Developmental milestones record

•	Encyclopedia Home
•	Special Topics A-Z
•	Read Spanish version

More Features

•	Printer-friendly version

Developmental milestones record - 12 months

Definition

The typical 12-month-old child will demonstrate certain physical and mental skills. These skills are called developmental milestones.

Alternative Names

Normal childhood growth milestones - 12 months; Growth milestones for children - 12 months; Childhood growth milestones - 12 months; Well child - 12 months

Information

All children develop a little differently. If you are concerned about your child's development, talk to your child's health care provider.

PHYSICAL AND MOTOR SKILLS

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

SENSORY AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

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
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

PLAY

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.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2022 Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022058044. PMID: 35921638 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35921638/.

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, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.

Review Date: 10/31/2022
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.