Building Blocks: Milestones at 13 Months Old

13 months is a great age for toddlers as this is when they’ll start to assert their independence. In this video, Dr. Preeti discusses what to do.

13 months is a great age for toddlers as this is when they’ll start to assert their independence. In this video, Dr. Preeti Parikh talks about what to expect from your child once they hit this milestone. They should be able to put a block into a cup and also start to understand the concept of cleanup time. Children will begin to learn more words and maybe even start to walk. If your child is not doing any of the things Dr. Parikh mentions in the video, contact your pediatrician to see if your child has some form of developmental delays.

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This video features Preeti Parikh, MD. Dr. Parikh, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is HealthiNation's chief medical editor.

Duration: 2:13. Last Updated On: Nov. 13, 2017, 3:24 p.m.

Reviewed by: Holly Atkinson, MD, Preeti Parikh, MD . Review date: April 15, 2012

00:00 [MUSIC]
00:05 [BLANK_AUDIO] I'm Dr. Preeti Parikh.
00:06 13 isn't an unlucky number at all when we're talking about the age of a child.
00:12 13 months is a great age to be.
00:14 That's because by this time toddlers are able to do a lot of
00:18 new things to assert their independence.
00:20 Which they will probably do often.
00:23 And what is so fun for both the parent and
00:25 the child is the growing complexity of the social interaction between them.
00:30 By this age, toddlers are normally able to put a block into a cup.
00:34 This is an example of increasingly good coordination and motor control.
00:38 But kids at 13 months are also able to begin to understand the concept of
00:42 cleanup time.
00:44 That's a much more complicated cognitive task then just putting a block into a cup,
00:49 or a toy into a toy chest.
00:52 This will challenge a toddler in several ways.
00:54 If your child though is beginning to walk,
00:56 or starting to have enough balance to reach down and
00:59 pick up a toy without toppling over, place the objects a few steps away.
01:03 He will most likely look to you for guidance and
01:06 encouragement throughout these related tasks.
01:09 Give that direction while letting the child do the work.
01:12 Don't skip the big cheer at the end when your toddler has finished what
01:15 you've asked.
01:15 It will feel like a game, but
01:17 will be a wonderful way to encourage growth on so many levels.
01:22 At 13 months children probably are using one word, and may even start to
01:26 use two words other than mama and dada, which they've probably mastered already.
01:31 This increasing vocabulary along with an ability to communicate by pointing or
01:36 gesturing will thrill your toddler.
01:39 You'll also notice that your child will understand many more words and
01:42 commands that he perhaps can say himself.
01:45 You'll know this, for
01:46 example, when he looks appropriately when you ask, where's the ball?
01:50 And you'll know his brain is making all sorts of complex connections when you
01:54 see that he will reach around a clear barrier to get to a desired object.
01:59 If your child has not reached these milestones I've discussed,
02:02 it may be a sign of developmental delay.
02:04 See your pediatrician to to get a clear picture of what you can do to
02:08 encourage your child's continued progress.
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