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Congratulation! You are now the proud parent of a toddler.
Milestones This Month
Most babies can
- Make word-like sounds
- Wave, point, and clap
- Imitate activities
Half of the babies can
- Say a word other than “mama” and “dada”
- Walk well
- Respond to simple instructions like “pick it up”
- Can put an object inside a container and take it out once instructed
A few babies can
- ‘Draw’ with crayons
- Understand simple words like “ball”, “dog”, or “eat”
- Say two words other than “mama” and “dada”
Baby Development at 12 Months
Happy birthday to your toddler! Your baby has done a tremendous amount of growing and maturing in the past 12 months. According to the growth charts from the World Health Organization, an average 12-month-old baby girl should way around 21.3 pounds (9.66 kilograms) and an average 12-month-old boy around 21.9 pounds (9.93 kilograms).
Your toddler’s personality is starting to emerge at 1 year and it won’t be long until you see expressions of his or her own will. Your toddler is able to understand meaning of orders such as “no” and is cooperating with you. Think about how you want to discipline your toddler without expressing anger. Talk to your partner and come up with a united front, which will carry you through not just the toddler years but through your little one’s entire child and teen-hood.
This is also a great time to introduce “please” and “thank you” to your toddler’s vocabulary. Your toddler will not understand the meaning of these words yet but including them during your daily activities will is a good way to introduce your toddler to good habits.
Vaccination
Your toddler is due for another set of vaccinations following his or her first birthday. Recommended vaccines at 1 include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), chicken pox (varicella), Polio (IPV) and hepatitis. It is important to stick to your toddler’s vaccine schedule to ensure he or she stays protected.
The Immune System and Aging
A strong immune system is key to fighting off infections and that our immune systems change with age. This immunosenescence makes us more susceptible to infections. Studies show that older stem cells are not as robust as young stem cells in terms of their capacity to produce new cells. Promising studies explored the possibility of restoring the stem cell population, more specifically the hematopoietic stem cell population, to revive the immune system.
Baby Tip
Let your toddler help you with laundry. Toddlers love to be involved, and it is a great way to introduce your little one to the concept of helping out.
Supporting Your Baby
Now that he or she has completed the first year, your toddler can eat pretty much anything including honey. Still be mindful when introducing completely new foods. Start slow and watch for potential allergic reactions.
Your toddler’s digestive system is able to handle cow milk, so you can start introducing milk to your baby as well. Whole milk will provide your baby the extra calories and fat required for the tremendous amount of brain growth he or she will experience in the next two years. Cow milk should be introduced as a beverage rather than a meal, so it is recommended not giving your toddler more than 3 cups of cow milk per day.
You can also look at goat milk as an alternative to cow milk, as it would have the added vitamin D and the folic acid required. Talk to your healthcare provider before introducing any soy or nut-based beverages into your toddlers’ diet.
Sleep
Toddlers go through a sleep regression around the 1st birthday. You may notice more fuzziness, night awakenings, nap resistance and even night frights.
As with the previous regressions, this regression is also associated with developmental (both physical and emotional) changes. Your toddler may be learning to cruise, walk and talk. Trying to perfect all of these newfound skills may be keeping your toddler active.
Keep you toddler active, so he or she has plenty of stimulation during the day to practice these skills. If you don’t already, you may want to think about giving your toddler a night light. This regression too shall pass. So, keep calm and ride it out.
