The Wobbler: your toddler at 12 to 13 months
The first steps arrive, usually sideways, usually into your arms.
At 12 to 13 months many toddlers take their first independent steps, though walking anywhere between 10 and 18 months is normal. Most need 11 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours across two naps, say one to three words alongside mama and dada, and understand far more than they can say.
This is the month the ground shifts. Cruising along furniture turns into letting go, and letting go turns into a few staggering steps toward you. Progress is rarely tidy. Many toddlers walk well for two days, then crawl for a week, then start again. Sleep and appetite can wobble alongside the new skill, and that pattern is very common at this age.
The Wobbler at a glance
Typical ranges for 12 to 13 months. Every baby moves at their own pace.
| What | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Age range | 12 to 13 months |
| Typical sleep | 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours |
| Wake windows | About 3 to 4 hours between sleeps |
| Naps | Usually 2, totaling about 2 to 3 hours |
| Words spoken | Often 1 to 3, plus mama and dada |
| Teeth | Often 4 to 8 |
| Whole milk | About 16 to 24 oz (2 to 3 cups) a day |
| Eating pattern | 3 meals plus 2 to 3 snacks |
What may be happening
Body
- First independent steps often appear around now, though many toddlers walk anywhere between 10 and 18 months.
- Early walking usually has a wide stance, arms held high and frequent sitting down, and the gait smooths out over the following six months or so.
- The pincer grasp is precise enough for small pieces of food, and many toddlers can drink from an open cup with help.
- Growth slows compared with the first year, with many toddlers gaining around 5 pounds across the whole of the second year.
Brain
- Many toddlers now use objects the way they are meant to be used, holding a toy phone to an ear or a brush to their hair.
- Simple directions such as giving you a toy when asked may be followed, especially when paired with a gesture.
- Hidden objects get searched for rather than forgotten, and containers are filled and emptied over and over.
- Understanding runs well ahead of speaking, so your toddler may recognize many more words than they can produce.
Connection
- Separation anxiety often peaks around the first birthday and may show up at drop off, at bedtime and in the bathroom doorway.
- Many toddlers check your face before trying something new, using your reaction as information about whether it is safe.
- Waving, pointing and clapping become deliberate ways of sharing attention rather than simple copying.
- A particular toy or blanket may become genuinely important as a source of comfort.
Sleep at 12 to 13 months
Toddlers aged 1 to 2 generally need 11 to 14 hours of sleep across 24 hours, including naps. At 12 to 13 months that often looks like 10 to 12 hours overnight plus two naps totaling roughly 2 to 3 hours. Learning to walk can unsettle sleep for a few weeks, and many toddlers practice standing in the crib at 2am. Night waking has not disappeared for plenty of families at this age.
| Sleep | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Total sleep in 24 hours | 11 to 14 hours |
| Night sleep | Often 10 to 12 hours |
| Naps per day | Usually 2, totaling 2 to 3 hours |
| Wake windows | About 3 to 4 hours |
| Move to one nap | Commonly between 15 and 18 months |
Eating and mealtimes
Most toddlers are eating family food by now, in roughly three meals and two to three snacks a day. Whole cow's milk can replace formula from 12 months, generally 16 to 24 ounces a day, since much more than that can crowd out appetite for iron rich food. Appetite often drops because growth has slowed. A toddler portion is roughly a quarter of an adult one.
- Whole milk rather than lower fat milk is generally recommended from 12 months until age 2, at around 2 to 3 cups a day.
- Bottles are usually phased out between 12 and 18 months in favor of open or straw cups, one bottle at a time.
- Food is still cut small and soft to reduce choking risk, and whole grapes, nuts and hard raw vegetables are usually avoided.
- Refusing a food today and eating it happily next week is extremely common and does not usually signal a problem.
Questions parents ask
Is it normal for a 12 month old not to be walking yet?
Yes. The typical range for walking independently spans roughly 10 to 18 months, so plenty of 12 and 13 month olds are still cruising or crawling. What matters more is steady progress, such as pulling to stand, cruising along furniture and taking weight on both legs. If your toddler is not walking at all by 18 months, it is worth mentioning to your pediatrician or health visitor.
How many naps should a 12 month old have?
Most 12 to 13 month olds still take two naps a day, usually totaling around 2 to 3 hours, alongside 10 to 12 hours overnight. The move to a single afternoon nap most often happens between 15 and 18 months, sometimes a little sooner. Fighting one nap for a few days is common and does not always mean that nap is ready to go.
Why has my toddler suddenly started waking at night again?
New motor skills often disturb sleep. Many toddlers learning to walk practice standing and stepping in the crib when they surface between sleep cycles, then struggle to settle again. Separation anxiety also tends to peak around the first birthday, which can make bedtime harder. These stretches usually settle within a few weeks once the new skill becomes automatic.
How much milk should a 1 year old drink?
Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics points to around 16 to 24 ounces, or 2 to 3 cups, of whole cow's milk a day between 12 and 24 months, plus 1 to 4 cups of water. Whole milk is generally recommended rather than lower fat until age 2. Much more than 24 ounces can reduce appetite for iron rich foods.
How many words should a 12 month old say?
