13 months old

Children of this age…

  • Can often stand unaided and take a few steps
  • Have good manual dexterity
  • Seem to be tempted most by ‘forbidden’ things!

Your child

  • Once babies start to walk, they can get around much more quickly, so it pays to be careful!
  • A walking toddler may also be a climbing toddler, so be wary of leaving your child alone.
  • Can your little one say any words yet? It's a good idea to record them – you'll both have a good laugh over it someday!

Encouraging adventure

Once babies learn to walk, the world literally opens up to them, and being able to explore is essential for their physical development and confidence. Is there a ‘soft play’ group near you where little ones can climb and bounce safely? Or a playground with baby swings? These activities will give you a chance to meet up with other mums and dads, too.

Learning to socialise with other children is important for toddlers. Some will already have this opportunity if they attend a nursery, or go to a childminder. But babies who are at home with mum or dad (or their grandparents) need to mix with other children, too.

Of course, at this age “mixing” can often lead to a few tears and tussles! For example, it’s normal for children this age not to understand why they can't grab a toy from someone else. If this happens, it's best to just return the toy to its owner and calmly tell your toddler that they shouldn’t take other people's toys – then distract, distract, distract.

Spending time with your baby

Mums and dads are busy people, and once your baby is walking, things only seem to get busier! We're happy to help: there’s a wide choice of delicious, organic ready-meals to choose from in our HiPP Organic Growing Up range. Plus, it means you’ll be able to spend more time with your little one and less in the kitchen!

Bedtime bottles

Many babies still have a bedtime bottle at this age, but it's a good idea to try replacing it with a beaker instead – it's far healthier for those new little teeth! If your baby is peckish by bedtime, you may want to try HiPP Organic Good Night Milk; its satisfying blend of organic cereals and organic follow-on milk are great for hungry bedtime tummies, and you can buy it direct from the HiPP online shop.

More vaccinations...

You and your baby are getting to be old hands at this by now! (Luckily, though, you'll both get a break after this lot – no more jabs until age 3!)

This time, your baby will get protection against measles, mumps and rubella, plus the third dose against pneumococcal infection. Find out more with the NHS vaccination planner.

Looking after yourself

If your toddler is still waking in the night (many do at this age) you may find yourself suffering from sleep deprivation. Take a nap when you can, and if it all gets a bit much, try asking a friend or relative if they can look after the baby while you have a rest.