Developmental Milestones for a 1-year-old

Most children by age 1:

• Are curious about everyday objects and how they work. Your child may try turning knobs, pushing buttons, and opening drawers and cupboards.
• Start to remember things that happened a few hours or even a day ago. Your child may show this new skill by doing a simple thing, such as stacking blocks or getting excited when you talk about going to the store.
• Can find an object that they watch you hide. For example, if your child watches you cover a teddy bear with a blanket, he or she can "find" the teddy bear by removing the blanket.
• Like to play peekaboo.

Most children by age 1:

• Interact mostly with parents and other primary caregivers. They don't show much of an interest in playing with other children. But they do engage in "parallel play." (This means that children play next to or alongside each other but don't interact.)
• Like to "flirt" with parents and other caregivers. They giggle, show off, and seek attention.
• Start to understand permanence—that people and objects still exist even when they are out of sight. Early on, before this concept is learned, some children may still have or seem to have a relapse of separation protest. This means that they feel uneasy and anxious when a parent or another caregiver leaves.

Most children by age 1:

• Experiment by making different sounds, such as "ptthhh," or repeat sounds, such as "ba-ba-ba-ba." Many toddlers favor practicing the "b" and "d" sounds. They may jabber a long string of sounds with tone and inflection that sound like conversation.
• Can identify each parent, often by name ("mama," "dada").
• Sometimes repeat right away a sound they hear when someone is talking.
• Can say at least 3 words.
• Recognize their own names. They may also look at family members or pets when you talk about them. Typically, babies this age understand some familiar words. But they are still guessing about many other words and their meanings.

Most children by age 1:

• Like to put things in their mouths. This is their way to find out about an object.
• Pull up to a standing position by holding onto furniture or other solid objects.
• "Cruise" (walk while holding on to furniture) or walk on their own.
• Can grasp objects, such as a piece of cereal, with their thumb and second finger ("pincer grasp"). Most children use the pincer grasp by the time they are about 10 months of age.