This is a good time to reflect on just how far your baby has come since her birth. Most babies this age love to express affection, and most have mastered the art of hugging and kissing. She may even be able to give a kiss or hug when asked. (However, while her attachment to you deepens, she's probably still a little wary around strangers.)

Handling any momentary anxiety with calm, confident, loving support can help ease her temporary fears. As she gets older, your consistent, loving responses will help her gain more confidence, until one day soon, she'll begin to greet new people with joy.

Babies can range in weight and size quite widely at 12 months:

• 10th percentile: 70 cm (about 28 inches) and 8 kg (18 pounds)
• 90th percentile: 76 cm (about 30 inches) and 11 kg (24 pounds)

Continue to help with language skills development by labeling everything verbally. When you're bathing her, name body parts. As you dress her, name the pieces of clothing. As you read, name the objects in the book and when you feed your child, name the food.

For more information on this topic, check our Q&A Section. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please feel free to Ask a Dietitian.