Feeding

At 12 months of age, your baby is probably eating most meals with the rest of the family. If your baby is still eating baby food, this is a good time to change to table food. Babies this age need six small meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a snack in the morning, afternoon and before bedtime. Your baby is becoming independent and will want to feed him or herself. Even though your baby will make a mess, it is important to give him or her the opportunity to develop the skill of self feeding. You can put a plastic drop cloth or newspapers under his or her chair to help ease the clean up.

From 1 to 2 years of age, your baby's growth will slow down, which may decrease his or her appetite. If your child starts eating less and becomes a picky eater, don't worry. Your child will eat when hungry. Simply provide a variety of healthy foods and let your child eat what and how much he or she wants. Meal times should be pleasant, so try not to get into battles over food. Don't force your child to eat everything on the plate. If your child is not hungry at one meal, just put the food away and wait a few hours. He or she may be hungry in a couple hours.

Bottles

This is a good time to begin weaning your baby from using a bottle. If you haven't already done so, let your baby try using a cup. A great way to practice is to give your baby a cup of water while he or she is in the bathtub when spills won't make a mess. When your baby wants milk or juice, put it in a cup. If you only put water in the bottle, he or she will become less interested in the bottle. If you are breastfeeding, it is still important for your baby to learn how to use a cup. Offer milk, juice or water after a meal in a cup.

Remember never to allow your child to keep a bottle in bed. The sugar in milk and juices will stick to your child's teeth and will not be washed away by saliva when he or she is sleeping. If you give your baby a bottle before bed, rinse out his or her mouth with a few sips of water.

Milk and Juice

Your baby can drink whole milk now. Please do not use low fat or nonfat milk until your child is 2 years old. Your baby's brain and nervous system are still developing and they need the extra fat to help the nerves grow properly. Children at this age only need about two cups of milk a day. If your child drinks too much milk or juice, he or she may not be hungry for other nutritious food. Your child should not drink more than 4 ounces of juice a day.

Peanut Butter

Many allergists now think it is wise to wait until children are 3 years of age before giving them peanut butter.

Safety

Car Safety

When your child is 12 months old you can turn his or her car seat to face forward. Make sure your child always rides in his or her car seat whenever in the car. Plastic books and toys can help make the trip more enjoyable.

Also, make sure you know where your child is before you reverse your car. If you have an electric garage door opener, make certain it has a mechanism to stop automatically if it comes in contact with an object, like a child. Make sure that you never leave your child alone in the car. The inside of the car will get very hot very quickly.

Make sure that everyone buckles up before the car engine starts. California law requires that your child be in a car seat or booster seat while riding in a car or taxi until he or she is 7 years old or 70 pounds.

Violence

Unfortunately, violence is affecting more and more families today. Parents, especially mothers, may find themselves in a relationship that is abusive or dangerous. If you are concerned about your relationship, your safety or the safety of your child, please talk with your child's pediatrician, who will help you find resources in a confidential manner. To speak with someone by phone and find help near you, call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or (415) 864-4722.

Dental Care

If there is no fluoride in your drinking water, please ask your child's doctor for a prescription. This will save you dental bills for cavities later on. Also, this is a good time to begin using a washcloth or soft toothbrush to wipe your baby's teeth and gums. However, do not use toothpaste with fluoride.

Health Screening

At your child's 12 month checkup, he or she may have a skin test for tuberculosis (TB). This test will not prevent TB but will test to see if your child has been exposed to the germ that causes the disease. If you, anyone in your family or a close friend have been exposed to TB, please tell your child's doctor.

Also, children who are at risk for anemia and increased levels of lead can be tested between 12 to 18 months of age. Please talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated January 20, 2010

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.