13-Month-Old Child: Feeding, Sleep, and Milestones by Month

Now that your child is 13 months old, they’re coming into a brand new stage of life: the toddler stage. Throughout their toddler years, your 13-month-old will proceed to succeed in new milestones, have an ever-changing urge for food, and have longer wake home windows. They are going to amaze you with all their new abilities, so buckle up and put together for an thrilling trip! Let’s dive into your 13-month-old child’s sleep and feeding schedule, actions you are able to do collectively, and extra.

At 13 months old, your child is now within the toddler stage, which brings about new milestones. Their curiosity will take off, and so they’ll grow to be extra social, desirous to work together with these round them — however primarily individuals they already know as a result of stranger hazard may also be at an all-time excessive!¹² Some new milestones to anticipate now or within the subsequent a number of months embody:¹

• Standing alone with out help
• Taking a number of steps unassisted
• Carrying small objects of their palms
• Pushing or pulling objects like containers
• Dumping toys out of a container
• Pointing at one thing to inform you they need it
• Turning the pages of a guide when you learn
• Holding a spoon throughout meals however struggling to get the spoon into their mouth
• Stacking two or extra objects on prime of one another
• Recognizing themselves within the mirror and waving at themselves
• Imitating others
• Following one-step instructions, like “Put this ball within the bin”

As your child grows and develops, their urge for food will even change. Relating to their feeding schedule, your 13-month-old child will eat three meals a day and have two to 3 snacks.¹¹ Their meals will line up with the remainder of the household’s meal occasions.

Now is a superb time to transition your child to cow’s milk. They need to have round 16 ounces of entire cow’s milk each day. If they will’t have dairy, soy milk is a suitable different. Keep away from different plant-based milk, comparable to oat or rice milk, as they lack the protein, nutritional vitamins, and calcium your child wants. In the event that they proceed consuming breast milk, you possibly can add in cow’s milk as effectively or wait till they’re achieved with breast milk.³

You can too begin the transition of your child consuming from a cup as an alternative of a bottle. The purpose is to have them drink from an open cup by 2 years old. To assist with the transition, serve your child entire milk, breast milk, or water in a cup throughout meals and snacks. After they’re comfy utilizing a cup at meal occasions, supply it to them at nap time and eventually at bedtime.⁴

It may be arduous to know simply how a lot meals your 13-month-old child wants through the day. It’s essential to do not forget that their urge for food will fluctuate from everyday, so simply because they ate a specific amount at present doesn’t imply they’ll eat that very same quantity tomorrow. The overall purpose ought to be to have a rainbow number of meals every week. However listed here are some useful serving pointers to comply with:²

• 6 servings of grains per day (1 serving equals ½ slice of bread, ¼ cup of cereal, 1-2 crackers, or ¼ cup of pasta)
• 2-3 servings of veggies per day (1 serving equals 1 tablespoon of cooked veggies)
• 2-3 servings of fruit per day (1 serving equals ¼ cup of fruit)
• 2-3 servings of dairy per day (1 serving equals ½ cup of milk, ½ ounces of cheese, or ⅓ cup of yogurt)
• 2 servings of protein per day (1 serving equals 1 ounce of cooked meat, 2 tablespoons of floor meat, ½ egg, or 1 tablespoon of clean peanut butter)
• 16 ounces of entire milk, soy milk, or breast milk
• As much as 8 ounces of water

Sustaining a constant sleep schedule will present your 13-month-old child with the correct amount of sleep for his or her age and assist with intervals of sleep regression. At this age, your child wants 11-14 hours of sleep each day, together with a two- to three-hour afternoon nap. Some infants will nonetheless take a morning nap and a day nap; following your child’s lead on when to drop their morning nap is essential. It’s nonetheless acceptable on your 13-month-old to have their bedtime round 7:30 p.m.⁵

Whereas sleep regression is probably not anticipated at this age, your 13-month-old can expertise one other interval of sleep regression. Sleep regression happens when your child has problem each falling and staying asleep. It will probably occur for varied causes, however the commonest causes for sleep regression embody teething, sickness, a change of their schedule, or a big life change, comparable to transferring to a brand new home. Fortunately, sleep regression sometimes solely lasts two to 4 weeks.⁶

Sleep regression is difficult on the entire household, however there are methods you possibly can assist your infant overcome it. These embody the next:⁶

