“Where did the time go?!” is probably what keeps going through your mind as your “baby” approaches one year old. Between the late night feedings and the endless newborn and infant milestones, somehow time flew by right before your eyes. Don’t worry, though - there are more milestones to anticipate. For some of those milestones, you’re going to need some tips to help you get through. We got you, mama!

Precious First Steps

If your little one hasn’t taken her first steps already, don’t worry. Some children may not take their first steps until after they turn one year old. Either way, it’s a huge milestone that parents are eager to see. Once your child starts walking, expect to barely sit down - she will be into everything. Be sure to pick up anything in her way that she can get hurt on, or that you don’t want to be broken. Baby gates are a must around this time.

Using Fine Motor Skills

The cutest thing ever is when you see your toddler pick up tiny pieces of food. Around this time is when they will begin to drink from a cup without your help. Stock up on the toddler cutlery because now your little will soon feed themselves - and boy will it get messy - but it’s okay because this is all a learning process. Since your child is bringing everything and anything to her mouth now, be sure to watch things like medicine bottles, any choking hazards around the home, plants, or anything else that could be potentially dangerous.

Oh No! Not the Tantrums

While it’s a little too soon for terrible twos, toddler meltdowns are bound to happen. Be patient and try to understand what’s going through your little one’s mind. Usually, children this young aren’t trying to misbehave. They are usually upset about not being able to reach something they want. A one-year-old’s tantrum will consist of being frustrated, overstimulated, bored, or anxious. But let’s not be fooled by the cuteness - they don’t like the two-letter word “no” either. Practicing calmly that “no means no” is important. It’s going to take a while for them to learn and catch on. A quick tip from What to Expect on this is to always make sure you show your baby you love her but remember you need to correct their behavior, too. Be consistent and it will get better.

When to Drop a Nap

Nap time is usually the time many moms get some housework done. If that sounds like you, that may be coming to a halt, unless you can fit all of your cleaning in during one nap. Most babies will take two naps until they are around 15 months old. Look for the below signs to see if your child is ready to drop a nap:

• One nap tends to run a lot shorter
• Baby has been resisting the second nap for two weeks straight
• Baby sleeps around 11 hours per night

Playtime Ideas

Now that your little one is getting older, it’s time to think about playtime. Reading books together doesn’t have to be just before bedtime. You can get a head start on getting your child to gain a love for reading by starting now. Reading encourages language development and imagination. Music is also ideal and it can promote dancing, and even physical activity and body coordination. Rather than pulling out a bunch of various toys, it’s best to have a few so you don’t overwhelm your child. Some ideas are rattles, baby drums, play tunnel for playing house, build a cardboard box fort for the both of you, toy telephone, buckets and sand at the beach, or baby puzzles.