Mommies! It seems just like yesterday when you welcome your baby to this world and now they’ve already reached their 1st year. You must be getting emotional and proud as you see your baby reached his firsts milestones in life, learning new skills and doing things on their own.
What you can read in this article?
- What does your 1 year old should know by now?
- Signs your baby is gifted
- Guide for parents
Time passed by so quickly and you must have noticed that your baby has grown a lot compared to when they are just born. This period has an incredible growth spurt for a baby and from a helpless and crying baby, they’ve gone more independent in doing some things on their own.
At this point, have you observed any skills or milestone on your baby which indicate they he or she may be gifted? Children often developed at different rates however, there are things you can check if your baby is really a bright one and is gifted. Read as we give a list of advanced 1 year old milestones you can look at.
This article is made to help you navigate parenthood and tell you what should a 1-year-old know by now. Continue reading so we can provide you insightful information you can use while handling and caring for your babies.
What does your 1-year-old should know by now?
Here are the things and skills you should look out for in what should a 1 year old know by now.
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Physical Development
A baby’s body has developed tremendously compared to when they just got born and it is said that babies developed triple times since birth and grown by 50%.
Their hand and eye coordination are continually being developed by teaching them simple motions in hand such as giving high five, close-open, and playing hand toys such as clays.
The baby’s motor skills also developed and now they can do a handful of things on their own such as standing and walking. Make sure you have your camera ready as your baby reached his firsts milestones and capture every special moment.
Advanced 1 year old milestones. | Image from iStock
The other skills he can physically do now is:
- At 1 year old, your baby can already stand on their own.
- Can walk with the help of leaning on a furniture
- Can or may take their first steps at the start of their first year
- Gradually walk on their own at their 15th month and soon run as the months go by
- Eating with their fingers but could also soon use a spoon properly
- Drink from a cup
- Help their parents when dressing them up
- Climb the stairs using support
- Can stand, squat, and sit down on small chairs
- Sleeping during the day lessens and more sleep at night (however they still needed afternoon naps)
- Your baby can now transition from breast milk to formula milk. However, do not make them drink low-fat milk or other types until his 2nd birthday)
- Build 2 or three towers of blocks
- Can hold a pencil or crayon and draw lines and circles
- Put 2 or 3 pieces of puzzles together
- Throw a ball overhand at 18 months onward
- Can dance to music
- Your baby’s first set of teeth will come out
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Cognitive Development
From a fully helpless baby when your baby is just born, they can now process information better, and even at times, you will be shocked at their speed of learning. At the start of their first year, they’d be able to understand and use simple words and as the months go by, they go through fast development.
By one year your baby starts with just 1 word such as “Mama” or “Dada”. Babies imitate what they often hear from you and it is best to use the correct words and watch what you are saying.
It is not just about learning simple things such as the alphabet and counting but the whole process of learning and understanding. By a year and a half, your baby could already understand one-step questions or commands. They also could recognize objects and point at body parts.
Your baby undergoes fast development at this period and you can’t help but be amazed and proud.
The other skills your baby can do now:
- Use simple 2-word sentences such as “Mommy milk”
- Imitate sound and noises such as animals
- Your baby at age 1 can say 4 to 6 words
- In the 18th month, can say 10 to 15 words
- Can use and know phrases such as “no”
- Can start asking questions with “what…?”
- Know and recognize their own face when facing the mirror
- Wave hello and bye
- At their 18th month, they can understand simple commands or questions such as “Get the ball”
- Start to look through cabinets and drawers to see what’s inside
- Start playing make-believe scenarios with their toys
- Can point to certain objects or body parts when asked
- Understand and remember where an object’s permanent place is
- Starts to understand the concept of cause and effect
- Know the use of objects such as cups for drinking or broom for sweeping
Image from iStock
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Social Development
As your baby continues to grow and develop new skills, he or she may also start wanting their own independence when doing certain things such as walking or playing.
Though there are times where they walk away from you, separation anxiety and fear of other people are still a big part of them which is why they also run back to you.
