Week 51: Practising Being a Toddler
Just one week shy of their first birthday, your baby is showing you exactly who they are becoming. You’ll see flashes of toddlerhood — a determined shake of the head, an outstretched hand, a triumphant wobbly step — woven through the last days of babyhood.
This is a week of rehearsal. They’re testing words, trying on emotions, and exploring their independence in big and small ways. They don’t need to have it all figured out — they just need you alongside them as they practise.
Development
You may notice:
More confident walking, or attempts to stand without support
Purposeful pointing and gesturing, especially to share something with you
Clear recognition of familiar people, pets, objects, and routines
Attempts to help with dressing — offering feet or arms, tugging at clothing
Cognitive growth is booming:
Stronger memory for events — your baby knows what comes next in familiar activities
Beginning to understand simple cause and consequence (“Push this, and it lights up!”)
Trying to make you laugh, or copying funny faces
Your baby is becoming intentional — their actions are no longer just instinctive, but planned and thoughtful.
Sleep
Sleep may continue to shift:
Physical milestones can temporarily disrupt rest
Emotional and social awareness may lead to clinginess at bedtime
Some babies may start resisting the second nap — but most still need it
Support sleep by:
Holding space for winding down with calm, connected rituals
Staying responsive — it’s normal to need extra reassurance during transitions
Keeping a flexible but consistent rhythm to the day
There’s a lot going on in their little world — and they sleep best when they feel secure.
Feeding
Feeding might now involve:
Eating a wider variety of textures — and more assertive preferences!
“Feeding” you, their toys, or the floor (part of pretend play and control experiments)
Showing interest in using utensils, even if messy
Support this with:
Shared meals and relaxed attitudes — mess is part of the process
Opportunities to explore flavour, texture, temperature, and colour
Continued breastmilk or formula — this is still important nutritionally and emotionally
Follow their lead, trust your rhythm, and focus on connection over perfection.
Play and Interaction
Play this week often includes:
Long stretches of independent play followed by a need to reconnect
Emerging pretend play — feeding a doll, pushing a toy car, imitating your phone voice
Greater use of gestures and shared attention (pointing, looking, then checking your response)
Expressing emotions through sound, movement, and facial expression
You can support their learning by:
Naming emotions (“You’re so happy!” “That surprised you.”)
Describing actions (“You put the lid on — that was tricky!”)
Being nearby but not interfering unless they invite you
They’re figuring out how the world works — and how they fit within it.
Top Tip of the Week
“Your baby doesn’t need to get it ‘right’ — they just need space to try, and you to notice.”
Real Life Reflections
This week might feel bittersweet. You’re watching your baby become a toddler — bold, messy, expressive — and realising how far you’ve both come.
You might feel nostalgic for the early days or overwhelmed by the pace of change. That’s completely normal. Parenting at this stage can feel like holding on and letting go at the same time.
Try to pause and soak in the little moments — they pass in a blink, even when the days feel long.
Looking Ahead
Next week marks:
The end of the first year
A new chapter in communication, movement, and relationships
Stronger opinions, bigger emotions, and more complex play
A deeper sense of self for your baby — and perhaps for you, too
The first birthday is a milestone for your whole family — not just your baby.
