Baby - One Year

'Development - Twelfth Month'

What your baby does at this age:

Spends much of her time walking, standing, or cruising.
Prefers standing to sitting. Loves to climb.
Plays with one or two favorite stuffed animals, loving and sometimes punishing them. Enjoys taking her clothes off, indoors and out. Gives and takes toy in play. Rolls a ball toward you.
Says one or two words, such as 'bye bye' and 'dada'. Babbles in short sentences. Resists naptime, may have a temper tantrum when put down to sleep.

Important Changes:

Your baby si becoming more interested in the company of other children, though she'll only play side by side with them.
She's not ready for sharing yet. Your baby's sense of humor is developing. When you laugh at her antics, she laughs, too, and gives you a repeat performance. Your baby is getting more skilled at handling objects and testing their possibilities.
She turns light switches on and off, pushes wheeled toys around the house, and tries to fit objects together the way she sees you doing -putting lids on containers, and so on. Your baby comprehends more of what you tell her. She can follow simple directions and understands some of your explanations about the everyday world.

Caring for your baby:

Make sure ehavy objects on table tops and shelves can't tip over and injure your baby. Keep pan handles toward the back of the stove. And never leave sharps objects on chairs or low tables. Take your baby to the doctor for her 12-month check-up and tubercullin test.

All the information above was obtained from: Your Baby's First Year, a guide to Infant Growth and Development, Mead Johnson & Company.