They try to understand what other people are saying and often use these words to get the attention of people around them. They are starting to be much more social now however, you must remember that every child is different, they have different personalities and behaviors resulting in having different likes and dislikes when interacting with other people.
The other social skills he can do now:
- Play side-to-side with other children instead of playing with them
- Can be clingy to parents especially when around other people
- May show temper tantrums even with other people around them
- Still do not know the concept of sharing but can start learning now
- Start showing defiance by saying “no”
- They might have their favorite person they prefer. There are times you can see them shy and scared when faced with people they are not familiar with
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Emotional Development
As your baby still cannot form the right words to say what they are feeling, they express what they feel by what they only know. Crying and tantrums are normal and common to little children as you may have noticed.
Be patient when handling and caring for one but make sure you are firm when teaching them when they are wrong.
The other emotional skills your baby can do now:
- Babies at this age are still shy or scared of people they do not know
- Is attached to certain objects or people it becomes their favorite
- Learn to show emotions such as fear in some situations
- Experience separation anxiety and cry when parents leave
- Show a wide variety of emotions and will show them openly. They might throw temper tantrums from time to time as a sign of their anger, frustration, or sadness
Advanced 1 year old milestones: Signs your baby is gifted
Advanced 1 year old milestones. | Image from iStock
If your baby has completely done the list of skills listed above the congratulations! Your baby is doing just fine in their development. However, are you wondering if your baby is gifted? You must be curious if your baby is demonstrating some advanced skills for his age right?
Here, we prepared advanced 1 year old milestones you can check to know if your child is really gifted and on his way to becoming a prodigy. Gifted babies may include characteristics and skills such as:
- Excellent and advanced communication skills such as talking earlier than the other babies
- When your baby is alert and observing his surroundings when awake
- Gifted children are often emotionally intense which means they feel positive and negative emotions strongly
- Your baby prefers being alone playing by himself with toys and puzzles or books instead of playing with other babies and children
- Being stubborn is also one of the surprising characteristics of a gifted child. If your baby is quite stubborn and always try to negotiate with you, then there’s a chance he might be gifted
- Babies usually have a short attention span, however, gifted babies and kids showcased extreme focus when doing a particular task such as completing a puzzle and listening to when you read them a storybook
- Always curious about everything surrounding them and always asking things
- Gifted babies need less sleep compared to other babies
- Have high birth weight. Studies have shown that heavier newborns have higher intelligence levels than babies with lower birth weight
- Hits their milestones earlier than other babies. If your baby has reached the listed physical, cognitive and another milestone above then there is a big chance your child is a gifted baby
When to be concerned about signs of delay
All parents should remember that each and every child have their own pace in reaching their milestones. Some babies could reach this milestone earlier than your baby but rest assured that it is okay and normal.
However, if you’re worried and think that there is a delay in your baby then do not hesitate to check on their doctor. There is a list of things that you should look for in case your children experience them. These are:
- Poor control on head and neck
- Has speech delay and can’t say simple words such as “Mama”
- Cannot understand words such as “no” or “bye-bye”
- Have a difficulty in swallowing
- Your baby’s posture is awkward or limp
- Delayed sitting, rolling over, or walking
- Cannot crawl or stand even when being supported
- Loses skills they once have
- Does not do certain gestures such as waving, smiling(or any facial expressions), or pointing at things
Early signs of autism
You should also remember to make sure your child will be tested for autism within his 18th or 24th month. The common signs of autism in a 1 year old child are:
- Do not consistently use eye contact
- Not responding to their name when being called
- Rarely copy actions of other people
- Do not have interest in any other children
- Doesn’t do pretend plays or games like peekaboo
- Make unusual body gestures
- Have repetitive interests such as being stuck on playing with just one toy or switching the lights on and off
- Repetitively line up and pile their toys and objects instead of playing with it
- Has extremely sensitive sensory such as hearing or touching
Source:
StanfordChildren, CDC, RaisingChildren
