Developmental Milestones Record – 12 Months
The typical 12-month-old child will demonstrate certain physical and mental skills. These skills are called developmental milestones.
All children develop a little differently. If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk to your child’s health care provider.
A 12-month-old child is expected to:
- Be 3 times their birth weight
- Grow to a height of 50% over birth length
- Have a head circumference equal to that of their chest
- Have 1 to 8 teeth
- Stand without holding on to anything
- Walk alone or when holding one hand
- Sit down without help
- Bang 2 blocks together
- Turn through the pages of a book by flipping many pages at a time
- Pick up a small object using the tip of their thumb and index finger
- Sleep 8 to 10 hours a night and take 1 to 2 naps during the day
The typical 12-month-old:
- Begins pretend play (such as pretending to drink from a cup)
- Follows a fast moving object
- Responds to their name
- Can say momma, papa, and at least 1 or 2 other words
- Understands simple commands
- Tries to imitate animal sounds
- Connects names with objects
- Understands that objects continue to exist, even when they can’t be seen (object constancy)
- Participates in getting dressed (raises arms)
- Plays simple back and forth games (ball game)
- Points to objects with the index finger
- Waves goodbye
- May develop an attachment to a toy or object
- Experiences separation anxiety and may cling to parents
- May make brief journeys away from parents to explore in familiar settings
You can help your 12-month-old develop skills through play:
- Provide picture books.
- Provide different stimuli, such as going to the mall or zoo.
- Play ball.
- Build vocabulary by reading and naming people and objects in the environment.
- Teach hot and cold through play.
- Provide large toys that can be pushed to encourage walking.
- Sing songs.
- Have a play date with a child of a similar age.
- Avoid television and other screen time until age 2 years.
- Try using a transitional object to help with separation anxiety.
Normal childhood growth milestones – 12 months; Growth milestones for children – 12 months; Childhood growth milestones – 12 months; Well child – 12 months.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine. 2024 Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care: Policy statement. Pediatrics.2024;154(1):e2024067201. PMID: 38910527 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38910527/.
Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Normal development. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 7.
Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.
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