Week 46: On the Verge of Toddlerhood
At 46 weeks — just weeks away from that big first birthday — your baby is showing signs of becoming a toddler. They’re curious, clever, and increasingly determined to do things their way. Their movement is more confident, their babble more expressive, and their emotions… a little louder.
This is a week of testing, learning, and repeating — all part of the incredible brain-building happening right now.
Development
You might notice:
Standing confidently for longer periods
Taking a few unaided steps — or getting ready to
Picking up and placing objects with increasing control
Pointing to indicate wants or interests
Cognitive and social skills are also blossoming:
Following simple directions (“Give it to Mum”)
Looking for hidden objects or completing familiar routines
Laughing in response to social cues or jokes
Practising turn-taking and early sharing (though not reliably yet!)
Your baby is becoming more aware of their surroundings — and their own role in it.
Sleep
Sleep might be unsettled due to:
Physical restlessness (standing in the cot, cruising instead of sleeping)
Ongoing separation sensitivity
Emotional intensity from new experiences and relationships
Support sleep by:
Staying consistent with nap and bedtime routines
Responding calmly to night waking — your presence is reassuring
Allowing extra time to wind down before sleep
Many babies need a little more comfort this week — that’s not a step backward, it’s a developmental need.
Feeding
Mealtimes are full of new skills and new opinions:
Your baby may insist on feeding themselves
They might start using a spoon or drinking from a cup with more control
Appetite may fluctuate, especially during teething
Support healthy feeding by:
Offering a wide variety of textures and flavours
Letting your baby explore and self-feed safely
Keeping breastfeeds responsive and available
Remember: it’s about the experience, not just the intake.
Play and Interaction
Play this week often includes:
Cause-and-effect experiments (“What happens if I drop this again?”)
Simple problem-solving (fitting blocks in containers, lifting flaps in books)
Shared attention — pointing to something, then looking at you
Longer stretches of focused solo play
Support their learning by:
Narrating what you’re doing and what they’re doing
Acknowledging their feelings: “That was tricky — you’re trying so hard!”
Creating time for both active and quiet play
They’re not just playing — they’re practising how the world works.
Top Tip of the Week
“Let your baby lead the way — then join them with joy and curiosity.”
Real Life Reflections
This stage can feel messy, noisy, and relentless. You’re likely chasing a moving target, cleaning up scattered toys, and refereeing dramatic disagreements between baby and banana.
But this is also a golden time of connection. You’re not just getting through the day — you’re witnessing your baby’s growing sense of self, and helping them feel seen and supported as they explore it.
It’s intense. It’s beautiful. And it’s okay to rest whenever you can.
Looking Ahead
In the next few weeks, you might notice:
Independent steps turning into confident walking
First clear words
More attempts to communicate through gestures, sounds, or signs
Stronger displays of independence (and protest!)
Your baby is becoming themselves — and you are their anchor in the process.
Further Reading:
Night Weaning: Keeping It Real Explore the realities of night weaning and understand that night waking is a normal part of development, even as your baby grows older. This article discusses the expectations and challenges associated with night-time parenting in the second half of the first year.
Why Toddlers Wake in the Night Understand the various factors that contribute to night waking in older babies and toddlers, including developmental milestones and teething. This article provides reassurance and strategies for managing disrupted sleep patterns.
Distraction and Breastfed Babies Around 9–10 months, babies often become more distracted during breastfeeding sessions due to developmental milestones like crawling and standing. This article explores how these changes can affect feeding patterns and offers strategies to maintain a strong breastfeeding relationship during this stage.
