There are very many milestones in emotional and physical development of a one year old. Each one year old is different and at a different stage in their life for various reasons. Milestones should not be compared by one mother to the next because all this does is cause doubt. One mothers child may be walking while another mothers child may not. Which child is “normal”? Both. Children can reach milestones early or late.
The physical milestones of a one year old are interesting. Watching your little baby grow into a “bigger” baby and then into a small child who is learning new things every day is fascinating. A one year old is more talkative. Of course, they can not carry a conversation, but at times it sounds as if they are in their own words. The child will crawl for some time and then one day suddenly walk. Then, they will want to walk, walk, walk and this will make them better at it each day.
A one year old, or most, are completely weaned from the bottle soon after their first birthday. This does not mean that your child HAS to be. Like I said, every child is different. The child should be able to hold a cup and drink from it. It may be messy but the child should be able to try and practice this skill often. They may also be able to understand how to solve problems such as freeing a toy that they want or getting up onto something by using a toy to stand on. Soon the child will be able to stack blocks, use a spoon or spork, will resist bedtime, and be more active. A one year old is very much fun. Seeing your child learn new things each day lets you know that they are doing well and are happy as well as healthy. These are just the physical milestones. There are also many learning milestones.
Learned milestones are things the child has learned from seeing often, hearing often, or doing often. A child of this age may be able to imitate animal sounds, say more words or make more sounds as they did afew months ago. They may know certain commands such as when they touch something they are not supposed to touch and you say, ” Don’t touch!” They will learn to pull their hand away, although they will probably continue to try to touch the desired object three or four more times. They may also know how to let you know the answer to a yes or no question such as, “Do you want Mommy?” If so, the child will wobble on over to you with a smile. If not, she will turn her head or keep playing. They understand language more. When I tell my daughter “no” she whines. This is normal because they are learning to know that you are unhappy with something they did. Soon, they will be able to scribble, which is great for keeping them occupied in certain places such as church, and they may also display anger towards you or their toys. A child of this age feels most secure when on a schedule and they may also have a security item such as a blanket or stuffed animal. They show affection for these items as well as for you.
If your child is doing most of these things- great! if not, give her some time and she will surely develop at her own pace. If she does not speak any words by eighteen months or point to pictures in a book call the pediatrician and ask questions. It is best to get the advice of a professional. Also, if a child does not like to take part in activities with you such as playing this may also be the sign of a problem. Many times these signs are not huge trouble. Children develop early, some develop late, and some develop by the book right on schedule. You are the best judge as to when something is wrong.
