Baby in 13. Month

Some babies are already walking in the 13. Some babies are already walking in the 13th month, others are now taking their first, still tentative, steps – but in the end they all start their discoveries on two legs. Vocabulary grows steadily and your toddler takes great pleasure in imitating you in everything from brushing teeth to talking on the phone.

Development of the infant

At the beginning of 13. In the first month, infants are officially no longer babies, but toddlers! Is not that great? While in his first year the physical growth, motor and emotional development ran in parallel at an incredible pace, at least the physical growth slows down somewhat in the second year of life.

Meaning: Clothes fit a little longer. Your darling gains weight more slowly and stretches in the 2. The child’s height increases during the first year of life. His emotional and linguistic development are rapidly gaining momentum. Every month his vocabulary grows significantly, your toddler likes to be able to do everything himself – and shows this very clearly.

In 13. Month, your child will also:

actively expand his vocabulary – constantly new short words are added
come back to a sitting position from a standing position
trying to dress or undress themselves
soon dare the first free steps
Eating independently – like the grown-ups!

Physical changes of your baby

At 13 months, your baby will weigh close to ten kilograms – but may be up to two kilograms over or under that weight. This depends somewhat on his previous growth curve and on the birth weight at which he was born. In the second year of life, he or she will gain much less weight overall than in the first year.

The growth of the head circumference also slows down to a few millimeters per month. The child’s face takes on clearer contours, the muscles that are responsible in particular for standing upright freely are developed in the 13. baby month strengthened by constant exercise.

Milestones

Weight	ca. 9.200 to 9.900 g
Growth	Length growth to ca. 74-84 cm; head circumference at approx. 43-49 cm
Language	One-word sentences; words can describe different things with the same properties ("round" = "ball" or "melon" or "basket")
Motor skills	possibly first free steps; initial, free standing; putting on and taking off simple clothes (cap, scarf)

To the 12. In the third month, babies have often tripled their birth weight. Some babies are still missing a few grams, others have already passed the mark.

Emotional and motor changes in your baby

In the 13. When your baby is a few months old, he’s probably still the same little baby he was a few months ago – and at the same time, he’s the toddler who stands upright with joy and now wants to explore the world on his own, full of curiosity and joy of discovery. The inner drive of every toddler consists in 2. In the first year of life, the main thing is to learn as quickly as possible many of the things that "the grown-ups" can already do.

Your darling will therefore enthusiastically watch you doing any kind of activity – and want to participate! Folding laundry, mopping the floor, stirring the pot, or planting flowers are just as exciting as talking on the phone, operating the tablet, or pushing around on the TV remote control.

The fact that some things are rather not meant for small children’s hands can lead to loud protests. And that is wonderful! Because that’s how your baby shows his emotions: Suddenly and abruptly, but clearly and very unambiguously. For mom and dad, this sometimes comes as a surprise, especially if the child has been rather quiet up to now.

The defiance phase or autonomy phase describes the months in which toddlers consciously demand space for doing things themselves. This is an important developmental step that can be taken in the 13th year of life. This process begins in the first month and lasts for several months. Parents handle their child’s autonomy efforts very differently – there is hardly a right or wrong approach. After all, you know your toddler best and are therefore better able to assess how you can lovingly accompany your toddler while still protecting him or her.

Tip: Go to eye level with your toddler and maintain gentle physical contact. This will help them listen to you even when they are experiencing strong emotions and almost blocking out the world around them. As in previous months, stick to simple but clear language.

Motorically, all signs point to: "Run off!". If your little one is a little cautious and scared and doesn’t feel confident about letting go of the scarf while standing, encourage them a little bit. Hand your child a particularly beloved toy so that he or she has to reach both hands toward the toy. This may look a little wobbly at first, but balance and musculature develop at 13. Baby month, with regard to the free standing, targeted further.

If your toddler has not yet taken any free steps, he may do so at any time. At the same time, he will try to perform simple actions himself, such as z.B.:

Take off cap
Putting on the cap
Pull off the scarf
Tuck his arm into his jacket sleeve
eat with the spoon, etc.

