor.
Pain Relief & Medication Safety: If your baby is uncomfortable, using acetaminophen or ibuprofen (only for babies over 6 months) can help—but knowing the correct dosage is crucial. Your baby’s first year is almost complete, and every stage brings something new to celebrate! If you ever have concerns about milestones, teething, or sleep, don’t hesitate to check in with your pediatrician.
📩 Download the free Ibuprofen & Acetaminophen Dosage Chart Below
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