Now that you have been doing solids for over 6 months now, you both will be getting into a bit of a rhythm. The biggest threats to keeping rhythm are new teeth and new food refusal. These things may not be an issue for your easy-going toddler, but many will be upset by teething and be the pickiest eaters at this age.

Teething can both affect your baby's appetite due to sore gums whilst helping them manage a larger variety of foods simply because they have more teeth for chewing. The seemingly never-ending teething can have you eagerly wishing for the day when the last molars are through (for your sanity and theirs). 

With more teeth and more practice moving food around their mouths and being more effective with chewing, there is no need for purees anymore. Trying various textured foods, including crunchy and chewy, can be part of the widening menu of family foods. Whatever food you prepare for your toddler, be prepared and happy to eat it yourself if they refuse. You may even find that seeing you enjoy the food can entice their curiosity and change their mind to have at least a taste.

Continue to encourage your baby to sit and explore their foods with a mixture of using their hands and trying using utensils (starting with a spoon). If you keep giving them opportunities to use a spoon, by 18 months, they will be getting very good at not spilling and getting most of the spoon full in their mouth. 

Keep food exploration fun, engaging for the senses and social. Be prepared for mess and do what you can to feel comfortable with the mess, including stripping them down to a nappy (if it's warm enough) and making sure your highchair or eating surface is easy to clean. 

When trying new tastes, they will tell you in no uncertain body language what they like and dislike. Of course, keep in mind what they prefer, but continue to offer foods repeatedly. It can take some kiddos many exposures to like or accept certain foods. 

Offer plenty of water during the day as well as breastfeeds/milk drinks. If you have a cup of water available or, better still, a bottle which your baby can access freely and without spilling, this certainly helps them move towards independence with drinking. They can usually start getting the hang of using a cup at 12 months, however, it is likely there will be spills. By around 15 months, if given regular practice, there will be less and less spilling. You might want to progress to a sippy cup/bottle or skip straight to a straw cup/bottle.

Suggested websites to find items to peg: 

• Cherub Baby range of sippy/straw bottles and universal silicone stretch lid kits
• The Stork Nest range of feeding products
• Lime Tree Kids meal-time range of products
• Biome Eco Store range BPA free baby products and bottles
• Amazon Au range of Baby & Toddler Feeding Supplies

Related Topics & Buying Guides

Setting up for fun meal times

If you are prepared with suitable food, easy-clean clothing and a comfortable and safe seat for you and your baby, meal times will feel a lot more relaxed. One great way to get your toddler interested in eating and food, is to involve them in the kitchen. There are great products to help support their learning in the kitchen including a learning tower (such as the Mocka Learning Tower)... Read More

Reducing toxins in your kitchen and food 

When you consider the astounding amount of chemicals that exist and are in use across our planet, the next question you have to ask is, what are these chemicals doing to our planet and our health?  Hazardous chemicals are found in every household, and in the ground, air and water. With that said, consider what unintended ingredients may be contained in w... Read More

Encouraging Feeding Skills

It takes a long time for your baby to develop the complex sensory and motor skills they need to feed themselves. For starters, they are still having teeth emerge - their gums can be sore, and chewing can be a challenge when you don't have many teeth. As each tooth emerges, your baby will have to adjust to chewing with their new tooth. Your baby is still developi... Read More

Again, your baby has developed longer stretches of awake time between their usually 2 x daytime naps. The night stretches of sleep may also have become longer. Nighttime waking is still common (especially during development leap times), as well as the need for night feeds. If your baby's sleep hasn't improved as much as you expected by this stage, feel comforted that most parents are thinking the same thing - when will they sleep?!

As a rough guide, babies between 12 to 18 months old sleep during the day for around 1-3 hours (averaging 3.5 to 4 hours awake time between their 2 naps) and during the night, an average of 9 -12 hours. In total, this is 11-14 hours (with a range of between 9 and 16 hours). As always, the averages serve to give you an idea of what the awake/sleep rhythms of your baby's day might be, but each baby will be unique in their sleep needs. You'll know by now if your baby tends to need more, less or an average range of sleep to function. They may have always been that way, or perhaps their sleep needs have changed over time to a degree.

