Physical Development

It's a bird, it's a plane... it's Babyman! When your child takes his first steps, he'll hold out his arms like a little airplane to keep his balance. As he grows more confident, he'll lower his arms to his sides and let the muscles in his trunk do the balancing work. Push toys, such as baby-size strollers, lawn mowers, and shopping carts, will help develop his walking skills--he'll find push toys that make noise especially delightful.

Once he can stand comfortably, baby will begin squatting to pick things up, first with one hand and then the other. He's learning that different sides of his body work in similar, but not always identical, ways. He may also start to display a preference for one hand over the other at this time.

Social Development

Your baby is trying out all sorts of new behaviors these days, and some of them aren't terribly attractive. Many 1-year-olds experiment with hitting, biting, and other types of aggression, especially if they spend time with siblings or older children who act out this way. Although your child doesn't yet understand that others can be hurt, it's important to make clear that his behavior is unacceptable. Don't shout at him or spank him, which will only reinforce the idea that hitting is all right. Instead, immediately remove him from the situation, and firmly explain that aggressive behavior is not okay because it hurts other people. He may not understand everything you're saying, but with enough repetitions, he'll learn to modify his behavior.

Intellectual Development

What planet is your child from? These days, the sounds coming out of his mouth are starting to resemble language--just not any language you've ever heard. This is perfectly normal. It means that he's learned to approximate the tones and variations of speech but not the vocabulary. Recognizable words will follow, with most children speaking a word or two by the end of the first year. The word may not necessarily be correct--"mimi" for milk, for instance, or "baba" for bottle. But it's considered a word if he uses it consistently to refer to the same object or person.

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.