Is Your 1-Year-Old on Track? A Must-Have Milestone Checklist

by Iva G. Livingston

Is Your 1-Year-Old on Track? Wondering what your 1-year-old should be doing now? This milestone checklist quiz asks the important questions and helps you understand what to expect in the first year and beyond.

Your baby’s first birthday is a huge milestone not just for your 1-year-old development, but for you too!

By the time your little one turns one, they’ve gone through an incredible year of growth and development. Remember the first smiles? And babbles? Then the crawling, pulling up, and maybe even taking their first steps? This year has been incredible, and your baby has been busy learning new skills every day.

Now, at around 12 months, babies start showing more independence and curiosity about the world. They may be exploring by cruising along furniture, trying to use words like “mama” or “dada,” or pointing to show you what excites them. Socially, they’re beginning to understand more. They like waving “bye-bye,” clapping with joy, or looking to you for reassurance in new situations. Enjoy this miracle of life!

Is Your 1-Year-Old on Track? Baby Milestones Checklist Quiz

Of course, every baby develops at their own pace, and it’s normal for some milestones to come earlier or later than others. This checklist is designed to help you see what’s typical around age one and celebrate your child’s amazing progress. Think of it as a fun quiz to spot the skills your baby may already have – and what new ones might be just around the corner.

This interactive quiz is based on the CDC’s developmental milestones for 1-year-olds.

Answer “Yes” if your child can do the described activity, or “No” if not yet. These are things most children can do by age 1. Remember, this is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If concerned, consult your child’s doctor.

Is Your 1-Year-Old on Track? A Must-Have Milestone Checklist

Question 1: Does your child play games with you, like pat-a-cake?
Yes No

Question 2: Does your child wave “bye-bye”?
Yes No

Question 3: Does your child call a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name?
Yes No

Question 4: Does your child understand “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)?
Yes No

Question 5: Does your child put something in a container, like a block in a cup?
Yes No

Question 6: Does your child look for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket?
Yes No

Question 7: Does your child pull up to stand?
Yes No

Question 8: Does your child walk, holding on to furniture?
Yes No

Question 9: Does your child drink from a cup without a lid, as you hold it?
Yes No

Question 10: Does your child pick things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food?
Yes No

Source: CDC Act Early Milestones

Sharing My Real Life Experience

About the Author

Hi, I'm Iva — mom, hobby herbalist, and the voice behind Toddler in Action. I hold a Master's in Economics and worked as a tax advisor. I walked away from my corporate career to stay home with my child — and that one decision changed everything: I've started a blog, homeschooled, co-founded Livingston Global Academy with my husband, and learned to heal my kid naturally when medication wasn't an option. I share our first-hand experience as we go — the real life - messy, meaningful, and everything in between.

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Hi there! I'm Iva. I'm a mom sharing my personal journey here at Toddler in Action. When I became a mom, I left my corporate career to stay home with my child and build my own business. Money was tight, but I never looked back—I didn't want to miss a single moment of my child growing up. Being a mom means expecting the expected and the unexpected—from the fun games we play and the lessons we learn, to the tougher parts like dealing with sore throats, rashes, fevers, and allergies. As someone who tends to panic when my child gets sick, I know how hard it can be. I believe there is no single "right" way to parent. I started this blog to share our first-hand experiences: our toddler activities, our preschool activities, our homeschool preschool curriculum, our family recipes, our daily routines, and our homemade herbal remedies (I'm a hobby herbalist since my child has medication allergies). My blogging journey allowed me to stay home for homeschooling and now through online school. But as kids grow, life changes—and so has this blog. I still share everything else life is made of. Please remember: I’m sharing our personal journey, not professional medical or life advice. My goal is simply to slow down, reconnect with nature, and live a more rooted family life. Wherever we live, we all want the same: to be healthy, happy, and to be good people and live a good life.