10 – 12 Months Old Baby Development Milestones!

Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Checked against current guidance from the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) and the American Dental Association.

Not only will they have developed a personality, but they will have acquired and begun to showcase their intellectual capabilities as well. This display would, without a doubt, bring joy to all of you.

Well, this manifestation of their abilities is a direct result of the development process that all babies go through, which in turn, helps develop their own identity as they grow older. In this article, we will discuss the development of babies around the age of 10 to 12 months.

10 – 12 Months Old Baby Development Milestones

A baby that is 10 to 12 months year old is considered to be an infant, and infants are known to start achieving developmental milestones in a variety of stages, which includes emotional, social, physical, and cognition. For each of these four categories, your infant will achieve several different types of milestones that help develop their overall growth.

Cognitive Development

Within this stage of development, your infant will begin to showcase their brain development, which refers to their cognitive abilities. They will, at this point, develop the ability to think (Read here: Cognitive Development in Infants).

Object Permanence

This refers to your infant’s ability to recognize that a particular object exists. This can be showcased in several instances and isn’t only restricted to the recognition of objects rather people as well. The best example of the development of object permanence is that your infant understands that an object that has been hidden still exists and is just out of sight.

Because your baby now knows you still exist when you are out of sight, they may cry or reach for you when you leave. Over time, this understanding also helps them learn that you come back.

Ability To Search For Objects That Are Hidden

During their cognitive development, you will see that your infant has begun to look for objects that they desire to use, and if that object is out of sight, they will move around to locate it.

This is due to the fact that once your baby has developed object permanence, they will then begin to develop an inquisitive streak. A good example of this is that if their toy has slipped underneath your couch, your infant will lean down to look for it.

You can also test this development by hiding their toy underneath a sheet, and you will see that your baby will begin to look for it.

Enjoys Picture Books

This is the age when your infant will develop the ability to comprehend and, therefore, enjoy picture books. Your 10 to 12 month old will love to listen to audio and visual stories, most commonly in the form of picture books for children since they are incredibly eye-catching illustrations.

The reason why your infant will begin to enjoy picture books is due to the fact that they will have developed the ability to comprehend and retain information in the form of pictures and sounds. 

There are several other types of cognitive abilities that your 10 to 12 month old will have developed. Here is a list of the rest of them. 

• Development of the ability to associate words with their corresponding meanings
• Development of the ability to repeat and imitate actions that they observe
• Development of the ability to learn the appropriate names for people around them, which manifests in the form of the infant using words, such as mama and dada.
• Development of the ability to understand “no” (pausing or stopping when you say it). Following simple requests, like handing you a toy, usually comes a little later, often with the help of a gesture.
• Putting things in a container, like a block in a cup.

Physical Development

The physical development of your infant is the easiest to observe and pertains to the development of physical principals and motor skills.

Crawling

Many babies master crawling between about 7 and 10 months. A few children never crawl. Some scoot on their bottoms or slide on their tummies instead, and that is fine as long as they use both sides of their body equally. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician. 

Pincer Grasp 

The pincer grasp is the type of grasp where the thumb and the index finger are used to pick up small-sized objects. By about 12 months, most babies can pick up small things, like small bits of food, between their thumb and pointer finger instead of using all of their fingers.

Ability To Sit 

At this stage, your infant will have strong tummy and back muscles. Most babies sit without support and get into a sitting position by themselves by about 9 months. If your baby is not sitting alone by 9 months, let your pediatrician know.

Pulling On The Table To Stand Up

At this age, your infant will also develop the ability to stand up. Most babies pull up to stand on a stable object, like a table or sofa, by their first birthday. Many take their first steps on their own around 12 months, but walking a bit earlier or later is normal. 

There are several other physical developmental milestones that you will be able to easily observe in your 10 to 12 month old. Here is a list of the rest of them.

• Development of the ability to walk while holding on to furniture (cruising).
• Growth of the central incisor teeth. Brush them twice a day with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice, and book your baby’s first dental visit by their first birthday.
• Development of improved depth perception and better hand to eye coordination
• Drinking from an open cup while you hold it

Emotional and Social Development

Your baby between the age of 10 and 12 months will also begin to develop their own emotional temperament, which will prepare them to cope with social gatherings, such as their first birthday.

Waving Goodbye

You may have noticed that, at first, your infant wouldn’t respond to people waving at them. However, at this age, your baby will be able to see people off by waving them goodbye. This means that your infant has developed the ability to understand basic social gestures that are used in everyday life. The infant might even say something similar to bye. 

Anxious Of Strangers 

Since your infant will have begun to recognize their family members, they will then develop the ability to identify or label someone as a stranger. This is why, if you leave them in the company of a stranger, you will see your infant feel anxious, and they may even resist going into the arms of people they are unfamiliar with. 

Reacting To Situations

Since the infant will have started to develop a personality of their own at 10 to 12 months, you will also see them reacting according to the situation, such as crying when a toy is taken away from them, being startled and nervous due to a loud sound, and more. 

Other social and emotional developmental milestones include:

• Development of separation anxiety
• Ability to enjoy games, such as peekaboo and pat-a-cake.

Every baby grows at their own pace. If your baby is not reaching these milestones, or loses skills they once had, talk to your pediatrician. Getting help early can make a big difference.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician with questions about your baby’s health.