Physical Development

Your baby's perspective changes in an instant when she learns how to stand. Panoramic vistas open up--across the room and even out the window! She may be so enchanted with her new accomplishment that it's difficult to get her to do anything else. She'll stand (or try to) when you're changing her diaper, giving her a bath, getting her dressed, and putting her to bed. She may even fall asleep on her feet, holding on to the bars of her crib.

As balance improves, baby will occasionally let go of her support, grabbing on again when she feels herself falling. She may take one step and then drop to the ground, only to try again a moment later. When she falls, give her a reassuring hug but don't make a big deal out of it, or she may be too frightened to get up again. Some babies progress from these first steps to true walking in a matter of days, while others continue practicing for a month or more. The average age range in the India for walking alone is 11 to 14 months, but anywhere from 9 to 18 months is considered normal.

Social Development

Although she's proud of her new skills, your baby may resist your attempts to get her to show off for anyone else. She's not yet confident in her abilities, and will stop trying if you respond in a way that she interprets as teasing (laughing, imitating her, or trying to get her to repeat her behavior for others). At the same time, she's newly interested in social approval, and may try to either impress you by performing or resist you by refusing to follow instructions, even when she understands them. Offer lots of praise, and try to save "no" for situations that are truly dangerous.

Intellectual Development

Your child understands more of what you tell her every day, and will respond in a number of nonverbal ways. When you mention a toy, she'll look in its direction; if you ask where the airplane is, she may point to the sky. To help develop her language skills, offer a play-by-play narrative of her daily activities, using simple language and consistent labeling (call the dog Fido or doggie, but not both). She'll start to incorporate words you use into her babbling, although they may not yet be recognizable.

Note: The information above offers general guidelines, but all babies develop differently, and few hit their milestones precisely when the conventional wisdom says they should. If your child was born prematurely, you may want to use your due date as a baseline for following baby's development.