This might test your patience in the beginning: Usually it doesn’t work at the first attempt, but it takes a bit until the cap stays on the head or the applesauce on the spoon. As wonderful as it is to watch your child do these first important things, the clock is usually ticking. If you can, plan a little more time before leaving the house, for example, so that your little one can get dressed by himself and at his own pace.

It’s okay if you don’t have the patience for it! On other days, you may be the calm one and can watch your child devotedly doing this. On the other hand, you may experience how your toddler prefers to be dressed, held or carried, especially at the daycare center or when visiting a doctor. Then it may prefer to postpone practicing right now and be all too happy to leave you to get dressed.

Encourage toddlers through play

Age-appropriate motor boards or the like are good tools to help your toddler solve everyday tasks. With these creatively inspired toys will then:

large bottle lids open and closed
Undoing and closing zippers
Open and close the latch
pulled by strings
Put loops around buttons
Making marbles roll
different geometric shapes pushed through matching openings.

This sensorimotor training can already prepare your child for the time when he or she attends an out-of-home care facility together with other children, such as a crèche, KiTa or a large daycare center. Very young children are often already expected to be able to open their jacket or a lunch box on their own there.

Musical instruments exert an irresistible attraction on infants. A child’s xylophone with colorful keys, for example, is suitable for promoting musical and rhythmic listening skills. Together with your darling, you can bang the proverbial keys and name the colored keys.

Ball games develop a child’s sense of balance and spatial awareness. Roll or throw soft balls in his direction – and your child will roll or throw the ball back to you. Small soccer goals that can be set up, basketball baskets that can be hung on cupboard or drawer doors, or a very simple wastepaper basket are also great targets for the first exercises with the ball and strengthen your toddler’s sense of distance.

Feeding toddlers

Even as a toddler, your loved one needs meals that are tailored specifically to his or her needs. That means whenever possible:

little salt and sugar
no spicy or strongly seasoned food
Milk and dairy products only in moderation (approx. 300 g or 300 ml per day, respectively)
Water or unsweetened teas as drinks.

Between the main meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner, 1-2 smaller snacks are ideal. Some toddlers do well with longer meal breaks, especially if interspersed with an extended nap. For others, shorter intervals make more sense so that they can relax and enjoy their meals.

Tip: About a handful of vegetables, fruit or bread with toppings is a good guide to the size of your toddler’s meal. The capacity of the child’s fist can be used as a measuring aid. For adults, these are usually surprisingly small portions, but your toddler can enjoy them in a relaxed manner and digest them well. If he is still hungry afterwards, simply offer him some fruit, vegetables or the like.

Dental hygiene will be more important in 2. This is even more important after the first birthday, because more and more teeth are coming in and need to be well cared for. In addition, after the 1. The sugar content of food will become less important after your baby’s first birthday. Infant-friendly products such as HiPP Organic for Children – all with no added sugar – are ideal alternatives here.

Breastfeeding and formula

If you continue to breastfeed: Congratulations on reaching this milestone! After birth, most moms choose to breastfeed, by the end of 1. Around one third of babies are still breastfeeding before the age of three. By the second birthday, just under 8 percent of mothers continue to breastfeed in addition to the family diet. Often breastfeeding takes place in the evening, at bedtime and at night.

Already knew? Breast milk adapts to 12 months of age. The first month of a baby’s life is explicitly geared to the challenges of a toddler’s life. It contains a higher proportion of immune substances and a slightly higher protein content than before. Especially the protection against germs pays off when you start work and your child attends the KiTa or a large day care, because breastfed toddlers are on average less likely to get sick.

In a nutshell: If you are working and breastfeeding, you are entitled to the full protection of the Maternity Protection Act. This means no night work, Sunday work or piecework, and no contact with hazardous substances that can cause breast milk to enter the body. The human resources department and the labor inspectorate will advise you as a working mom – the latter anonymously if you wish – on your rights during the breastfeeding period.

If you do not breastfeed or no longer breastfeed and continue to give the bottle: The need to suck is also present in toddlers at 13. Month often still very large. As long as it feels right for you and for your baby, continue to give the bottle. Follow the recommended drinking amounts and ensure appropriate dental hygiene.

