What is the developmental milestone for a 12-month-old child?

At 12 months of age, a typical developmental milestone for a child is the ability to take their first steps. This is a significant achievement in gross motor development, indicating that the child is progressing in their physical skills and coordination. Taking first steps reflects improved strength, balance, and motor planning.

While crawling is often accomplished before the first birthday, many children are already crawling by this age. Speaking first words generally occurs around 12 months too, but there is considerable variability in language development. Potty training is usually not a milestone that’s expected at this age, as most children are not developmentally ready for this skill until much later. Therefore, the ability to take first steps is the most appropriate identification of a developmental milestone for a 12-month-old.