Whether you have your baby in a cot, toddler bed, floor bed or bed-sharing with you or your spouse, find what works for your family as long as you have the peace of mind that it is a safe sleep surface. 

If you yourself need more sleep, try enlisting the help of your spouse or family members to give you a nap during the day or enjoy an earlier bedtime where someone else puts your baby down. Any extra sleep will do you good and has such a potential to change your perspective on life completely. 

Now that you are over 12 months post-birth, you might be slowly starting to feel yourself again. Your body will have mostly recovered from being pregnant, your boobs won't be leaking (so much), your belly skin may have bounced back (somewhat), and the relaxin which caused your joints to become stretchy for the birth should have returned to normal. If you feel worse-for-wear, you might be well overdue for a medical check-up to check your iron and other essential nutrient levels. It is not uncommon for women to experience postnatal depletion even years after their births. Byron Bay-based Integrative Doctor Oscar Serrallach speaks about this in-depth in his book The Postnatal Depletion Cure, you can also check out his Dr Serrallach's website to learn more. If you identify with the symptoms and get the checks done, then you have a path to feeling yourself again.

The importance of self-care is repeated to mothers in different words, but with the same message for a reason. It's time to get the help you need to take a breath, focus on your body, mind and spirit messages and take action. Your toddler will be non-stop exploring and practising their mobility skills at this age. They will often prefer their mother at this age but will go to other loving caregivers. Identify who those helpers are and ask for help - they will often be delighted to be able to spend time with your energetic kiddo and take them out to explore new sights.

If your toddler gets unwell and you are ever worried about what to do even after hours, remember you can contact your GP and/or go onto the Health Direct website or app or ring the hotline on 1800 022 222.

It's a good idea to make sure your thermometer is working for when you need it, have a cold pack in the freezer, a hot pack ready to go, a vaporiser in the cupboard, and a well-stocked first aid kit including bandaids. You might want to keep a store of pain relief medication handy for when/if it's needed - hopefully these are rarely needed.

If you're spending lots of time outdoors, make sure you slip, slop, slap on high UV days and times. You might want some natural sunscreen, a sun shirt and a sun hat for you and your kiddo. Sunglasses are also super-cute on toddlers, especially to accentuate their sass or coolness.

Related Topics & Buying Guides

6 Benefits of Trampolining & Buying guide

Updated 22 February 2024 Did you know that trampolines are not just a fun addition to your backyard, they are also regarded as a powerful therapeutic tool to support your child's physical development? Not only that, it's not just for kids, it is a great play space for all the family to bounce, bond and play endless games all year round.  Growi... Read More

Reducing toxins in your kitchen and food 

When you consider the astounding amount of chemicals that exist and are in use across our planet, the next question you have to ask is, what are these chemicals doing to our planet and our health?  Hazardous chemicals are found in every household, and in the ground, air and water. With that said, consider what unintended ingredients may be contained in w... Read More

You'll be well and truly practised at nappy changes by now. The difference now, is the challenge of trying to keep your explorer in one place long enough to get them cleaned and changed. At this age, pull-up type toddler pants are the perfect compromise. These will get your toddler ready for wearing undies. When wet, these can be ripped off at the sides and you can wipe your toddler in standing, hose them down, or lay them down for the minimum amount of time to get clean, then stand to pull on the new pants. If you do need them to lay down and need to distract them, try giving them an everyday item that you use such as a tube of cream they can't open, keys, or sunglasses (just watch they don't put them in their mouth!). They will be more interested in these than any toy.

When you want to start your toddler with toilet learning and will be out and about, it can be handy to have the National Public Toilet Map app installed on your phone. Because when they have to go, they have to go! Knowing where the nearest public toilet is will come in handy for you too especially if your pelvic floor isn't what it used to be.

