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12 Month Old Baby: Milestones, Sleep and Feeding

Your 12 month old baby: first steps, first words, cow's milk, vaccines, a one year check and moving into toddlerhood.

Before you use this guide: Every baby grows and develops at their own pace, and healthy babies vary a lot. Weights are WHO medians at the start of the month, not targets. If your baby was born early, use their corrected age. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment.

How your baby is developing

Your baby is turning one, and the baby stage is giving way to toddlerhood. Many babies are pulling to stand and walking along furniture, and some take their first independent steps around now. Others walk a few months later, which is also normal.

Communication is growing. Your baby may call you “mama” or “dada”, wave bye-bye, understand “no” and play games like pat-a-cake. They love looking for things you hide and putting objects in containers. They are also picking up small things between thumb and finger and drinking from a cup that you hold.

Milestones to look for

These are skills that many babies show around this age. Some will come earlier and some later, and missing one is not usually a cause for worry.

• Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
• Waves bye-bye
• Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
• Understands “no”, and pauses briefly or stops when you say it
• Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
• Looks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket
• Pulls up to stand
• Walks while holding on to furniture
• Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
• Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

For the full checklist, see the CDC milestone checklist for this age.

Feeding

• From 12 months, pasteurised whole cows' milk can be offered as a main drink. It should not replace meals, and it is best to avoid skimmed or low-fat milk as a main drink at this age. Plant-based milks need care, so ask your doctor or health visitor.
• Aim for three meals and two or three snacks a day, with plenty of iron-rich foods, vegetables and fruit.
• Honey is safe from 12 months.
• Offer drinks from an open or free-flow cup, and try to stop using a bottle as your baby approaches 12 to 18 months.
• Your baby may seem to eat less than before, because growth slows after the first year. This is normal.

Sleep

• Total sleep is about 11 to 14 hours in 24, including one or two naps.
• Many toddlers move from two naps to one between about 12 and 18 months.
• A consistent routine helps, particularly if there are changes, like starting nursery, illness or teething.
• From 12 months, a small comfort toy or blanket can be allowed in the cot if you want.

See our wake windows by age guide and the rules in our safe sleep guide.

Play and learning

• Walk hand in hand, or let them push a stable toy.
• Read lots of simple books, and let your baby choose.
• Play with blocks, stacking cups, shape sorters and balls.
• Introduce simple pretend play, like feeding a doll or talking on a toy phone.
• Name things you see in the home and outdoors.

Keeping your baby safe

• Keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat for as long as your seat and your country's guidance allow. Many countries recommend keeping toddlers rear-facing well beyond the first birthday.
• Falls, burns, scalds, poisoning and drowning are leading dangers at this age, so keep up your baby-proofing and always supervise near water.
• Check that windows, stair gates and furniture are secure.
• Keep medicines, cleaning products and batteries locked away.

Looking after yourself

Your baby's first birthday is a big moment for you too. Take time to notice how far you have both come.

You may be thinking about returning to work, trying for another baby or something else. Talk to your partner, your doctor or someone you trust about what you need.

When to ask for help

Talk to your doctor or health visitor if your baby does not crawl or bear weight on their legs, does not pull to stand, does not point at things, does not say single words such as “mama” or “dada”, does not use gestures like waving, does not respond to their name, or has lost skills they had before. Your baby will also usually have a one year check and routine vaccinations, so ask about the schedule where you live.

Trust your instincts. If you are worried about your baby at any age, contact your doctor, health visitor or local emergency number.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.