Babies of this age…
- Are likely standing or ‘cruising’ round the furniture
- May be walking with hands held or beginning to take a few steps alone
- Enjoy push-along toys
- Can recognise familiar people when they come into the room, even before they speak
- Can point at familiar objects and pick up even tiny things
- Will respond to their name, and may even say a word or two
Your baby
- At this age, your baby will almost certainly get a big kick out of a simple box filled with different toys, stacking cups, blocks, soft toys, etc. - many babies just love putting things in the box and emptying them out again!
- Another great game is to build a tower of blocks or stacking cups and see if your baby can knock it down. (most babies this age can't build with blocks just yet)
- Roll a ball to your baby and see if he or she can roll it back!
Baby’s first birthday
A big happy birthday to your baby, and congratulations to you, too! Reaching the one-year mark is a huge milestone, and it’s amazing to reflect on how much your little one has grown and learnt over the past 12 months.
By now, most babies will have trebled their birthweight. On average, one-year-old boys weigh around 10.04kg (22lb) and girls about 9.5kg (21lb) — but as always, every baby is different.
You may also have spotted quite a few teeth making an appearance, especially those front ones — though some babies won’t get their first tooth until after their first birthday, and that’s perfectly normal too. Most children will have their full set of 20 primary teeth (10 at the top, 10 at the bottom) by around 2½ years old.
It’s a great time to start building good dental habits. Use a soft baby toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, and start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day. If you haven’t already, check in with your dentist about when to schedule your baby’s first check-up.
At this age, some parents also swap their heavyweight buggies and prams for a lightweight stroller so they can get out and about easily.
Immunisation time
Be prepared for a few tears – most of which are likely to be yours! When your baby turns one, it will be time for some more immunisations.
It's fine to discuss any concerns that you may have with your doctor or health professional, or to ask for more information or advice if you feel you need it. They'll be able to tell you all about the vaccines and what to do if your baby is unsettled afterward. And remember, it's amazing how well a loving cuddle from mummy (and maybe a special treat for being brave) can soothe the pain!
