Hello, toddler: cruising, pointing and almost-words

Moving: from cruising to (maybe) first steps

Most children this age are pulling up to stand and cruising along the furniture. Some take their first wobbly independent steps now; plenty of others wait several more months.

First steps anywhere from around 9 to 18 months are within the normal range, so try not to compare notes at playgroup too anxiously. By 15 months, many toddlers can take a few steps on their own — arms up, legs wide, sitting down with a bump.

Falling over constantly is not a problem to fix. It's how walking is learned, and nappies make surprisingly good crash padding.

Talking and understanding

You might hear "mama" or "dada" used to mean you, plus one or two almost-words — "ba" for ball counts. What they understand is far ahead of what they can say: they'll pause at "no", look at familiar things you name, and follow simple requests when you add a gesture.

Pointing is the big news. Around now toddlers start pointing to ask for things or to get your help, and this shared looking-together is the engine that drives language.

When they point and you name what they're pointing at, you're teaching vocabulary in exactly the way small brains like it.

Feelings and being with you

Separation anxiety is often strong at this age — crying when you leave the room, wariness of people they don't see often. The NHS notes it's common from around 6 months to 3 years, and it's actually a sign of how well they're attached to you.

You'll also see lovely social moments: waving bye-bye, clapping when excited, holding up a toy just to show you. Showing you things is their first way of saying "look at this — isn't it great?"

Eating and sleep

Toddlers this age are moving onto chopped-up family food, feeding themselves with their fingers and practising with an open cup (expect spillage — it's a skill, not a mess). In the UK, whole cows' milk can be a main drink from 12 months.

Growth slows after the first birthday, so appetite often visibly dips. A toddler who is active, gaining weight and generally well is getting enough, even when a meal is three peas and a breadstick.

Many toddlers still nap twice a day and start squeezing towards one longer nap somewhere in the months ahead. Night waking is still very common in the second year — you're not doing anything wrong.

Talk back and forth (serve and return)

Notice what they're looking or pointing at, and name it — "Bus! A big red bus." Short, simple sentences beat long explanations at this age.

Narrate ordinary life while you do it: getting dressed, making tea, unpacking shopping. To your toddler, you are the most interesting thing in the world, and everyday chat is exactly how words go in.

Songs with actions — pat-a-cake, row-the-boat — are language lessons dressed up as fun.

Give them room to move

Barefoot cruising time on a safe floor does more for walking than anything you can buy. A sturdy push-along trolley or box to shove around the room is a happy bonus.

Resist the urge to rescue every wobble. Staying close and cheering the attempt teaches them that trying is the point.

Let them try it themselves (a bit)

Finger foods they can manage, a spoon to wave even if most of it misses, a cup they hold with your hands nearby. Doing it themselves is slower and messier — and it's how competence grows.

Where you can, offer one small choice: "banana or toast?" Tiny decisions feel wonderful when you're one.

Games to play together

• Tower up, knock down low effort

  Stack blocks or cups into a tower and let them demolish it, over and over. You can play this entire game without leaving the sofa cushion you're slumped on.

• Where's it gone? low effort

  Hide a toy under a cup or blanket while they watch, then ask "where's it gone?" and let them find it. Finding hidden things is a real cognitive milestone dressed as a game.

• Point-and-name safari low effort

  Sit by the window or with a chunky picture book and name whatever they point at. Follow their interest rather than steering it — that's the whole trick.

• Pots-and-spoons band low effort

  Hand over a saucepan and a wooden spoon on the kitchen floor while you sit with your cup of tea. Loud, yes, but it buys you ten minutes and they adore it.

• Roll it back low effort

  Sit on the floor legs apart and roll a ball between you. It's their first taste of taking turns, and you barely have to move.

• Cushion mountain a bit of energy

  Pile sofa cushions on the floor and let them clamber over while you spot them. Climbing practice with a soft landing.

More games for tired parents →