Bathtime is a great activity to do well before bedtime to give your toddler time to play with the water and their bath toys. If you don't have a bath installed, you can try something like the Shnuggle Toddler Bath or a large plastic tub. Bath toys can be as simple as a plastic cup, basic stacking cups, to any number of water-friendly toys such as those available from The Stork Nest, Lime Tree Kids, Cherub Baby, eBay's range of Bath Toys or Amazon's range of Bath Toys.

Your toddler will be busy trying to stand up and will need to be closely supervised around water. There are bathtime safety items such as a non-slip mat, bath spout covers, step stools and kneel pads (more for you) that can help keep things safe and fun.

You'll continue to find new uses for baby wipes since they are always handy, so much so, that you might always have a packet handy in the house from now on well past the toddler years.

You'll want to be brushing your toddler's teeth as soon as they come through to keep them clean and healthy. Your toddler won't have the hang of spitting out the toothpaste just yet, so use a baby toothpaste and soft brush for now. Lime Tree Kids has a great range of kids dental care products to check out. Toddler's love music, so if you are struggling to keep them interested and engaged, why not download a free toothbrushing app such as Brush Teeth with The Wiggles.

Related Topics & Buying Guides

How and Where to Care for Nappy Area Skin

Your baby’s skin microbiome can be supported by what you put on it and how you live, or it can be disrupted and changed. Baby skin is susceptible to stress from chemicals, heat, moisture, and anything which changes the pH.  Knowing about your baby’s skin helps towards understanding what to do to support skin health. This article delves into care for their skin around... Read More

Nappies Buying Guide

There are many ways to manage your baby's hygiene needs and many products on the market. How you manage nappy hygiene needs will depend on your home environment, how often you are out and about, and where you go. It will also depend on your awareness of your options and comfort levels with trying something different. In your baby's first days they clear the '... Read More

Wipes Buying Guide

Newborns have very sensitive skin which is easily affected by anything which comes into contact with it. This means thinking carefully about anything you put on and wipe your baby's skin with.  Baby’s skin is more fragile due to a fragile oil layer that protects the skin and thinner skin barrier. Nappy rash is common due to the high moisture environment and exposure to urin... Read More

Home-Based Hygiene Tips

Why do we worry so much about keeping our house clean, clutter-free, ventilated, with fresh sheets on the bed, and follow food safety advice? It's all so exhausting!  The core belief driving us is that these activities improve our indoor environment's quality and health-promoting qualities and remove anything that could make us or our babies... Read More

Mouth Hygiene Tips

When you think of mouth hygiene, you can do a number of other things to maintain good mouth hygiene and mouth health over and above the standard teeth brushing. During pregnancy, your mouth is affected by hormonal and immune changes, which benefits from special care and attention. One effective method of reducing the bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque, is to use a to... Read More

Caring for Your Lady Parts

If you never thought much of your monthly cycles before wanting to have children, there's nothing like being pregnant to begin to appreciate what being a woman really means. It is also a great time to get acquainted with your lady parts and how they work.  For women, down there includes 3 openings, the urethra which connects to the bladder, the vulva which connects to t... Read More

Between 12 to 18 months is a very dynamic time for your toddler developmentally. They are more engaged than ever in their play activities to learn, discover and experiment with everything. You can feel like they are everywhere at once. If you have done your baby-proofing early, you can relax a bit, knowing there is nothing they can get into that they aren't supposed to. Just know that as soon as there is something in their reach that they aren't supposed to have, you can bet they will be all over it like a rash!

