During her first year, a baby undergoes significant physical changes. As far as motor development, she transforms from not being able to roll over to walking on her own in just 12 months. By the age of 1, a baby can even perform some basic life skills, such as feeding herself and drinking from a cup.
Types of Motor Development
By the age of 1, a baby has experienced significant changes in two types of motor development. Gross motor development refers to the changes in major muscle groups that allow for complex movements like crawling, walking and keeping balanced, says the University of Michigan Health System. A baby also experiences fine motor development, which involves smaller movements of the hands such as grasping, feeding oneself and drawing.
Gross Motor Development
At 12 months, a baby's major muscles groups have developed dramatically since birth. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a 1-year-old baby can sit up and stand up without any help. He'll start trying to walk, at first holding onto objects and then standing momentarily while not holding on for balance. Some 1-year-olds have even taken their first steps by this age.
Fine Motor Development
A 1-year-old possesses several fine motor skills that increase her ability to play and interact with her environment. A baby at this age begins picking up objects with her thumb and fingers rather than scooping them up with her palm, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. She'll also put objects in a container and then take them out, hit two toys together and poke or point with her index finger.
Life Skills
At this age, the development of motor skills allows a baby to be more independent and start forming some basic life skills. The National Network for Child Care reports that a 1-year-old can usually feed himself with his hands, drink from a cup and offer a leg or arm to help out when he's being dressed. The American Academy of Pediatrics adds that, due to his motor development, a baby at this age can start to imitate gestures he sees in order to communicate with others.
Considerations
If parents are concerned that their child may be missing some of the motor development milestones for a 1-year-old, they should contact their pediatrician soon. Possible signs of a developmental delay at this age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, include not learning to use gestures, dragging one side of the body while crawling and an inability to stand even when supported. The National Network for Child Care suggests that premature babies be given extra time to develop. If a baby is born 2 months prematurely, she should not be expected to reach the 1-year developmental milestones until her 14th month.
