Twelve-Month-Old Developmental Milestones
Turning one year old is a major milestone—for both you and your baby! Over the past year, your little one has grown and changed in incredible ways. At twelve months, babies are becoming more independent, social, and mobile. Every child develops at their own pace, but here’s a look at some common twelve-month milestones and ways you can support their continued growth.
Social Milestones at Twelve Months
At twelve months, your baby’s social skills are blossoming. You may notice your child:
Shows strong attachments to familiar caregivers.
May experience separation anxiety and show fear around strangers.
Enjoys imitating people’s actions, such as clapping or waving.
Displays preferences for favorite toys or people.
Understands and responds to simple commands like “come here” or “give it to me.”
How to Support Social Development:
Offer lots of positive interactions, play social games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, and give your child time to warm up to new people and environments.
Fine Motor Milestones at Twelve Months
Your one-year-old’s fine motor skills are becoming more precise and purposeful. Around twelve months, many babies can:
Pick up small objects with a fine pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger).
Bang two objects together or attempt to scribble with a crayon.
Put objects in and take them out of containers.
Point at objects of interest.
Attempt to use a spoon or cup with help.
How to Support Fine Motor Development:
Offer opportunities for self-feeding with small, soft foods, provide safe household objects or stacking toys for exploration, and introduce chunky crayons for supervised scribbling fun.
Farm Animals with Matching Barns
Gross Motor Milestones at Twelve Months
Movement takes center stage around the first birthday. Some gross motor skills you might notice include:
Pulling up to stand independently
Cruising along furniture and possibly taking first independent steps.
Sitting down from a standing position without help.
Crawling up stairs with supervision.
Throwing or rolling a ball.
How to Support Gross Motor Development:
Create a safe environment for exploration, encourage walking with push toys or by holding your baby’s hands, and celebrate every new attempt at standing, stepping, or cruising.
Self-propelled (battery free) cars
When to Contact Your Pediatrician
While development varies widely, talk to your pediatrician if your twelve-month-old:
Is not standing with support.
Does not crawl or scoot.
Has not said a few simple words like “mama” or “dada.”
Does not point to objects or show other gestures.
Does not show interest in interacting with others.
Early intervention can make a big difference, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any concerns.