12-18 Months

Development

There are lots of developmental changes at this stage. It is likely your baby will: 

• Start to walk unaided. 
• Start saying simple words, such as ‘dad’, ‘mum’, ‘dog’ and ‘cat’. 
• Point to things she likes. 
• Show a preference for one hand over the other. 
• Understand some of what you say. If, for example, you say “Where’s your leg?”, she will point at her leg.

Some parents buy baby-walkers for their toddlers to encourage them to walk, but experts advise against them – they don’t really help, and walking independently is a very different skill from walking with a baby-walker. Similarly, there is no need to rush out and buy shoes – indoors, it is better if they walk barefoot.
You can, however, encourage her talking skills by reading books together, reciting nursery rhymes and pointing at objects and saying the word.

Feeding  

When your baby is a year old, you can introduce her to full-cream cow’s milk. It’s a good idea to stop using bottles at this stage and to let your baby drink out of a cup. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you can continue, although a few babies choose to stop breastfeeding of their own accord.
Your baby’s appetite will have increased, and you’ll be able to feed her lumpier foods now. You can also introduce scrambled or soft-boiled eggs. As she gets older, she will be able to eat smaller portions of the foods you are eating, provided you don’t add salt to your food.
A mixed diet is important – plenty of variety means that your baby is more likely to get the nutrients she needs. Some babies and toddlers can be very fussy about food, so it’s worth experimenting with different foods until you find what she likes. Sometimes a baby will eat a food one day and reject it the next, and vice versa. Although it can be stressful, try not to turn mealtimes into a battleground by forcing her to eat food she’s rejected.

Sleeping

Your baby will still sleep about 10-12 hours at night, but she will probably reduce the number of naps she takes in the day from two to one, which will usually be about two hours in length.  

Health

At 12 months, your baby will be called for Hib and meningitis C boosters. At 13 months, she will be called for her measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination and pneumococcal infection (PCV) booster.

Playtime

Your baby’s co-ordination will have developed a lot by this stage. She will be able to build towers out of play bricks and knock them over. As her walking improves, she may enjoy pushing trolleys or other toys on wheels. You could also try her with: 

• A pretend telephone that she can ‘talk’ into. 
• Play dough.
• Simple musical instruments, such as tambourines.
• Simple jigsaws.
• Shape sorters (toys where the baby has to match the shape to the correct hole).

You can find many of these toys at a local NCT Nearly New sale so go along to one and see what bargains you can find.

Safety

Now that your baby is walking, you may find that a new set of hazards present themselves. She may learn to open doors, for example, or start climbing onto tables. Make sure doors are locked and breakable objects such as glasses are out of reach. Encourage your child to hold your hand when you are out and about and start talking about road safety with your child.

Taking care of yourself

You might be back to work by now and juggling life as a working parent. At this stage, your finances will be a priority as you balance the cost of childcare (if you decide to pay for childcare) with other outgoings such as travel to work. Take time to work out a budget and assess your finances – it will reap huge benefits for you in the future.