Developmental Milestones: 12 Months: 
What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by twelve months of age?

From eight to twelve months of age, your baby will become increasingly mobile, a development that will thrill and challenge both of you. Being able to move from place to place will give your child a delicious sense of power and control—her first real taste of physical independence.

Here are some other milestones to look for.

Movement Milestones
   Gets to sitting position without assistance
    Crawls forward on belly by pulling with arms and pushing with legs
    Assumes hands-and-knees position
    Creeps on hands and knees supporting trunk on hands and knees
    Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position
    Pulls self up to stand
    Walks holding on to furniture
    Stands momentarily without support
    May walk two or three steps without support

Milestones In Hand and Finger Skills
    Uses pincer grasp
    Bangs two cubes together
    Puts objects into container
    Takes objects out of container
    Lets objects go voluntarily
    Pokes with index finger
   Tries to imitate scribbling

Language Milestones
    Pays increasing attention to speech
    Responds to simple verbal requests
    Responds to “no”
    Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for “no”
    Babbles with inflection
    Says “dada” and “mama”
    Uses exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
    Tries to imitate words

Cognitive Milestones
    Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
    Finds hidden objects easily
    Looks at correct picture when the image is named
    Imitates gestures
    Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver)

Social and Emotional Milestones
    Shy or anxious with strangers
    Cries when mother or father leaves
    Enjoys imitating people in play
    Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys
    Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings (What do you do when he refuses a food?)
    Tests parental responses to his behavior (What do you do if he cries after you leave the room?)
    May be fearful in some situations
    Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others
    Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
    Finger-feeds himself
    Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

Developmental Health Watch
Each baby develops in his own manner, so it’s impossible to tell exactly when your child will perfect a given skill. Although the developmental milestones listed in this book will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect as your child gets older, don’t be alarmed if his development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician if your baby displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay in the eight-to twelve-month age range.

    Does not crawl
    Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month)
    Cannot stand when supported
    Does not search for objects that are hidden while he watches
    Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”)
    Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or shaking head
    Does not point to objects or pictures

Last Updated
    6/1/2009

Source
    Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.