Teach Mom Learn

When you first have a baby, everyone is ready to share advice and horror stories.  But how many people have sat down with you and discussed what it is actually like to be a parent of a 1-year-old? I’m guessing very few, if any. 

Here’s the thing -in a lot of ways, parenting a baby is easier than parenting a 1-year-old.  They snuggle with you all the time.  They nap a lot, so you have time to get stuff done.  They can’t walk yet, so you can decide where they go.  They are squishy little bundles of love, and just looking at them makes your heart explode. 

And then, your precious baby turns 1.  All of a sudden, your nugget is not so little anymore.  They are mobile, unstoppable, talkative, active, little sponges who learn every second of every day. 

Having a 1-year-old is an adventure in the best sense of the word, but it is also an exciting challenge.  Here are the 10 things you should know about the next phase of your time with your baby:

1. Your food will never be just yours -when babies start solid food, they are fascinated by the food on their tray.  However, when your baby turns 1, they won’t care about what’s on their tray at all.  They want what’s on your plate instead. 

Rae is at the point where she demands to get out of her highchair, and the second I put her down, she grabs my leg and tries to climb up into my lap.  I’ve started making my plate full of enough food for both of us, and she eats sitting in my lap more often than I’d like to admit. 

To be honest, I’m just happy that she’s so interested in trying new foods.  So take my advice -load up your plate and be prepared to scoop at least a quarter of your food right onto their highchair tray.  It’s much easier to plan ahead than to have to get up for seconds.

2. They are really and intentionally funny -Know the games your baby would play with you? The way their little faces would light up when you would play peek-a-boo? Once your baby turns one, they seem to develop a better understanding of how games and jokes work, and best of all, they invent their own. 

They take such delight in teaching you their games, and watching them giggle and play in their own way is such a joy.  Rae’s current favorite is playing peek-a-boo with her toddler tent.  She ushers us into the tent, pulls down the fabric door, and pops up outside each window, laughing hysterically.

3. They don’t need you as much as they used to -This one was a tough adjustment.  Babies are so completely dependent on you for every waking moment of their day.  But around the time your baby turns 1, they start to engage in much more independent play. 

Believe it or not, that’s actually super important for their development, so even though your instincts may tell you to join them whenever they play, it’s actually good parenting to let them spend this time on their own. I like to sit nearby while Rae plays so that when she’s ready to invite me into her playtime, I’m there.

4. The way they play changes almost every day -Toddlers learn new ways to play every day.  When you buy a new toy, know that they will likely not use it in the conventional way for a while. 

Rae has this cute post-and-ring toy from her Kiwi Kit, and while she understands how to put the rings on the posts, she mostly prefers to throw them at me. 

However, after months of tossing oranges, sandwiches, cakes, and watermelons around the room, she now totally understands the shape sorting of her favorite LeapFrog Picnic Basket. 

Watching their growth as they play is so rewarding and exciting.

5. Their eating is super variable -One day, your 1-year-old will eat some yogurt and a cracker.  The next day, she’ll inhale a pancake, a banana, a pouch of apple sauce, 2 yogurts, a handful of cheese, half of a slice of your pizza, cheesy broccoli, and vegetable tots (shoutout to Dr. Praeger’s Littles, those things are delicious! Especially the broccoli ones). 

There’s really no consistency, so just know that your toddler’s appetite will change quickly and often.  Kallie Branciforte from But First, Coffee shared what her toddler eats in a week, and it completely put my mind at ease to see that Rae is far from the only unpredictable eater.

And don’t make the mistake I did and give them 6 cups of milk a day -2 is plenty! Part of the reason she was so full was because she was getting about 900 calories in milk out of the 1300 she was supposed to have in a day! Oops!

6. They are fearless -Remember that moment in Inside Out when Riley is running with her little wagon and Fear causes her to stop and gingerly step over the lamp cord? That is most definitely the least realistic moment in that entire film. 

One-year-olds are impulsive, and they are often so caught up in what they’re doing that they are completely oblivious to the risks around them when it comes to getting what they want.  They see nothing dangerous about climbing shelves or running toward stairs. 

Luckily, they have you to help with that! But unless your house is completely baby-proofed, you can’t take your eyes off them for a second. I would strongly suggest getting lots of gates, it’s much easier to close a gate than wrestle with baby-proofing devices all over your house. We gated off our kitchen completely to save us the hassle of child-proofing every cabinet.

7. They communicate so well -Even if your child is not yet speaking a language you can fully understand (mine is currently communicating with varying inflections of dah and pah with the occasional ffff), they know exactly what they want and will make sure you know too. 

You will learn to understand their language better every day, and they’ll be so proud of you when you pick up on what they’re saying!  Their receptive language is incredible too.  They are listening to every single thing you say, and they’ll love showing off that they understand. 

Check out my tips for more effectively communicating with your 1-year-old for some helpful ideas!

8. They hide everything -1-year-olds are unbelievably sneaky.  They know exactly what they’re not supposed to have, and they will make sure you won’t be able to find it to take it away from them.  Rae constantly hides partially full cups of milk, pacifiers, and her baby monitor.

• 

• 

Once you’re on to their tricks, you’ll catch them more often, and they’ll find it hysterical when you do.  Be super aware when they get quiet -that means they’re thinking extra hard!

9. They are ridiculously strong, and you will get injured -When I was pregnant, I went for a mani-pedi, and my manicurist started showing me bruises all over her legs and arms.  “These are from my 2-year-old,” she told me.  “She’s so strong!”  I thought that must be an anomaly. 

Tonight, I was distracted answering a text, and I heard a crack and felt intense pain.  Rae had chucked her favorite dog book directly at my face, and it collided with my nose at warp speed.  And this isn’t even my first injury of the day!

Caring for a 1-year-old is like wrestling a bear, you will be roared at, bit, headbutted, and bruised.  But they also snuggle and cuddle like little bear cubs, so the injuries are 100% worth it. 

The good news is that the older they get, the better your reflexes become!

10. They want to be your biggest helper – Your 1-year-old will want to be everywhere you are. When you’re doing chores, they’re going to be right there with you, wanting to help in their own way.

Rae’s current obsessions are helping with vacuuming, making the bed, and picking up toys (of course, she loves pulling them out and throwing them everywhere too). My dad even taught her how to make coffee and instant oatmeal, and she takes these jobs very seriously every time we visit them.

Finding little ways for them to help, like asking them to grab a pillow or letting them pour chocolate chips into your cookie dough, will make them so proud!

This phase is so special. Our babies have grown into strong, assertive little people who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want. They’re fearless explorers constantly testing their skills and strength. They’re fiercely independent, and yet they still want to be around us as much as they can.

There is nothing more heartwarming than when they choose to hug you, pull you into playtime with them, or hand you their favorite book in the middle of playtime.

I’d say this is the best phase yet, but the truth is that they’ve all been so wonderful in their own unique ways. I’m so excited to see what the next one brings!