12-Month Milestones
What many babies do by one year — and how caregivers can support development
By 12 months, many babies are becoming more independent movers and more intentional communicators. They use gestures, sounds, and actions to interact with people and explore their environment. Development at this age reflects the foundations built over the first year through movement, play, routines, and responsive caregiving.
Note: These milestone descriptions reflect what most toddlers (about 75% or more) are expected to demonstrate by 12 months of age.
Social & Emotional Milestones
By one year, many babies:
Play games with you, such as pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo
Wave “bye-bye”
Call a parent “mama,” “dada,” or another special name
Understand “no”, often pausing briefly when they hear it
Everyday context:
These behaviors show growing social awareness and shared interaction. Games, gestures, and familiar words reflect your baby’s increasing ability to participate in back-and-forth exchanges with people they trust.
Language & Communication Milestones
At this age, many babies:
Use simple gestures, like shaking their head “no” or reaching to be picked up
Make sounds that sound like speech, with changes in tone and rhythm
Say “mama,” “dada,” or another name with meaning
What this looks like:
Your baby may combine sounds, gestures, and eye contact to communicate needs or interests — a sign that early language skills are coming together.
Cognitive (Thinking & Learning) Milestones
By 12 months, many babies:
Put objects into containers, like blocks into a cup
Look for hidden objects, such as a toy covered with a cloth
Everyday example:
When your baby drops items into a container or searches for something you hid, they’re practicing problem-solving, memory, and cause-and-effect thinking.
Movement & Physical Development Milestones
At one year, many babies:
Pull up to stand
Walk while holding onto furniture (“cruising”)
May take a few steps without holding on
Use their fingers to pick up small items, like bits of food
Everyday context:
Standing, cruising, and early steps rely on strength, balance, and coordination developed through earlier floor play, sitting, and crawling.
How You Can Support Your Baby’s Development
At twelve months, children are becoming more mobile, more intentional, and more curious about how the world works. Many are standing, cruising, or taking early steps, using gestures and words to communicate, and exploring objects through banging, stacking, and pretending. Development at this age is supported by opportunities to move independently, practice using hands and tools, hear language connected to actions, and engage in simple pretend play. Daily routines, shared meals, and interactive play all help children build coordination, understanding, and confidence.
You can support your baby’s development by:
Talking with your baby often and naming what they are looking at or holding. Connecting words to objects and actions supports early language and understanding.
Responding to your baby’s words, sounds, and gestures. When you acknowledge attempts to communicate, you reinforce that communication has meaning.
Playing interactive games, such as pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, or rolling a ball back and forth. These games support social connection and turn-taking.
Encouraging movement and exploration in safe spaces. Let your baby pull up, cruise along furniture, and explore their surroundings while you stay close.
Providing sturdy furniture or objects your baby can hold onto while standing. This supports balance, leg strength, and confidence with upright movement.
Offering toys that allow your baby to put objects in and take them out, such as blocks and containers. This supports problem-solving and coordination.
Letting your baby feed themselves with fingers and practice using a cup with water while supervised. Self-feeding supports independence and hand-eye coordination.
Share simple gestures with your baby, such as waving, pointing, or shaking their head, by modeling them during everyday routines.
Reading books together every day. Let your baby turn pages, point to pictures, or name familiar objects. Reading supports language, attention, and shared engagement.
Introducing your baby to new sounds and words during play and daily activities, such as naming animals, vehicles, or household items.
Keeping screen time limited. Babies learn best through direct interaction, play, and communication with people.
These activities don’t need to be scheduled or structured. Repeating simple interactions throughout the day helps your baby practice new skills as they emerge.
Printable Tools & Next Steps
Download or view a checklist you can use during everyday routines to track which milestones your baby is demonstrating.
Bring your checklist to well-child visits and use it to support conversations with your pediatric healthcare provider.
Test Your Knowledge
A quick check — or a fast refresher if you’re short on time
1. Social - When your baby enjoys games like peek-a-boo, this most strongly supports:
A. Independent play skills only
B. Early reading readiness
C. Social interaction and shared attention
-
C. Social interaction and shared attention
2. Language – Saying “mama” or “dada” with intention shows growth in:
A. Emotional attachment only
B. Memory without communication
C. Early language and communication
-
C. Early language and communication
3. Cognitive – Putting objects into a container and taking them out helps babies practice:
A. Cause-and-effect and problem-solving
B. Fine motor speed
C. Social interaction
-
A. Cause-and-effect and problem-solving
4. Movement – When a baby pulls to stand and cruises along furniture, they are building:
A. Balance, strength, and coordination
B. Running endurance
C. Fine motor control only
-
A. Balance, strength, and coordination
Please note that…
This information is intended to support learning and awareness, not to replace guidance from a healthcare or early childhood professional.