13 Months

How your toddler's growing
Has your soon-to-be toddler taken her first unsteady steps yet? If not, she probably will soon, so keep your camera close by. (There's no need to worry if your baby seems perfectly content with cruising or crawling - some children don't walk until 17 or 18 months or so.) As your baby takes charge of her own mobility, she'll be better able to satisfy her curiosity about the world around her. So don't be too surprised if she ends up decorating the wall with that crayon she found on the floor. Now that she's getting better at using her hands, works of art will soon start popping up all over the place...

Your life: conversation skills
Communication with your 13 month old is getting more sophisticated all the time. She's probably got the hang of "dada," "mama," and a few other recognizable words (recognizable to you that is) though she's still quite good at making her desires known without much vocabulary. When she wants to get down, she'll point; when she wants your attention, she'll tug your skirt. She also understands a good percentage of the simple language you use around her every day, so try to talk to her and read to her as much as possible.

Eye problems
If your toddler has a squint, crossed eyes, or trouble moving his eyes in all directions don't put off seeking help in the hope that it will sort itself out as he grows. Many eye problems are best tackled now.