Bananas Baby Briefs: 12 – 18 Months

Ah! One Year Old. Oh, How Time Flies!

It seems like only yesterday that your baby came home from the hospital. The baby has just accomplished or is about to accomplish the most visible and dramatic physical achievement – walking. If baby is just beginning to take steps, notice that the more praise you give, the more steps baby takes before falling down.

Babies walk in three stages: (1) they take steps, (2) they take more steps while learning to balance themselves, (3) finally, they’re off. Most babies tend to slim down when they start to walk, because they use up more fuel. This only means that baby fat is now turning into muscle tissue. The discovery of walking causes most toddlers to become fussy eaters and sleepers. If the child is still sucking a bottle or at least getting one pint of milk a day, there is little cause to worry because s/he is still getting the necessary proteins. As for naps, usually after the toddler has mastered the art of walking, s/he will soon relax enough to take at least one nap a day. So now your baby is walking into a new world. Parents should not be fearful of this; remember that your baby will always be your baby. It will be challenging to keep up with your baby’s many changes.

What Do These Toddlers Like To Do?

• Stand alone
• Wave
• Climb
• Take covers off containers
• May undress self
• Can repeat some words
• Look at and point to moving objects
• Stack things
• Express different emotions
• Feed self
• Scribble
• Look at pictures and picture books
• Throw things
• May proudly tell you their diapers are wet
• Empty wastebaskets or other containers
• Play with pots and pans
• Investigate
• Dance to music
• Pull or push wheeled toys

What Can I Do With Toddlers This Age?

Let the baby know there are certain places she can go, and other places she can’t go. Make safe places for her to play.

Activity

By now, the stander-toddler has lots of experience placing objects in containers. Look around the house and select two sets of objects such as some wooden blocks or empty yogurt containers (avoid objects with sharp edges). The toddler will soon learn that not only can both be stacked (even stacked together), but that they make different sounds. S/he will also learn that yogurt containers can roll and things can be put into them, but nothing can be put into the blocks. This helps expand the toddler’s way of thinking about the world and how things work.

This is a time when children are very explorative. Make sure your house is babyproof!

CHILDREN GROW AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. ENCOURAGE, BUT DON’T PUSH!

If you want to discuss your child care arrangement or the growth and development of a child in your care, call the BANANAS Warm Line or attend some of our many workshops and classes. BANANAS is located at 5232 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618. For general information, call (510) 658-7353, or check our website at www.bananasinc.org.

Thanks to Erma Woodrow and Judy Alley for their suggestions.

© 1979, BANANAS, Inc. Revised 2005.