You can be impressed by your toddler's developing fine motor hand control improving. At around 12 months, they are practising a refined pincer grasp, using their thumb and tip of the forefinger to pick up objects. By 15 months, they are typically working on holding a pencil at first using their whole hand (known as the palmar supinate grasp), imitating scribbling, and building a tower of 2 blocks. Give them plenty of opportunities to practice their hand skills through activities such as playdough, block building, drawing (use thicker handled pencils, crayons or chalk on horizontal and vertical surfaces), finger and brush painting, playing with stickers and large magnets, drumming the options are endless! Starting from this age, a kids easel can be fairly inexpensive to purchase and inspire many hours of play. You might notice that they enjoy playing with simple everyday objects, especially if they move and have parts that pull apart and fit back together. It's not necessary to spend a huge amount of money on toys at this age. Instead, you can head to the kitchen drawer, and they can be just as happy. It is a time where they can really start enjoying and engaging with picture books. With regular practice and familiarity with books, by 18 months, they will be attempting to turn the pages themselves. Even if they are turning 2-3 pages at a time, they will have the hang of single page-turning in no time with more practice!

From around 13 months to 15 months, they may be up on their feet and walking without support. As they develop more balance and by keeping on getting up each time they fall, they will become faster and into running by around 18 months. There is no toddler this age who doesn't love running and chasing games once they have their confidence. When your toddler approaches stairs, there can definitely be some breath-holding, but by 15 months, they can be starting to creep on stairs and continue to develop confidence with moving their bodies on stairs. To help develop walking balance, expose your toddler to as many different surfaces as you can find, including hard, soft (such as sand, grass, pillows, beds or yoga mats), uneven, sloped, bouncy etc. The best activities are fun and challenging at the same time. This is a great time to consider buying a trampoline and outdoor play equipment - Vuly Play offer a great range made for the tough Australian conditions. Toddlers love music, and dancing is great for them to learn about their body and what they can do. Playing music during the day can be a great way to get them moving to the beat and having fun. 

Between 12 and 18 months come 3 big brain developmental leaps (as described in The Wonder Weeks), including the world of programs (wk 55), principles (wk 64) then systems (wk75). They will be starting to get a sense of self-awareness to know that they are a separate 'self' from their parents, want to be independent with tasks, make their own choices and are moving towards an understanding of how things work together with less egocentricity. This is also a period where they start imaginative and pretend type play. When playing with or near a familiar adult, they can be happy and engaged. However, they may be happy to play alone and increase their independent play skills. It's a huge time of personal growth, and it's amazing and continually surprising to watch them grow into their own person.

Unless your baby has been an early talker, your toddler will likely be still finding their voice. They may be starting to understand and respond to words in context and understand simple instructions (up to 2 words together). Typically, they can be attempting to say around 10-20 words, and when they don't know the word or can't say it, they are getting more effective at communicating using gestures and sounds such as 'babbling'. This can be a good time to use baby signs. As always, you can help develop their interaction and communication skills by reading together everyday. If you're after ideas on what books to buy, check out our blog on Award-Winning Australian Authors & Books, then be sure to check out the topic article on Reading with your older baby & toddler.

Your toddler is showing you every day that they aren't a baby anymore. They are wanting new experiences and getting more comfortable with spending time with caregivers and not just mummy. It's a fun age to explore with them and spend time together.

Top ideas for 1-year-old presents include:

• Toys for ages 1-2 on Amazon Au and Playtime for ages 6-18 months at Toymate
• Up to 10 piece puzzles - Amazon Au Puzzles for ages 1-2
• Bath Water Play toys from Toymate and Amazon Au Bath Tub Toys for ages 1-2
• Floor play Toys such as wooden toys & pretend play
• Simple books - baby books from Toymate; Children's books from Amazon Au (shop by age)
• children's music for the car or home (streaming service or CDs) - some favourites are The Wiggles, Genevieve Jereb, Peter Combe and ABC Kids/Playschool songs - you can access these through an Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial or search for Children’s Music Sing-Along CDs
• Percussion & other musical toys/instruments - Toymate & Amazon Au Children’s Musical Instruments for ages 1-2
• Toy trolley to push around - Such as the Brio Early Learning Toddler Wobbler or a shopping trolley
• Mocka Creative play products will inspire many hours of creative fun as well as help you organise the kids zone in your house

Enjoy! 

