Official Toddlerhood: One-Year-Old’s Growth, Independence, and New Routines

Your baby is now a toddler, and the transition from infancy to early childhood is full of exciting changes! At 12 months, your child is becoming more independent, learning new ways to communicate, and exploring the world like never before. Here’s what to expect at this stage and how to support their development.

Motor Skills: Walking & Exploring

At 12 months, many toddlers are taking their first steps or beginning to walk independently. Some may still prefer crawling, while others are eager to explore on two feet. Either way, their balance and coordination are improving daily.

🦶 Encouraging Walking:

Offer push toys or stable furniture for support.
Let them walk barefoot when possible to improve balance.
Avoid forcing—some toddlers don’t walk until 14-15 months, which is completely normal!

This is also the time to baby-proof your home even more, as your child’s curiosity (and ability to reach new places!) is growing.

Communication & Social Growth: First Words & Simple Phrases

Your child is becoming more expressive, even if they aren’t saying full sentences yet. Around 12 months, many toddlers say their first words, like "mama," "dada," or simple words like "up" and "no." They also understand more than they can say, following simple directions like "give me the ball" or "wave bye-bye."

🗣️ Ways to Support Language Development:

Narrate your day—describe what you’re doing to build vocabulary.
Read books together and point out objects to associate words with images.
Sing simple songs and encourage imitation.

Socially, your child may show shyness around strangers or develop separation anxiety, which is completely normal at this stage.

Self-Feeding & Establishing Routines

🥄 Self-Feeding & Picky Eating By 12 months, your toddler is refining their pincer grasp, making self-feeding easier. Offer a variety of textures and flavors, but don’t be surprised if they become picky eaters—this is a normal part of toddlerhood.

Daily Routines This is a great time to establish consistent routines for meals, naps, and bedtime. Toddlers thrive on structure, and predictable schedules help them feel secure.

Need help building a routine? We’ve created a 1-Year-Old Routine Builder to guide you through creating a daily schedule that works for your family.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.