Important Milestones at One Year

When your baby hits one year old, there’s a lot to celebrate and reflect on. Some of the most important things you can do are keep track of your child’s milestones and discuss any questions or concerns you have with your child’s doctor. What follows are things that most one-year-olds can do at that age.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL MILESTONES

  • Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION MILESTONES

  • Waves bye-bye

  • Calls a parent “mama,” “dada,” or another special name

  • Understands “no” by pausing briefly or stopping when you say it

COGNITIVE MILESTONES (LEARNING, THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING)

  • Places a thing in a container, like a block in a cup

  • Looks for things that you hide, such as a toy under a blanket

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

  • Pulls up to stand

  • Walks while holding furniture

  • Drinks from a cup without a lid, while you hold it

  • Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small pieces of food

Remember, you know your child best. Talk with your child’s doctor about any of your concerns and ask about developmental screening.

Looking for tips and activities to do with your child to assist in their learning and development? Visit the CDC’s milestones pages here.

BabiesMatt Whitman