What should a 12-month-old's routine look like?
Here’s how to structure your one year-old’s day.
You did it! You’ve made it through the first year of your baby’s life…. I honestly believe YOU as the parent deserve a celebration, not just your baby - but that’s a topic for another day! : )
One year-olds are so cute and can be so much fun, but there are also a lot of changes that occur in this stage as they start to transition from a baby to a toddler. You might notice they are becoming more curious about things, attempting to walk and talk (it’s okay if they aren’t quite there yet!), and beginning to test boundaries and “cause trouble”, so to speak.
One of the best things you can do to help continue to promote age-appropriate development and make your life a bit easier is to implement a consistent routine for your one year-old.
So, what does a routine for a one year-old look like?
Wake up
Breast or bottle feed
Eat breakfast
Play
(Optional) Eat snack
Nap #1
Eat lunch
Play
Snack or breast/bottle feed
Nap #2
Play
Eat dinner
Bedtime Routine (can include breast/bottle feed at the beginning of the routine)
Mealtimes
By this point, your child should be offered three solid meals per day. This is where you really turn the corner and make solids their main source of nutrition and calories, instead of breast milk or formula. Remember - it is a gradual process rather than a hard and fast transition, though. Most babies, as they approach their first birthday, will increase their intake of solid foods, which will naturally decrease their demand for breast milk or formula. Some babies may need a little help to get there and that is okay!
It is also around this time you can start to transition your child from a bottle, if they are drinking from one. Typically, the daytime bottles are phased out first and the bedtime bottle is the last to go. These can be replaced by either milk in a cup and/or a snack. The full transition can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Ideally, you would aim to be bottle-free by the time your child is 14-15 months or so.
If this is something you are struggling with, you are not alone! In fact, I include an entire section about how to transition away from the bottle in my 12-18 Month Comprehensive Routine Guide to help you navigate this tricky time.
*Note: If you are breastfeeding, nursing can continue for as long as mom and child would like.
Naps
By 12 months of age, your baby is likely taking two naps a day. Sometimes, they may skip one of their naps. Try not to be fooled into thinking they are ready to drop to one nap right away! That typically doesn’t happen until around 14-18 months of age. So, if they skip a nap one day, shift bedtime 30-60 minutes earlier that night to help prevent them from getting over-tired.
One thing that can really help with naps and bedtime is having a solid pre-sleep routine in place. This might look something like:
Read a book
Sing a song
Put on sleepsack
Turn on sound machine
Hugs and a kiss
Lay baby in bed
By having a predictable series of events like this, it helps signal to their body what is going to happen and prepares them that sleep is coming. Find a routine that works for you and your child and be consistent with it as much as possible.
Playtime
By this point, your baby is probably really into play time. This period of their life is a rapid growth of play skills! Standing, walking, talking, and using their hands in more purposeful and intricate ways are all things your baby is learning at this time. It’s no wonder they are curious and, frankly, into EVERYTHING.
There are some things you can do to help promote safe and meaningful playtime for your child:
Set up a container play activity with your child. Show them how to take the objects out and put them back in. Narrate the phrases “take out” and “put in” while you do it.
Roll a small ball back and forth together. Sit on the floor about 2-3 feet away from your child and gently roll a ball towards them. Encourage them to roll it back to you.
Help your child practice squatting. While they are standing up (with or without holding on for support), try to encourage them to bend down into a squat position and stand back up again. This is great for their leg muscles to encourage independent standing and walking.
Blow bubbles together. Show your child how to isolate their pointer finger and pop them.
Read books together. Reading the same book over and over again is really good for your toddler’s development.
Put on music and have a dance party together. Clap to the beat of the music and encourage your child to clap and dance along with you.
Set up a book basket. Put 2-3 board books inside a small basket or bin and let your child have some independent “reading time”.
Set up a safe kitchen drawer. Toddlers love exploring kitchen items AND being close to you, so why not create a baby-safe drawer or cabinet that they can have access to while you are in the kitchen?
All this being said, try to remember that you do not need to be playing with your child all day long. In fact, allowing your child to play independently is just as (if not more!) important than playing together. Independent play may only last a few minutes at first, but the more they have an opportunity to practice, the easier it gets. The important thing to remember is safety. You want to create a safe environment for them to play without interruption. Having a “yes space” can help you do this - whether it is a playpen or child-proofing areas of your home where your baby will play.
I hope this helps you have a good idea of what a day with a one year-old generally looks like! As always, drop any questions in the comments of this post or send me a DM on Instagram.
If you want a more detailed view, check out my 12-18 Month Comprehensive Routine Guide. I teach you exactly how to structure your child’s day at this age as well as navigate all of the big transitions like dropping the bottle, transitioning from two naps to one, and managing emerging toddler tantrums, among so much more!