What to Expect at 12 months with your baby

overview of what to expect at 12 months with your baby

1st Birthday- a huge milestone! So many changes happen in the first year with baby development & growth. Sleep is so important moving forward as your baby begins to walk, talk and learn so many new skills this next year.

Developmental milestones at 12 months of age

Your baby is VERY mobile and will start to explore everything they can reach, crawl, or even walk to!

• Pulling to stand- don’t make a game out of this by helping them down each time they do it in the crib 
• Cruising
• Walking/climbing
• Vocabulary increasing
• Molars coming in
• Baby proof everything once baby is on the move-Get our FREE Baby Proofing Checklist HERE!

sleep at 12 months of age

Babies thrive on a 12 hour daily schedule. Babies are naturally early risers between 6-8 AM. Bedtime should fall between 6-8 PM.

Overnight sleep at 12 months:

• 11-12 hours of overnight sleep-sleeping through the night without feeding
• ~3 hours of daytime sleep divided between 2 naps
• Awake time between sleep is 3-4 hours

Naps at 12 months: 

• 2 nap schedule, some are ready to transition to 1 nap! The average age for one nap is 13-15 months
• Wake-windows naturally widening
• If your baby attends daycare they will typically transitions to 1 nap at this age
• Very clock-based & predictable at this point
• 2-3 hours total daytime sleep

If your baby is still waking frequently overnight, struggling with naps in the crib, or needs lots of assistance from you to settle then it’s time to work on independent sleep. The Well Rested Course includes a customizable step-by-step plan to help your baby fall asleep independently, wean overnight feeds (both breast and bottle), and sleep 11-12 hours overnight.

feeding at 12 months of age

• Recommend removing bottles with the goal to remove all bottles by 15 months
• Can remove one bottle at a time every 2-7 days.
• Some babies naturally drop bottles as they increase solids and some are VERY attached!
• Transition to cow’s milk and offer in a straw cup with meals
• Milk is a complement to meals and not used as a meal replacement
• Aim for 3 meals and 2 snacks-All meals and snacks should be offered in a highchair to avoid grazing
• Increase self-feeding opportunities and exposure to a well-balanced diet high in protein and iron

Common challenges at 12 months of age

• Removing bedtime bottle- dilute with water and baby will begin to lose interest 
• Separation anxiety continues at this age- spend positive time during the day together

support and achievable goals

It is never too late to sleep train your baby. These are the following goals we strive to achieve for an 10-11 month old

• Sleep 11-12 hours through the night
• No overnight feeds
• Fall asleep independently at bedtime and naps
• Follow a clock-based and predictable nap schedule
• Transition to all solid foods and remove bottles
• If breastfeeding, offer breast as a complement to solids and not as a meal replacement

What resources do you have to help me through this time?

If you’re facing multiple wake ups, short naps, and sleep resistance, I have a class for you. The 4-24 Month Well Rested Collection will walk you step-by-step through a completely customizable sleep training experience. In just a few weeks, your baby will be getting 11-12 hours of independent night sleep, AND you’ll have a plan to navigate any future regressions or bumps in your journey. I’ll also help you set up a daytime routine and nap schedule that fits your family’s lifestyle and values. And you’ll get age-specific guidance to meet your baby right where he or she is developmentally at every stage from now until your baby turns 2.

Want daily personalized support? We have 1:1 sleep coaching programs to help! We work with your family for 2 weeks to help your baby with both overnight sleep and nap challenges. You don’t have to navigate your sleep journey alone with our Ultimate Sleep Plan.

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