12 Months old – Achievements

My friend has a baby who is also a year old, but he plays with a ball and rolls it back across the floor. It’s his favorite game and he is really good at it. My baby is not interested in balls at all other than to chew them. I don’t want to be an alarmist but I also don’t want to miss a problem if it exists. Should I be worried?

Many babies do not get the hang of ball skills until they are a few months past their first birthday, so you probably have nothing to worry about. Remember that babies in general develop in fits and starts, and there may be skills that your baby has accomplished that your friend’s baby has not quite mastered yet. Also some people just have a more natural affinity for ball skills.

At this age your baby should be able to cruise – that is, move around on his feet using the furniture as support. He should also be able to communicate with you by showing you what he wants. Some babies can stand unassisted for a few seconds, and can pick up little things with considerable skill. Your baby might be able to drink from a cup, play interactive games such as peek a boo, and say few words (mama, dada and maybe a few more words)

A few babies will be walking and doing rubbish talk – they jabber away in a language no-one can understand!

Since you are probably scheduled for the one year check up with your doctor, this would be a good opportunity to discuss these kinds of concerns. It really is not alarmist to feel concern about your baby’s progress. Make careful notes of your concerns to discuss with him, and hopefully he will ally your fears. Remember that there is no hard and fast rule about the speed at which babies progress. Be aware that you are the best judge if something is wrong, and you should not ignore any niggling doubts. Motherhood is a tough job, and getting reassurance can really help you cope.

See also:
12 Months old – Happy Birthday
12 Months old – Normal behaviour