From Sixteen Through Eighteen Months:

Children this age have made great gains in body control.  They may walk more quickly now, or even run, though stiffly.  They may sit and “bump” their way down stairs, but usually revert to all fours and creep down backward.

Children are beginning to use a spoon effectively to feed themselves, are drinking from a cup and may be drinking from a straw.  They typically have 12 teeth.  Most can say several single words, and they may begin to indicate that they need to use the toilet.

Children of this age inquisitively open doors and drawers and delight in taking things apart.  They also enjoy playing in water.  They must be constantly supervised in all play and activity inside and outside, alone and with other children.  Safety education should be under way.  However, sometimes it is easier to simply pick up a child and deposit him or her in a safer place.

Children may have a favorite toy or doll that they carry with them wherever they go.  They enjoy listening to short songs and rhymes.  Their attention may be more intense, but they may be easily diverted because their attention span still may be short.  They are likely to be easily frustrated when they can’t do something they want, and may not wait patiently when others would like them to.

Source: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

From Thirteen Through Fifteen Months:

Although they may still enjoy crawling, children by fifteen months of age are active walkers, keeping their feet far apart for balance and taking short, flat-footed steps.  They may be able to walk down stairs holding an adult’s hand, and can probably crawl up stairs by themselves.

Infants now can manipulate their thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects or hold a crayon.  They may be able to roll or throw a ball toward the person with whom they are playing.

Many things get children’s attention now.  They like to look at picture books and turn the pages.  They enjoy throwing things, rummaging through pots and pans, emptying wastebaskets, and filling boxes with small objects, which they may promptly empty.  They now remember an article when it is out of sight and may be puzzled when they can’t find something in its usual place.

Children now may be trying to do so many things so energetically that it is difficult to keep up with them.  They are beginning to know what they want, indicate what they want, and even go after it.

Source: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

Twelfth Month:

Babies can move around more easily now.  They may be able to climb up and down stairs.  Walking ability varies.  Some babies may walk with one hand held, or they may not start taking steps for another few months, simply because they are not ready.

At this time, babies may be repeating familiar sounds.  They may try to attract attention by squealing or by crying.  They may talk to their mirror image, sometimes offering a toy.  Babies may say 1 or 2 simple words such as “dada” or “mama” (usually only understandable to the parents) and be able to shake their head “no”.  They enjoy simple tricks and games, particularly being chased while they creep at top speed.  No baby likes to have a toy taken away, including babies at this age.

Babies may want to stand up while being fed.  At other times, they show no interest at all in eating – they would rather play.  They also may show definite likes and dislikes for particular foods, and sometimes want to choose what to eat.

As babies develop, their needs for both independence and dependence may be at odds at times, causing them to move rapidly from cooperation to resistance.

Source: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

Eleventh Month:

Babies now can raise themselves easily to a sitting position and pull themselves up to stand.  Some babies are walking while supported by something sturdy.  Their body has developed to the point where their legs can more fully support their weight.

Babies can grasp food and other objects in their hand and use pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).  They also can turn from one side to the other while sitting, and sit back up after leaning forward.  Because they seem to like moving under their own power, babies may become impatient when held or cuddled.

Language skills may lag while babies concentrate on navigation.  Eleven-month-old babies may understand simple commands such as “Give it to me.”  They probably enjoy playing a game of pat-a-cake.

Their behavior may begin to show that they are learning what “Don’t touch …”  means.  But parents should not relax their protection from dangerous objects and substances inside and outside the house, since babies are increasingly mobile at this age.

Source: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

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Tenth Month:

Many babies can now pull themselves up to a standing position and stand holding on to something for support.  In the beginning, they may not be able to sit down again and, stranded upright, will cry for help. Or, quite naturally, they may fall and begin to cry.

By now, they can play with toys in many ways and hold on to one if someone tries to take it away.  They can go after a toy or object that they want to have.  They use the index finger and thumb together and may like to poke and point at things.  All movements are becoming better coordinated – movements of the fingers, hands, body, legs, and feet.

Babies now are losing their shyness with strangers.  Many can wave bye-bye, and they enjoy playing games such as peek-a-boo, listening while being read to, and being a part of activities with some other people.  And they are growing more independent.  Feeding time may be somewhat messy, since food seems to exist not only to be eaten but also to be felt with the hands, smeared on the face, and dropped on the floor.

Source:  Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

Ninth Month:

Babies may be able to coordinate movements of their body, arms, and legs so that they can go from a sitting to a lying position by themselves.  Instead of falling forward when placed in a sitting position, they now can lean forward and then straighten up again – but sometimes they lose their balance.  They try to stand and soon may learn to pull themselves up without anyone helping.

Babies may now be crawling by pulling their body with their arms and dragging their legs behind.  In this same way, they may try to crawl up stairs.  A few babies never do crawl, but go directly to standing and walking.

Babies become interested in putting objects together, and in dropping things into a cup or other container and then removing them.  They may begin to recognize relationships between things.  For example, when they are offered a ring with a string attached to it, they may pull the string to get the ring.

Babies may enjoy hissing and making other sounds just like the ones they hear.  They may say a word that sounds like “mama” and one that sounds like “dada.”

Babies might resist taking a nap because they want to keep playing.  About now, they may start to “show off” for the audiences they apparently love to have.  But they still may be shy around strangers.

Souce: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

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Eighth Month:

Babies now can easily pick up a toy or other object in one hand (still using raking grasp) and change it to the other hand.  They can also turn over and flip their bodies quickly and with great ease.

Rather than just “mouthing” food, babies probably can bite now.  They may try to guide the hand that is feeding them, and they may push that hand away to show dislike for some foods. They may try to help hold the bottle if they are being formula-fed, but they should never be left to hold a bottle alone.  Not only might this be unsafe if they should spit up, but holding a baby during feeding provides an opportunity for social interaction that is enjoyable and important for their continuing development.  At feeding time, a baby receives nourishment from food and assurance from love.

Babies’ reactions to strangers may still range from shyness to distrust.  They may reach out to people, but then push them away.  Babies are comfortable with familiar people, and seem to like to play simple games with them.

Source: Caring For Your New Baby – Centennial Pediatrics

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