What are the typical developmental milestones at 12 months of age?

From the Guidelines

By 12 months of age, children typically achieve significant developmental milestones, including standing alone, using a pincer grasp, saying a few words, and responding to their name, with any significant delays or concerns warranting discussion with a healthcare provider. At this stage, most children can stand alone briefly or take a few steps without support, use a pincer grasp to pick up small objects, say one or two words with meaning (like "mama" or "dada"), follow simple one-step commands, and respond to their name 1. Socially, they show separation anxiety, imitate actions and sounds, and engage in simple games like peek-a-boo. Cognitively, they can find hidden objects, use objects correctly (like drinking from a cup), and show preferences for certain people and toys. Some key milestones to look out for include:

• Standing alone or taking a few steps without support
• Using a pincer grasp to pick up small objects
• Saying one or two words with meaning
• Following simple one-step commands
• Responding to their name
• Showing separation anxiety
• Imitating actions and sounds
• Engaging in simple games like peek-a-boo
• Finding hidden objects
• Using objects correctly
• Showing preferences for certain people and toys If a child is not meeting multiple milestones, particularly not standing with support, not using gestures to communicate, or not responding to their name, it's crucial to discuss this with their healthcare provider, as declining trajectories of social communicative behaviors and loss of skills are often noted in infants with later ASD diagnosis 1. Regular well-child visits are designed to monitor development and address any concerns early, reflecting the rapid brain development occurring during the first year of life as neural connections form in response to experiences and interactions.

From the Research

Developmental Milestones at 12 Months

• At 12 months, children typically achieve certain developmental milestones, including sitting up, standing, and walking while holding onto furniture or a person's hand 2.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine developmental screening with both broadband and autism-specific instruments at specified ages, including 12 months 3.
• The Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Third Edition (ASQ-3) is a broadband screening tool that can be used to identify children at risk for developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 3, 4.
• The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) is an autism-specific screening tool that can be used to identify children at risk for ASD 5, 6, 2, 4.

Screening Tools

• The ASQ-3 is a broadband screening tool that assesses various domains of development, including communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills 3, 4.
• The M-CHAT-R is an autism-specific screening tool that assesses risk for ASD in children as young as 16 months 5, 6, 2, 4.
• A combined screening approach using both the M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 can be effective in identifying children with ASD 4.

Identification of Children with ASD

• Children with ASD who are missed by parent-report screeners tend to have higher scores on developmental testing and lower scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) 4.
• A failed screen on either the M-CHAT-R or ASQ-3 communication domain can identify 93% of children with ASD 4.