Related Topics & Buying Guides

6 Benefits of Trampolining & Buying guide

Updated 22 February 2024 Did you know that trampolines are not just a fun addition to your backyard, they are also regarded as a powerful therapeutic tool to support your child's physical development? Not only that, it's not just for kids, it is a great play space for all the family to bounce, bond and play endless games all year round.  Growi... Read More

Nature Play for Everyone

Have you ever felt energised when in natural environments, then experienced the come-down when you go indoors? If yes, you have experienced first-hand the health and wellbeing benefits of doing activity in nature or just being in any natural environment. It doesn't matter how old you are, the benefits are universal. During pregnancy is an especially great time to realise these benefi... Read More

Reading with Your older baby & toddler

From 12 months onwards, your baby-turning-toddler will be busy exploring their world and moving their bodies. Book time can be a great way to slow things down, engaging them in a focussed activity and encouraging speech & language development. If you have read to them from a young age, they will be able to turn pages, be gentle with the book, connect the pictures to what is ... Read More

Planning for a Return to Paid Work

Making a plan around returning to work after a maternity leave period has two distinct phases. The first occurs during your pregnancy when you are applying for maternity leave or making preparations for your leave (known as a 'confinement' date). The other is when it is time to make preparations for returning to work in the months leading up to your planned return to work d... Read More

Now that your baby is moving into toddlerhood and is becoming more upright, this is a great time to expand their wardrobe to include more tops, shorts, skirts and dresses. This wardrobe update will make you realise just how much they have grown up. Of course, they will still look crazy cute in a onesie and a jumpsuit which will still be great all-rounders, especially around nap and bedtimes.

If you're out and about and want to protect your toddler's feet, soft shoes with plenty of toe space make the best first shoes. For any other time, barefoot is the way to go to help your toddler gain the maximum sensory feedback from their feet to help with developing more confident walking skills.

Related Topics & Buying Guides

Developing Dressing Skills

Once your baby is mobile and starting to get steadier on their feet, a whole world of new skills can start to develop. They are developing strength, balance, coordination, and the ability to make choices which all contribute to their ability to become more active in the dressing process. You can continue to lay your growing baby down on the floor for dressing, but now you can also choose ... Read More

Baby clothes storage ideas

Baby clothes are tiny but there can be so many of them in so many different sizes and for different seasons. When you receive hand-me-down clothes plus you are gifted clothes, then you also purchase clothes, it doesn't take long before the overwhelm can set in and you are wondering where to start to get organised. Baby clothes sizes can be confusing at first so that is ... Read More

Now that your baby is getting bigger and starting to get up on their feet, they have a new mode of transport, their legs! At this age, they are mobile but remain quite unaware of hazards around them, so need close supervision as they explore everything in their reach.

They are heavier, but if you have regularly carried them from birth, you might have noticed that your strength and ability to carry them have developed as they have. That's not to say, that carrying your toddler doesn't put a load on your body, especially if you have back, neck or other conditions which make it difficult or painful to carry your baby. In that case, every growth spurt makes it harder to lift and carry them. 

Continue to look for products which fit your lifestyle, what your body can manage to push/carry/lift, local environments, and where else you will need to take your baby. You can use any combination of the following at different times:

- carrying (in arms/sling/carrier) - Carrying your baby has many benefits for both you and your baby even into toddlerhood (if you can manage their weight). For this phase, what suited your younger baby may be not feeling right anymore.

Baby Tula have a great range of colours in their toddler carriers which are designed for 11kg to 27kg for front or back carries. Their other carriers are designed for babies up to 20kg so are worth considering also. Ergobaby also have a great range of versatile full buckle carriers suitable for babies & toddlers.

If you are confident with baby carrying and are ready to try a woven wrap, these are great for any sized baby, they just require some learning in the beginning. 

