Children's Age-by-Age Guide: 9 to 12 Months

Physical Milestones

Mobility is the key word for this stage of your baby's development. Whether he is crawling, scooting or even possibly walking, you can no longer put him down and expect to find him in the same place when you return. Your newly mobile child will love to spend his days standing upright, holding onto furniture as he "cruises" around the room. By age 1, he'll be about 28 to 32 inches long.

Smart Strategy:

Instead of following your baby around saying "no" or "don't touch," childproof your house so he can roam freely. Don't forget to cover electrical outlets, secure all cords out of reach (especially those for window blinds), install gates on tops and bottoms of stairways, and lock the medicine chest and cabinets. Never leave hot items like coffee within your baby's reach, and store all sharp utensils in locked drawers. Always keep pot handles facing in when cooking.

Long before your child masters walking, she will practice each bit and piece. Then when she's ready, she will put all the pieces together and be able to walk. She will want to practice her skills day and night and can get frustrated if she can't do something, like get back down from a standing position. Now is also a good time to introduce a sippy cup.

Smart Strategy:

Your baby will relive his latest developmental task at night during his light sleep state, and it's likely that this will cause a disruption in his sleep patterns. Try and stick to your normal bedtime practices as much as possible -- reassure him with your voice and only pick him up if he is in true discomfort. It's also a great time to give him a toy he can push along, such as a wagon with a bar on the back, to foster his walking skills. Experts advise against using baby walkers but if you must, choose either a stationery walker or one that meets current safety regulations (for one thing, it must be too wide to fit through a doorway).