Your 1-year-old: 1 year checkup

Your toddler now

First steps now…or later Many children take their first steps sometime between 9 and 12 months and are walking well by the time they're 14 or 15 months old. But don't worry if your child hasn't let go of the coffee table yet. It's also perfectly normal for kids not to take that first step until they're 15 or 16 months, or even later. (Learn more about when kids walk.)
Encourage both cruising and walking by giving your child lots of opportunities to move without help and by not picking him up and carrying him too often. You can encourage a tentative walker by arranging furniture so there are safe and convenient handholds all along his path. Remove any dangers he might grab on to, such as a dangling tablecloth or electrical cord.
If your child is trying to toddle, he might feel more secure if he can hang on to one of your fingers, or if he puts his hands in the air and you walk behind him, holding his hands. A push toy provides walking practice, too. Just make sure it's stable and has a wide, secure base.
Two walking aids you don't need: walkers (the American Academy of Pediatrics says they're unsafe and actually discourage kids from learning to walk) and shoes in the house. Bare feet, socks, or the popular soft-bottomed "baby shoes" help a beginning walker practice balance and coordination. Reserve real shoes for protecting your toddlers' feet outdoors.

Quick Clicks

Checkup checklist You can prepare for your child's 12-month checkup by anticipating some of the questions the doctor is likely to ask, such as these:

Sleep: How much is your child sleeping at night and during naps?
Eating: What kinds of solid food is your child eating? How's his appetite? Does he enjoy feeding himself finger foods?
Teeth: How many teeth has your child cut?
Developmental skills: Is your child crawling well? Pulling up? Cruising or walking? Pointing? Making eye contact and responding to his name?
Vision: Have you noticed frequent squinting or eye rubbing, or a tendency to hold toys and books close to his face? (Read about other signs of a vision problem.)
Hearing: Does your child turn toward sounds? (Learn other signs of a hearing problem.)
Speech: Does your child imitate sounds, babble, or say any words?

Parent tip "We have a bunch of friends with babies ranging in age from newborn to 2 years old, so we share a box of clothes. People can sift through it and pick out whatever they need. Whoever has the youngest baby holds on to the box until another one is born." – Vanessa

Your 11-month-old: Week 4

Your 11-month-old's development: Week 3
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
Last updated: February 2006

Highlights

Learning more about language

Though at this point his vocabulary likely consists of only a couple of words besides "mama" and "dada," your baby can probably babble short, fully inflected sentences that sound like he's speaking a foreign language. Act as though you understand.

Your baby may be able to respond to simple questions and commands, especially if you give him some clues with hand gestures. For example, ask "Where's your mouth?" and point to it. Or try "Hand me the cup" and point to the object. He may even answer you in his own way, using his own gestures, such as shaking his head for "no."

Help him be helpful

Because he's receptive now, it's a good time to begin to teach your baby how to help out. Emphasize "please" and "thank you," and make toy cleanup time fun by turning it into a game. Though he probably won't get the idea just yet, it's not too early to start. Break the task into very small parts. At this age, he'll need you to work with him by his side.

Name that item

It's up to you to help your baby make connections between objects and their names — the more you do, the faster your child's vocabulary will grow.

Keep talking to your baby and labeling things. Count stair steps as you climb them, and point out the names and colors of the fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Read your baby a picture book and ask him to point to or name familiar objects.

Solicit his opinion once in a while: Ask him if he'd like to wear the red or the blue socks, or if he'd like to play with his blocks or his stacking rings. Give him only two choices — both of which are right in front of him. He may not answer, but then again, he may surprise you.

Remember, your baby is an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

source: www.babycenter.com

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