1 year

1 year - 2

Big mobility changes here. Crawling, pulling up on furniture and eventually walking. This is a big year. Walking, talking and balking. They are fast and mobile. They can ask for things. They understand you. They know when you are telling them not to do something, and testing you to see if they can get away with it anyway. The squatty, cherubic look gets longer and leaner. They have outgrown their baby clothes. They have favorite hats, toys, stuffed animals and other inanimate objects. They are possessive and selfish. They want mom’s full time attention. Or dad’s. They can become wary of strangers, or even casual acquaintances. This is all natural.

They do not want to share with friends or siblings. They can hit, pinch and bite. The best way to handle this is to call attention to the evidence of their behavior. “Look how sad he feels when you won’t share your ball.” “You hurt her. Look at the red mark where you pinched.” Or . . .