Your Pregnancy

Your Toddler Month 13

As your toddler starts her second year of life, be prepared for change. The second year brings many physical and emotional changes. You will be amazed at how quickly your toddler will learn new skills now.

Your Child’s Development

Your Child’s Development
At thirteen months of age, some children are walking, some are still trying to walk, and others have not yet made the attempt. All three skill levels are considered typical for this age. If your child is walking now, chances are she has experienced a fall or two, or three or four. Don’t be overly concerned if you think your child seems clumsy, this is quite typical as coordination takes time to learn, and there will be more accidents as she practices her new skill. Now is a good time to understand about falls that you toddler can have and how they should be handled, so that you know when a fall is serious or when it just needs a kiss and a hug. 
 
Also, as your toddler is now mobile, you should invest in a good fitting pair of shoes that are specifically designed for new walkers, especially if you are taking her outside to walk. When your toddler is inside, going barefoot or wearing a pair of non-slip socks is still fine, but as she spends more and more time on her feet, you’ll want her to have the proper support that a good walking shoe provides.  
 
At thirteen months of age, your child’s favourite games have to do with cause and effect, learning for example, that if she drops something on the floor that mum will pick it up or that if she smiles, mum will smile back. She is learning how to make things happen. Unfortunately, part of this process of learning also means that she may find out that if she cries at night when she wakes up, someone will come. If she has been sleeping though the night for a while now, this can be frustrating. When this happens, it’s recommended that you wait a few minutes before you go in the room. Make sure that she is not dirty or thirsty, and whatever you do, do not pick her up. Get her to lie back down, cover her up and tell her good night again. The idea is to make the scene short and sweet and try not to get her overexcited. If you are lucky, this behaviour will quickly change.
 
You may also notice that mealtime has become a battleground recently. At this age, your toddler may enjoy throwing her food or playing with it more than she does eating it. Again, this is typical behaviour at this age, but it can make a parent worry that their child is not eating enough. Experts say not to worry. A child will eat when they are hungry. All you can do is keep offering food, and try to get them to stop throwing it!
 

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