Many 12 to 13 month olds say one to three clear words alongside mama and dada, but the normal range is wide and some say none yet. Understanding matters as much as speaking at this age. Responding to their name, following a simple instruction paired with a gesture, pointing and waving are all signs that language is developing.
More questions about 12 to 13 months
The things parents actually search for at this stage. Tap any question to open it.
Why does my 1 year old walk on their tiptoes?
Toe walking is common in new walkers and most children grow out of it on their own by around age 2. It often shows up while balance is still developing. If your toddler walks on their toes almost all the time, seems stiff in the calves, or is still doing it after age 3, mention it to your pediatrician.
Is it normal that my toddler's legs look bowed when they walk?
Bowed legs are very common in babies and toddlers and usually straighten on their own, often by around age 3 or 4. They do not typically affect crawling, walking or running. If only one leg is bowed, if the bowing seems to be getting worse, or if your toddler limps or has pain, ask your pediatrician to take a look.
How many falls a day is normal when a toddler is learning to walk?
Frequent falls are expected. New walkers typically fall many times a day, usually backward onto a padded bottom, and this is part of how balance is built. Most bumps need nothing more than a cuddle. Any fall from a height, or one followed by loss of consciousness, vomiting or unusual sleepiness, needs urgent medical attention.
Do toddlers need shoes to learn to walk?
No. Barefoot is generally best indoors, because feet grip better and the muscles and arches develop with use. Shoes are mainly for protection outside. When you do buy them, flexible soles, a wide toe box and room to grow tend to matter more than ankle support, which most healthy toddlers do not need.
Should I use a baby walker to help my toddler walk?
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against sit-in walkers with wheels and has called for a ban on their sale. They do not help a child learn to walk and may delay motor development, and they let a toddler move fast enough to reach stairs, hot drinks and stove handles. Stationary activity centers are the usual alternative.
Why has my 1 year old stopped eating as much as they used to?
Appetite normally drops in the second year because growth slows sharply. Many toddlers gain only around 5 pounds across the whole year, compared with roughly triple their birth weight in the first. Intake also swings, so a big day followed by a tiny one is typical. Look at the week rather than the meal.
Is it normal for a 12 month old to still wake for a milk feed at night?
It is common, though most healthy 1 year olds no longer need calories overnight. Night feeds at this age are often about comfort and habit rather than hunger. Some families keep them, others gradually reduce them. If your toddler is growing well and eating during the day, either choice is reasonable, and your pediatrician can advise.
When should I switch from formula to cow's milk?
Whole cow's milk can usually replace formula from 12 months, at around 16 to 24 ounces a day until age 2. Some families switch straight over, others mix formula and milk for a week or two to ease the taste change. Toddler milks marketed as a next stage are generally considered unnecessary.
Should I worry if my 12 month old only says mama and dada?
Not usually. Many 12 month olds have only one to three other words, and some have none yet. Gestures matter as much as speech right now, so waving, pointing, and responding to their name are reassuring signs. If there is no babbling, no pointing and no waving by 12 months, mention it at your next checkup.
Why does my 1 year old scream every time I leave the room?
Separation anxiety often peaks between about 10 and 18 months, as toddlers understand that you still exist when you leave but cannot yet grasp that you come back. Short, calm goodbyes tend to work better than sneaking out. Practicing brief separations at home, and keeping a consistent goodbye phrase, often helps it settle.
Is it normal for a toddler to bang their head on purpose?
Deliberate head banging, often rhythmic and at bedtime, happens in a noticeable minority of toddlers and is usually self soothing rather than distress. Most grow out of it by around age 3. Padding hard surfaces and keeping your reaction low key tends to help. If it causes injury or comes with delays in other areas, speak to your pediatrician.
How long should a 12 month old stay on two naps?
Most toddlers keep two naps until somewhere between 15 and 18 months. At 12 to 13 months the two naps usually total around 2 to 3 hours, with roughly 3 to 4 hours awake in between. A few days of refusing the morning nap is common and does not on its own mean the transition has started.
Why does my toddler throw food off the high chair at every meal?
Throwing food is usually experimenting rather than rejecting. Around 12 months toddlers are testing what happens when they let go, and the crash and your reaction are both interesting results. Serving smaller amounts, ending the meal calmly when throwing starts, and offering a safe dropping game away from the table often reduces it.
Is it normal that my 1 year old only has two teeth?
Yes. Timing varies widely, and while many toddlers have four to eight teeth by 12 to 13 months, some have far fewer and a few have none. Most children have all twenty baby teeth by around age 3. A first dental visit is generally recommended within six months of the first tooth and by the first birthday.
When to check in with your doctor
Willo is a parenting companion, not a medical app. If something feels off, ask.
- Not taking weight on the legs, or not walking at all by 18 months.
- No pointing, waving or other gestures by 12 months.
- Loss of skills your toddler previously had, such as words, gestures or social interaction.
- Ongoing difficulty chewing or swallowing, frequent gagging on soft foods, or persistent refusal to eat.
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Sources
- Nemours KidsHealth. Your Child's Development: 1 Year (12 Months)
- Nemours KidsHealth. Toddler Sleep: 1- to 2-Year-Olds
- Nemours KidsHealth. Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger
Last reviewed 2026-08-24. Ranges are typical, not targets.