• Don’t allow them to sleep in your mattress, which might lengthen the sleep regression interval.
• Maintain a constant bedtime and bedtime routine.
• Don’t give them display time earlier than mattress.
• Incorporate stress-free actions into their bedtime routine, comparable to bathtub time, studying, or gentle lullabies.
• Put them to mattress after they’re drowsy however not but asleep. This can assist them be taught to go to sleep on their very own.
• In the event that they get up at evening, permit them to fuss for a couple of minutes earlier than entering into to consolation them. This can assist them be taught to self-soothe.
• Strive reassuring them whereas they’re nonetheless of their crib, as an alternative of selecting them up after they cry.
• Present them with a consolation merchandise, comparable to a blanket or a stuffed animal.

Consistency is essential in your child’s each day routine. Intention for constant wake occasions, meal occasions, and nap occasions. In case your child has transitioned to solely needing one nap per day, goal for that nap to start out round 1 p.m. This nap will final round two to 3 hours. Additionally, goal for a bedtime of seven:30 p.m.⁵ Having a schedule offers your child with construction and stability, aiding their growth.

At this age, a scheduled well-child check-up isn’t wanted, so long as your child attended their 12-month check-up and obtained their vaccines.¹³ As your infant grows, they get uncovered to many diseases. The most typical childhood diseases they’ll be uncovered to incorporate the frequent chilly, ear infections, fevers, and the abdomen flu. Many of those diseases will be handled at house, however there are some things to recollect:^7,14

• Don’t give your child any over-the-counter chilly or cough medication.
• You’ll be able to deal with a fever by alternating Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen. (Make sure that to comply with the dosing directions listed on the packaging.)
• Use saline nasal drops to assist with congestion.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating any ear an infection in youngsters below 2 years old with antibiotics.

Whereas your child can recuperate from most diseases on their very own, in the event that they’re experiencing any of those signs, it’s best to contact their physician:^8,15

• They’ve a fever for 3 or extra days, or it’s larger than 105 F.
• They really feel chilly to the contact, or they really feel scorching to the contact with shivering.
• They’re quiet or overly sleepy.
• They’ve speedy respiratory or bother respiratory.
• They’ve a barking cough or make harsh sounds when respiratory.
• They’re arduous to wake or seem confused after waking.
• They’ve pale, grey, or spotty pores and skin.
• There’s a change of their cry (comparable to crying extra, being unable to be comforted, or not crying).

When you have every other issues about your 13-month-old’s well being, don’t hesitate to contact your physician.

One of the simplest ways to assist your 13-month-old child attain their milestones is to have interaction them in enjoyable and developmentally acceptable actions. Listed here are some concepts that will help you have interaction your infant:⁹

• Repeat the sounds your child makes again to them.
• Inform them the title of an object they see earlier than handing it to them.
• Permit them to assist with easy duties, comparable to placing toys away on the finish of the day.
• Sing songs and incorporate strikes on your child to repeat.
• Dance with them.
• Learn books collectively.
• Play hide-and-seek.
• Educate them wished behaviors, comparable to easy methods to contact their pet gently.

With all the brand new progress and milestones your 13-month-old child goes via, retaining them protected is a prime precedence. Infants discover their world with out a sense of hazard. It’s as much as you to make sure they continue to be protected whereas permitting them to discover their surroundings. Listed here are a number of ideas that can assist hold your child protected:¹⁰

• Maintain all cords, breakable objects, medicines, family cleaners, choking hazards, and scorching or sharp objects out of attain.
• In case your child has presumably consumed any dangerous substance, contact Poison Management instantly at 1-800-222-1222.
• Use security gates on the prime and backside of all stairs.
• Forestall drowning by retaining all bathroom lids closed and supervising your child whereas they’re within the bathtub or close to water.
• If weapons are in the home, hold them unloaded and locked in a safe cupboard.
• Use a rear-facing automobile seat.
• Apply no less than SPF 30 sunscreen earlier than enjoying outdoors, and reapply each two hours.
• Don’t smoke or permit others to smoke round your child.

Watching your child transfer into the toddler stage is rewarding and bittersweet as they go away babyhood behind. By serving to them attain new milestones, retaining them protected, and interesting them in stimulating actions, you possibly can assist help your 13-month-old’s progress. This subsequent 12 months will likely be full of latest achievements on your infant, and their journey of discovery is simply starting.