Your baby just celebrated her first birthday. Her first year of life has probably sped by while you are left thinking how it only felt like a few weeks ago when you brought her home for the first time from the hospital all bundled up tight in a blanket. Now, you will be lucky if she keeps the blankets on for more than a few seconds every night, as she kicks them off with her feet. At thirteen months of age, what can you expect out of your baby?
While it takes some kids a little longer, your child is more than likely up and about and walking all around the house, albeit not always in a steady fashion. She is probably completely mobile and starting to develop a curiosity in the various items around the house. You must realize how everything looks to your child. Before, she was kept in a crib or playpen, confined to one space for hours at a time. Now, she is like a little explorer, amazed at her new ability to walk and in awe of all that is around her. If you haven’t done so already, you will need to child-proof your home to prevent your child from getting into dangerous situations. Invest in edge bumpers (to protect her from sharp corners on furniture), cabinet and drawer safety locks, door knob safety covers and outlet covers. Bear in mind that a thirteen-month old child is not old enough to be left alone for any amount of time, so be sure to always keep a good eye on her.
By the thirteenth month, your baby has started to communicate. While her vocabulary is still limited to a few key words, she has now started to communicate physically. When she sees her favorite teddy bear put on a shelf too high for her to reach, she may point to it repeatedly and possibly say a word or two (maybe the name of the bear, if she has given it one) until you get it down for her. Her brain is still developing, so one word she uses may be used for a multitude of things. For example, she might have named her teddy bear, “teddy” or some variation of that. It is furry and soft, thus, anything she deems furry and soft will also be called “teddy” like the family dog or an uncle that has a lot of hair.
Your child will love to repeat things and see things repeated to no end. A small game of peek-a-boo may delight her so much she will want to play this with you until the cows come home or until you pass out from sheer exhaustion. She will not grow tired of these little games yet, and will also be able to find much delight in one toy for hours on end.
She will also start to keep a tighter grip on her toys and be able to handle them much better, as her hand-eye coordination rapidly improves. She may even want to start feeding herself with her spoon, although she has not yet perfected the technique and may end up with most of the strained peas on her shirt and face, rather than in her mouth. Around this month, she may also want to start imitating your actions or begin doing things for herself. For instance, she may watch you every night as you brush your teeth and decide that she, too, is ready to brush her own teeth (or tooth), although she still has a lot of perfecting to do.
Speak with your doctor about any immunizations that may be due around this time. Also, since she may have already sprouted her first tooth, she may be ready for her very first dentist appointment.
