One Year Olds: 13 & 14 Months

Congratulations! You've made it through the first year, and you can look back over the past year with pride. Remember when you thought your baby's crying would never stop? Remember when your infant first giggled, and you felt good just enjoying that happiness? Now you and your baby are ready to move into the exciting second year. Your toddler will be growing fast and learning a lot. In the next year, your child will move from babyhood into childhood, learn new skills, like feeding herself. Do a lot of things, but she does not always know what might be dangerous. Delight you with curiosity, as well as frustrate and tire you.

Guiding and caring for your child this next year will be challenging and exciting. Toddlers need a lot of attention and encouragement. You'll need a sense of humor, some time for yourself, and lots of common sense. Knowing that your child's dramatic and changeable behavior is normal and temporary can help you during this time.

There's a lot of talk about the 2-year-old and the 3-year-old. But sometimes we forget what happens between 12 and 18 months. This period can truly test your flexibility, patience and sense of humor. Why? Because there's no simple way to allow a baby this age to explore safely, or to make her obey your requests. Your child loves to explore, and needs to explore to learn. But it's so easy to get into trouble. You'll need to keep watch constantly. This is not easy, but an important responsibility. Babyproofing is vital. Babyproof your home by removing anything a child can get hurt with, and anything easily broken. This may mean storing the glass coffee table, and moving plants up high for a while. It definitely means putting cleaning supplies, medicines, cigarettes, guns and alcohol out of reach. A locked cabinet is best. This same advice applies to the homes of grandparents, other relatives, friends, baby-sitters, and any other place your child spends time. When a child can walk, even if only by hanging onto furniture, many more things can be harmful: Water, mop buckets, open toilets, bathtubs, hot tubs, pools, stairs, sharp edges or corners.

Toddlers often grab and pull things down off tables or counters. They often put small objects in their mouths, and can easily choke. To see everything from baby height, you may want to crawl around your home again. Look at everything to see what needs to be moved or changed. With a child this age, it's impossible to keep a home neat and clean. When accidents happen, understand that your baby is not trying to be mean. He may be a little over-enthusiastic. But he's not naughty on purpose. Keep playpen time short, and avoid saying "no" too often. Instead, give your child a large, babyproof area to explore and strengthen muscles needed for walking and running. Consider the changes you make in your home today as a way to help your child grow up happy and safe. Keep in mind that over time, a child will learn to be responsible.

What's it like to be 13 and 14 months old?

How I grow

• I poke, bang, turn and twist everything I can reach.
• I can probably stand alone and walk pretty well.
• I can probably stoop and stand up again.
• I'm very interested in small things like crumbs, bugs and pebbles.
• I spend a lot of time just staring at things. This is one way I learn.
• I don't like any kind of restraint.
• I want to explore everything.
• I may be afraid of the dark.

How I talk

• I am learning simple words.
• I can look in the right direction when you ask: "Where's Daddy?" "Where's the ball?" "Where's the kitty?"
• I wave bye-bye if you ask.
• I can let you know when I want something like a glass of milk.
• I really try hard to make you understand me.
• I like to repeat words you say.
• I have begun to understand the names of some people, animals, and things that are important to me.
• Sometimes I like you to tell me the names of things pictured in a book. But I don't like stories very much yet.

What I am learning

• I am learning what you will let me do and what you won't.
• I will empty anything I can get to -- dresser drawers, kitchen cabinets, trash cans.
• I like to put things back in containers -- sometimes.
• I like to imitate your actions.
• I have learned how to get you and other adults to help me do things.
• I may scream just to show you how powerful I am.
• Sometimes -- not often -- I will respond to a firm "no-no."
• I have not yet learned what is dangerous for me to do.

How I get along with others

• I love to have people watch me and clap for me.
• I'm starting to do cute things just to get your attention.
• I show I love you with hugs and kisses -- sometimes.
• I still like to keep my mother and father in sight when I'm exploring.
• Sometimes, I drop things just to get you to pick them up for me.
• I'm beginning to adjust to baby-sitters, but I'm still shy with strangers.
• I don't like playing in a room by myself very much.
• I may have tantrums and throw things when I'm angry.

What I can do for myself

• If you help me, I can hold a cup and drink from it.
• I like to take off my hat, shoes, socks and pants, but I can't put them back on.
• I can hold a spoon, but I probably can't eat very well with it.
• I like to feed myself with my hands, and smear food on my face.
• I can open and close doors.

Play I enjoy

• I like to put little things in big things.
• I can play alone. But mostly, I like to play with you -- especially chase-me, find-me games and gentle rough-housing.
• I like to listen to music and dance to it.
• I'm beginning to like pretend play, like driving a pretend car.

Reproduced with the permission of CCSS National Network for Childcare