Your Baby's "Magic Markers" of Development...
The First Year: 11-13 Months

 

HERE COMES BABY!
Most children will:

1. Learn to rise independently from laying or sitting
2. Cruise (walk holding onto walls or furniture, like Spiderman)
3. Let go and stand
4. Set all muscles and internal gyroscopes in motion to prepare for walking.

Some babies, however, reserve this task for a bit later and prefer to focus on verbal development, demonstrating a vocal prowess with rapid development of language.

I like to think there are 2 “religions” of babies at this point: the Buddhas and the Sheikhs.

1. The Buddhas
Typically girls, the Buddhas will sit, contemplate the universe, let people come to them, and speak earlier.

2. The Sheikhs
Typically boys, the sheikhs will seek out excitement, move sooner, learn by touching, flinging, throwing, and surging ahead... and talk about it later.

In all the years I have practiced, this consistent separation of movement and speech has been a constant. I have seen plenty of male Buddhas and female Sheikhs, so these observations do have some variation.

COMPREHENSION, INDEPENDENCE, AND... WORDS!
Comprehension of simple commands (come here, give me a kiss, give me a high five) starts, and understanding of “no” also begins as we create limits in order to protect baby.

The urge for independence is clear as baby wants to self-feed, take off socks, and commandeer your cell phone (it’s almost as if “I want to do it by myself” is emblazoned on baby’s shirt).

Imitation continues as baby will mimic your expressions and some of your activities and gestures. Watch what you do and say at this time! “Mama” will likely be used for Mom and “Dada” for Dad as baby turns one year old. Most 1-year-olds have 3-4 words or gestures that mean something. That figure at least triples by 15 months. There is so much to look forward to!