From the first birthday, you can also slowly wean your baby off the bottle and familiarize him or her with the age-appropriate sippy cup or a regular cup. Ultimately, however, this happens very individually. In 13. month, your little darling is often still looking for the closeness that breastfeeding or the bottle offer. The big explorer child is very briefly tiny again and snuggles up very close to you for feedings.

These moments are especially helpful during times of transition: When settling into the KiTa, when grandparents take over more childcare hours or larger siblings through school and co. demand more time from mom and dad. Then those milk meals can become little islands of security. It is important to avoid constant sucking and to pay attention to careful dental hygiene in order to take good care of the growing milk teeth. Don’t lose sight of the goal of having drinks and milk only from a cup by toddler age.

visit to the pediatrician

In 13. There is no regular checkup scheduled for the first month. If there are still vaccination appointments after U6 in 10. until 12. If you are open during the first month of the baby’s life, these are often postponed until the 13th month. Month rescheduled.

Think about the age-appropriate development of your child? Then make an additional appointment with your pediatrician and address your concerns there.

Settling in at the KiTa

A good quarter of all mothers start work again after one year of parental leave. The topic of childcare will probably accompany you for a while, because until the time comes, a good place for your darling must be found, the formalities taken care of and the settling in planned.

Perhaps your childcare facility has a toddler group or another get-to-know-you offer where you can get a taste of daycare in advance? Either way, the first period of settling in is a time of upheaval for the entire family. The daily routine changes significantly. Toddlers react to these changes very differently and according to their character: Some are, as before, little whirlwinds during the settling-in period, who start each morning full of joy into the new day with other children. Others need much more closeness, security and your gentle reassurance that the KiTa will be a wonderful place for new experiences.

As a rule, between two and eight weeks are planned for settling in. In the beginning, you will stay together with your darling in the KiTa group and experience the typical routine together. This applies above all to shared meals, such as the second breakfast, but also to important rituals, such as the morning circle or games in the garden or playground area of the childcare facility. This gives toddlers the chance to build up an initial relationship with their educator – and parents can be sure that their treasure is really in good hands in the care of the pedagogical staff.

As a rule, the Berlin model is used for acclimatization. Therefore, the first brief separation of mom or dad and child in the group takes place only after some time has passed. You say goodbye, leave the group room – and return a few minutes later. These short separations are repeated very slowly and gently, extending by the minute – until you can leave the KiTa for the first time for a short errand and your darling remains recognizably content and happy in the group room.

Tips for settling in:

A favorite cuddly toy or a small family photo book will help your child calm down with the help of his or her caregiver when he or she misses you.
Plan more time before and after the settling-in period, because toddlers have a lot to process during this phase – and that takes time.
Discuss your wishes and ideas with the teachers as clearly as possible to avoid misunderstandings.
Tears are normal in the beginning, the important thing is how well and securely your toddler allows himself to be calmed and caught by the caregiver.

The following applies to all of this: Trust your gut feeling! You will have the best sense of what is good for your child in the new situation and what you yourself need to develop trust in the caregivers. Daycare parents are often an alternative if you do not feel comfortable in the selected daycare center despite careful selection and familiarization attempts. The smaller family setting may then be the better choice?

In a nutshell: The local Youth Welfare Office, family centers and church drop-in centers can advise and support you in your search for suitable childcare places. When in doubt, turn to one of these for further support in caring for your little one.

This is how mom and dad do it

Share parenting time with your partner? Then start in 13. Baby month often the dad with toddler care while mom goes back to work. It can really throw your daily routine into disarray. Stay patient with each other – and yourself – through it all. For dad, a child demanding to see mom can be difficult to calm at first. For mom, starting work after months with baby is quite challenging. The only thing that helps: Talk to each other! Talk about things that seem to be self-evident, but which the other person is not aware of at the moment.

