How is it possible that your precious child is already a year old? Doesn’t it seem like they were born just yesterday?
The 12-month mark will be here before you know it. And between the ages of 10 and 12 months, your baby’s curiosity is expanding at a rapid pace.
Around their first birthday, they’ll likely say their very first word! You’ll melt at the cuteness when your baby says “dada” or “mama” for the first time. And soon the baby babbling will transform into even more real words you can recognize.
With this exciting stage comes crawling, standing, and eventually… walking! Your baby’s newfound independence is sure to keep you on your toes.
You’ll watch your little one learn, grow, and change every single day!
Infant Development: Your Baby From 10 to 12 Months
Important language and movement milestones occur between the ages of 10 and 12 months, and they’re oh so much fun to enjoy with your child!
Crawling, Cruising, Walking
All babies develop, grow, and reach milestones at their own pace. But it’s natural to wonder when your child may start to crawl. Typically babies learn to crawl between 7 and 10 months old.(2) The more your child can move around, the more they’ll want to explore on their own. Rolling, scooting, creeping on their belly or full on crawling—your little one will be learning, growing, and changing every single day. And it’s so much fun to watch!
At every chance your child gets, they’ll be showing off new skills and interacting with the wonderful world around them. Your child may enjoy “cruising” or walking around without adult help while holding onto furniture for support. Typically by 10 months, your baby will be able to walk slowly while holding your hands. Around 11 months, they’ll be standing up by themselves, climbing up stairs, and cruising the living room. And they may even take their first unsupported steps by their first birthday!(3)
Baby’s First Words! How to Communicate With Your 10- to 12-Month-Old
Every child will say their first word in their own time. “Mama” or “dada” may become part of their vocabulary by the time they’re 10 months old. And one additional word may be in the mix by 11 months.(4) By their first birthday, two other words besides “mama” and “dad” could be in your child’s vocabulary. And how exciting that will be!(4) Whether it’s “bus,” “ball,” “hi,” or “dog,” hearing your child say their first word will be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
Your 10- to 12-month-old will start to understand short phrases like “hand me the toy” and wave when you say “bye bye!”(1) Short, “baby talk” sentences may creep into your child’s vocabulary. Each day brings a new way to interact with the world, as shaking their head “no” or asking for something by gesturing or pointing becomes the norm.
Play a Game
“Copycat” is a great game to play with your child to encourage the development of their social skills and ability to mimic others.(5) To play, sit across from your child and show them something they can easily copy, like covering their eyes, sticking out their tongue, or scrunching up their nose. Offer praise when they copy your gesture—you’ll both be sure to end up in fits of giggles by the game’s end!
Infant Development: Milestones From 10 to 12 Months
There are a few important milestones to watch out for at this age, though please remember every child develops at his or her own pace! Here are some things your child will likely do within this age range:
Social/Emotional Checklist(8):
May display shyness , nervousness, or fear with strangers
Shows facial expressions (happy, sad, surprised, angry)
Has a reaction when you leave (cries, reaches for you, or simply looks)
When you call their name, looks to you
Smiles and laughs during peek-a-boo
Enjoys games like pat-a-cake or copycat
Language/Communication Checklist(6):
Does simple gestures (shakes head “no” or waves)
Follows simple verbal requests or instructions
Imitates the words you say
Changes tone when making sounds to imitate speech
Can say “mama” or “dada” and exclamations like “oh no!”
Movement and Physical Development Checklist(6):
Sits without assistance
Can pull himself up to stand and walk by holding on to furniture (“cruising”)
May take a couple of steps without holding on
May stand without support
By 12 months, may take first unsupported steps
Can use thumb and pointer finger to pick things up (begins to finger-feed themselves)
Passes things from one hand to the other
Points and pokes with pointer finger
Copies gestures
Cognitive Checklist(6):
Is able to put things in and take things out of a container
Locates hidden objects easily
Can identify objects when named (8)
Drops or places things without assistance
Explores objects by shaking, throwing or banging (especially by banging two things together)
Imitates you (may “talk” on the phone like you do, or brush their hair)
What You Can Do at This Stage to Encourage Healthy Development in Your 10- to 12-Month-Old
Model Healthy Self-Expression
Being a child can be frustrating. Babies and children don’t have access to the language they need to express themselves. And because they’re still learning, they often don’t understand what it is they’re experiencing when they feel big emotions. Your baby might display frustration or the desire to gain control of a situation by throwing things or screaming. If your baby throws a toy out of frustration, remain calm. Say, “You’re frustrated. Let’s try again together.” Then demonstrate what they need to do to succeed. Afterward, give them the chance to try again. You might say, “The triangle block goes here. Now, why don’t you try?”
Keep Reading and Singing
By this age, books with textures, flaps, activities or other interactive features will captivate your baby’s attention. Keep age-appropriate books nearby so your baby can pick them up and interact with them even if you’re not reading aloud. It’s likely your baby will enjoy music at this age and move and groove to certain tunes. When you encourage humming and sing to your child, you’re stimulating them while also helping develop their language, motor skills, and rhythmic capabilities.(9)
Initiate Conversations
Even if your baby hasn’t yet said her first word, encouraging conversation and pausing for her to respond is still helpful and promotes the development of healthy language and communication skills. If your child says, “baba” and points to a bottle, you can say, “Yes, you want the bottle.” If she points to a dog while you’re reading a picture book, you could say, “You found the dog. What noise does a dog make?” Pause, giving your baby a chance to respond. (Even if it’s just with a sound.) Then offer the correct answer to your question. (“Woof!”) Continue to ask your baby questions throughout the day about her environment. You don’t have to limit yourself to yes or no questions! Even though you might want an adult to talk to by the end of the day, engaging with your baby in this way helps boost her development.(6)
Encourage Curiosity
Continue to encourage your child’s curiosity. Maybe they’re curious about the zipper on your coat, the bubbles at the park, or the colorful blocks they have at home. Teaching your child to stack blocks or sort toys by color and shape helps build their motor, concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills.(9)
Don’t have a 1-year-old yet? Check out the other blogs in the infant development series for more information on your baby’s development and how to help them grow and learn! For more info on newborns, click here . For 7- 9-month-olds, click here .
References
(2019, July). Learning, Play, and Your 8- to 12- Month-Old. Kids Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/learn812m.html
(2020, March). When Do Babies Start Crawling? Pamperse. https://www.pampers.com/en-us/baby/development/article/when-do-babies-crawl
(2021, March). When Does a Baby Start Walking? Grow by WebMD https://www.webmd.com/baby/when-does-a-baby-start-walking
Ages 8 to 12 Months—5 Months of Magical Milestones. Similac. https://www.similac.com/baby-feeding/milestones-development/8-9-10-11-12-month-old.html
(2021, September). 9 Fun Activities for 10-Month-Old Babies. Peanut. https://www.peanut-app.io/blog/activities-for-10-month-old
(2020, June). Infant development: Milestones from 10 to 12 months. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/infant-development/art-20047380
(2022, March). Important Milestones: Your Baby By Nine Months. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-9mo.html
(2022, March). Important Milestones: Your Child By One Year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-1yr.html
At 8 – 12 months your baby should… Healthy Children. https://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx
(2020, October). 10-Month-Old Baby Activities: 8 Things to Do With Your Child. Flo Health. https://flo.health/being-a-mom/your-baby/growth-and-development/activities-for-a-10-month-old-baby