Another option is a hip carrier such as the Hippychick or Ergobaby Hip Seat

- car or public transportation - To travel in a car, you will continue to need a child car seat. If you have had your baby in a capsule car seat, some of these last until 12 -18 months, it could be time to upgrade your seat. See our guide to choosing car seats below for what to consider. For travelling on public transportation, a small to medium-sized pram and/or carrier can be great. Once your toddler gets fast on their feet, yet is still impulsive, some parents opt for a backpack with reins to give them some freedom whilst keeping them safe. Now that they are more alert, you may need to think of novel ways of keeping them comfortable and entertained on your journey. 

- Combination Pram/stroller or stroller - If you have a Combination pram/stroller, you can be confident in sitting your baby more upright in the seat when they are alert. You still have the option to lay the seat flat when they have a nap in the pram. Strollers and jogging strollers are designed to be used from 6 months old, but not before. Your baby will enjoy being about to see the world in outward-facing seats and some will still want to face you at different times. Having the option to face your baby to you or face them out can come in handy to cater to their mood and preferences as they change. When it comes to looking around and choosing what is going to suit you, it all gets very confusing because there are so many brands and so many models available. You need to know what you want and need before you can begin to narrow down your search. 

- Beach wagons are great for easily lugging your gear to the beach or park in one go rather than multiple trips back to the car. Vuly Play offers a Beach Rover Wagon made for sandy beaches or the original Rover Wagon Cart for when the terrain is not as tough.

- bicycle (with a child seat or trailer/pod) - great fun and fitness for you in urban areas (smoother roads help with comfort) whilst creating a sensory experience for your toddler. Just make sure they are strapped in tightly and secure in their seat.

- convertible tricycle (from 6 months) - a fun open seat for young children with either footrests or pedals where the parent can push much like a stroller or the child can pedal (once old enough). Great for walking but mostly for even or sealed roads or footpaths due to the quality of the wheels and suspension.

- Scooter - when your toddler is confident on their feet, they can start to get around on a 3 wheeled scooter or 4 wheeled scooters before graduating to a 2 wheeled scooter.

Related Topics & Buying Guides

Pram/stroller buying guide

Updated 15 April 2024 A pram or stroller is invaluable when you or your baby want an alternative to the carrier.  A pram or stroller is one of the bigger decisions when it comes to preparing for your baby's arrival for a few reasons. The main reason is that these things can get expensive, and secondly, they have the potential to make transporting your baby aroun... Read More

Choosing a Forward-Facing Car Seat

When your baby is older than 6 months (but younger than 4 years), you may be thinking about upgrading their car seat. If they have been in a car capsule/carrier, they may be starting to grow out of this. If they have been using a convertible car seat, maybe you are looking for a second seat for another car or expecting a new baby so want to upgrade your older child. In all these cases, it... Read More

Choosing a Convertible Car Seat

Before your baby even arrives, you have a few important decisions to make. Two of the biggest purchases can be the first car seat and the pram/stroller.  Your car seat could influence your choice of pram/stroller and vice versa if you want to use a travel system (car capsule is compatible with a stroller frame). Newborns can be fitted in either a convertible car seat or a car caps... Read More

Discover Baby Carriers

All babies are carried in their mother's body for nine months before entering the outside world. In the womb, it was warm, supportive, with the comforting sounds of their mother's heartbeat and voice. After their birth, new babies, seek out what they know, the warmth and comfort of their mother’s body. For a baby, being carried is a calming, sensory, and bondi... Read More

Baby Carriers Buying Guide

This buying guide will help you explore the types of baby carriers available and help you in your search for your perfect baby carrier. To discover all about babywearing and what you need to know before you consider buying, see our related topic, Discover Baby Carriers. There are so many types of baby carriers out there, that it can be daunting when you start looking. It is... Read More

Child Car Seat Buying Guide

In most areas of Australia, car travel is an essential part of life. No matter where you live, chances are your baby will be travelling in a car at some point in time. When they do, you need to know how to keep them safe.  For expectant and new parents, choosing the first child car seat can be one of the first big purchases for your baby. For new parents, the first car trip is especi... Read More