In addition, there is often the Kitaeinewohnung. Some toddlers master this wonderfully, others find it more difficult. As different as the settling in process is for the children – so it is for the parents as well. They may be wistful about starting out-of-home care and miss your baby every minute you are apart? As time goes by, this becomes less, I promise! You’ll see: Soon you’ll have settled into your new routine.

The best tips for the thirteenth baby month

The first time with toddler is turbulent, full of surprises, and at the same time so heartwarming. With our tips for the 13. Baby month it gets a little nicer:

Take your toddler’s handprints and footprints as mementos for later.
Move fragile items up one level on the shelves – your toddler can now stand safely and reach for things higher up.
Get shoes with soft soles for their first steps outside.
Plan discovery tours in nature and observe how your child experiences its environment in amazement.
Consciously include more vegetables and fruit in your own diet; after all, you are the most important role model for your child and will be closely observed in everything you do.

Important questions about the 13. Baby month

How much does my child speak at 12 months?

From the 1. By the time they reach their 60th birthday, toddlers learn an average of three new words per month. In the beginning, these words can describe people, animals or things, as well as characteristics.

Round objects are therefore automatically a "ball", even if it is actually a watermelon, a nut or a spherical basket. It can be confusing at first. Parents and toddlers quickly find their own form of communication. To outsiders, this almost seems like a secret language between mom, dad and toddler.

The vocabulary expands steadily and with it the understanding of the language. Understanding toddlers in 13. Babymonat already typical everyday words and react accordingly, if they should lift the arm, take off the cap or stretch out the leg. Games suitable for small children are particularly helpful: They encourage your little treasure to constantly learn new words.

How big is a 12-month-old baby?

At 13 months, infants are on average between 9.200 and 9.Weigh 900 grams, measure between 74 and 84 centimeters and have a head circumference of ca. 43 to ca. 49 centimeters. Often a dress size of 80 or 86 fits well. Shoe size is between 20 and 20.5 with an average foot length of 12.3 to 12.7 centimeters.

Fluctuations up and down in weight and size growth are always possible, of course. The deviations can occur in the 2. This can amount to several centimeters and up to two kilograms during the first year of life.

Does a 12-month-old infant still need the nap?

Infants’ need for sleep changes imperceptibly during the second year of life. On 10 to 13.5 hours of night sleep come on average still 1 to 3.5 hours of day sleep, whereby the day sleep becomes more and more a larger sleep phase. As a rule, very small children of this age urgently need this rest in order to be fit for further daily activities.

If your darling is tired during the day, but does not find sleep? This happens every now and then in phases of upheaval and is no cause for concern. It doesn’t necessarily mean your child doesn’t need sleep, but may just have a little more to process.

Helpful in these phases

Create a distraction-free, quiet environment as much as possible,
Offer lots of skin contact and closeness,
And provide regulation help: rocking, rocking, petting, breastfeeding, or giving a bottle can help your toddler transition to sleep more easily.

Also check whether your child’s sleep needs have changed, perhaps he or she does not get tired at the usual time in the evening or needs a little less sleep over midday. The need for sleep is very individual, so sleep tips are usually of a more general nature. Trust your gut and calmly guide your darling to find the best way to fall asleep.

Do I have to wean my child for the nursery??

In need-based daycare centers and nurseries, you are not usually expected to wean your baby at the start of daycare.

Most often, parents worry that breastfed infants will eat less well in the crib or have trouble falling asleep. In practice, however, it is usually the case that infants:

eat better and more in the community with other children,

Better accept the new environment of sleeping room, caregiver and nursery room,

the daycare and kindergarten routine is challenging, so they tend to get hungry as well as tired.

For babies in 1. In the second year, it may be necessary to pump breast milk and have it fed in the nursery or KiTa. After 1. By the 2nd birthday, this will no longer be necessary in most cases. You can simply continue breastfeeding in the morning, at lunchtime or in the afternoon, in the evening and at night.

Author info:

Sabrina Sailer has been a volunteer breastfeeding counselor and trained babywearing counselor since 2010. She works as a copywriter and editor and also supervises various offers concerning the compatibility of family and career.

Technical advice and editing: Birgit Laue, midwife& Medical educator, Dipl. PR specialist, author