What developmental milestone typically occurs at 1 year?

At around 1 year of age, children typically begin to say simple words such as "mama" and "dada." This is an important milestone in language development, as it marks the beginning of verbal communication. By this age, many infants have developed the ability to imitate sounds and may recognize names for familiar people or objects, often using these words meaningfully to indicate their caregivers or significant others.

While walking independently is a milestone that some children achieve around this age, it often occurs slightly later, usually between 12 to 15 months. Stacking blocks and making vowel sounds are skills that occur at earlier stages of development. Stacking blocks typically starts around 15 months when a child has better hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Vowel sounds are generally produced earlier in infancy, with most babies cooing and making vowel sounds by around 4 to 6 months. Thus, the ability to say "mama" and "dada" is the most appropriate milestone associated with the 1-year mark.