Week 47: First Steps, First Words, First Opinions
At 47 weeks — just five weeks shy of their first birthday — your baby might be taking literal or figurative first steps into toddlerhood. Whether they’re wobbling along unaided or still cruising with one hand on the furniture, the pace of development is unmistakable.
Language, movement, and big feelings are all blooming this week. You may find yourself cheering, comforting, redirecting, and repeating — all before your second cup of tea.
Development
Your baby may now:
Take one or more independent steps
Squat to pick something up and stand again
Point with intent — to show you something or express a need
Use gestures like waving, clapping, or reaching up to be held
Social and cognitive growth includes:
Copying new sounds or gestures from you
Understanding simple routines (e.g. reaching for the nappy at change time)
Testing boundaries with a gleam in their eye (“What happens if I do this again?”)
Showing the beginnings of empathy — offering you a toy or comforting a teddy
This is a stage full of imitation, exploration, and the beginnings of independent decision-making.
Sleep
You might experience:
Resistance to naps or bedtime, especially if they’re practicing walking
Night waking due to excitement, frustration, or emotional sensitivity
Shorter naps or skipped naps as they edge toward the 2-nap-to-1 transition (though most aren’t ready yet)
Support sleep with:
Predictable rhythms and consistent routines
Calm reassurance — you’re still their safe place, even at night
Patience as they adjust to the developmental changes disrupting their rest
Sleep patterns often reflect what’s happening in the brain — and there’s a lot going on.
Feeding
Feeding may include:
More interest in family foods — especially if they can eat it themselves
Practising with a spoon, cup, or fork
Throwing food, rejecting food, or demanding your food
Support healthy eating habits by:
Offering food in manageable pieces and letting them choose what and how much to eat
Keeping mealtimes relaxed and social — it’s not just about nutrition
Continuing milk feeds (breastmilk or formula) as your baby needs
There’s no need to push weaning milestones. Responsive, baby-led feeding supports their developing autonomy.
Play and Interaction
Play this week may include:
Purposeful cause-and-effect play (pushing buttons, opening lids, pressing your nose!)
Social games — hiding, chasing, peekaboo, simple ball rolls
More pretend play: feeding dolls, talking into toys, mimicking household activities
Combining gestures with sounds to communicate (pointing and saying “ba” for ball)
Support their exploration by:
Following their lead and naming what they’re doing
Offering safe spaces to move, climb, and explore
Staying nearby — even as they move away more confidently, they still need your presence
You’re their emotional anchor as they venture into new territory.
Top Tip of the Week
“Every wobble is a step forward. Confidence grows through safe, supported practice.”
Real Life Reflections
This is an exhilarating — and exhausting — stage. One minute your baby is beaming with pride after a solo step. The next they’re on the floor, sobbing because the lid won’t go back on the container.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. This season is full of learning curves — not just for babies, but for parents too. You’re doing the work of building a secure, responsive foundation for the toddler your baby is becoming.
And in the process, you’re becoming something too — a more confident, connected version of yourself.
Looking Ahead
In the weeks to come, you may notice:
First clear words with intent
More emotional intensity and frustration
Attempts to copy everyday tasks (sweeping, stirring, putting on shoes)
A desire to “do it myself!” — even when they can’t quite
Toddlerhood is near. And you’re ready, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
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.
Infant Sleep Development Understand how developmental milestones, such as crawling and increased mobility around 8–10 months, can impact your baby's sleep patterns, leading to more frequent night waking.
Why Your Baby Doesn't Need To Be Taught How To Move Learn about the natural progression of gross motor skills in infants and why allowing babies to develop at their own pace supports healthy physical development.
