13 Month Old Baby: Nutrition, Sleep and Milestones by Month

Now that your baby is 13 months old, a new phase of life begins: toddlerhood. During the toddler years, your 13-month-old child continues to reach new milestones, has an ever-changing appetite, and has longer Wake window. They’ll be amazed with all their new skills, so buckle up and get ready for an exciting ride! Let’s dive into your 13-month-old baby’s sleep and feeding schedule, activities you can do together, and more.

At 13 months, your baby is now in toddlerhood, which brings with it new milestones. His curiosity is awakened and he becomes more social and wants to interact with the people around him – but especially with people he already knows, because Danger from strangers may also be at an all-time high!¹² New milestones expected now or in the next few months include:¹

• Standing alone without support
• Take a few steps alone
• Carrying small objects in your hands
• Pushing or pulling objects such as boxes
• Dispose of toys from a container
• Show to tell you that they want it
• Turning the pages of a book while reading
• Hold a spoon during meals but have difficulty getting the spoon into the mouth
• Stacking two or more objects on top of each other
• Recognize yourself in the mirror and wave to yourself
• Imitating others
• Follow one-step instructions such as “Throw this ball in the trash can”

As your baby grows and develops, his appetite will also change. As for the feeding schedule, your 13-month-old baby will eat three meals a day and two to three Snacks.¹¹ Your meals will be coordinated with the meal times of the rest of the family.

Now is a good time to start transitioning your baby to cow’s milk. He should drink about 450 ml of whole milk daily. If he can’t drink dairy, soy milk is an acceptable alternative. Avoid other plant-based milks such as oat or rice milk as they don’t contain the proteins, vitamins and calcium your baby needs. If your baby is still drinking breast milk, you can also add cow’s milk or wait until he stops drinking breast milk.³

You can also Transitioning your baby to drinking from a cup instead of a bottleThe goal is for your baby to be drinking from an open cup by age 2. To ease the transition, give your baby whole milk, breast milk, or water in a cup at meals and snacks. Once your baby is used to using a cup at mealtimes, offer it at naptime and eventually at bedtime.⁴

It can be difficult to know exactly how much food your 13-month-old baby needs during the day. Remember that his appetite varies from day to day, so just because he ate a certain amount today doesn’t mean he’ll eat the same amount tomorrow. The general goal should be to offer a colorful variety of foods each week, but here are some helpful portion size guidelines:²

• 6 servings of grains per day (1 serving is equal to ½ slice of bread, ¼ cup of cereal, 1-2 crackers or ¼ cup of pasta)
• 2-3 servings of vegetables per day (1 serving corresponds to 1 tablespoon of cooked vegetables)
• 2-3 servings of fruit per day (1 serving equals ¼ cup of fruit)
• 2–3 servings of dairy products per day (1 serving equals ½ cup of milk, ½ ounce of cheese, or ⅓ cup of yogurt)
• 2 servings of protein per day (1 serving equals 1 ounce of cooked meat, 2 tablespoons of ground beef, ½ egg or 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter)
• 16 ounces whole milk, soy milk or breast milk
• Up to 230 ml water

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule will help your 13-month-old baby get the right amount of sleep for his age and help with periods of sleep regression. At this age, your baby needs 11 to 14 hours of sleep a day, including a two- to three-hour nap. Some babies still take a morning nap and an afternoon nap. It’s important to follow your baby’s lead on when to stop the morning nap. It’s still appropriate for your 13-month-old baby to go to bed around 7:30 p.m.⁵

Although sleep regression is not expected at this age, may experience another phase of sleep regression. Sleep regression occurs when your baby has difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. This can be due to various reasons, but the most common reasons for sleep regression are teethingIllness, a change in schedule, or a major life change such as moving to a new house. Fortunately, sleep regression usually only lasts two to four weeks.⁶

Sleep regression is stressful for the whole family, but there are ways you can help your child overcome it. These include the following:⁶

• Do not let them sleep in your bed as this may prolong the sleep regression phase.
• Maintain a consistent bedtime and Bedtime routine.
• Don’t give them screen time before bed.
• Incorporate relaxing activities into the bedtime routine, such as bathing, reading or gentle Lullabies.
• Put your child to bed when he or she is sleepy but not yet asleep. This will help him or her learn to fall asleep on his or her own.
• If your dog wakes up during the night, let him whine for a few minutes before comforting him. This will teach him to calm himself down.
• Try to soothe your child while he or she is still in his or her crib rather than picking him or her up when he or she cries.
• Give them a comforting item, such as a blanket or stuffed animal.

Consistency is key to your baby’s daily routine. Aim for consistent wake-up times, meal times and bedtimes. When your baby only needed one nap a dayAim for the nap to start around 1pm. This nap will last about two to three hours. Also aim for a bedtime of 7:30pm⁵ A schedule gives your baby structure and stability and supports his development.

At this age, a scheduled child check-up is no longer necessary, provided your baby has completed the 12-month check-up and received all the necessary vaccinations.¹³ As your child grows, he or she will be exposed to many illnesses. The most common childhood illnesses he or she is exposed to include colds, Ear infectionFever and stomach flu. Many of these illnesses can be treated at home, but there are a few things you should keep in mind:^7.14

• Do not give your baby any over-the-counter cold or Cough Syrup.
• You can Treating fever by alternating doses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen. (Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package.)
• Use saline nasal drops to relieve a stuffy nose.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the treatment of Ear infection in children under 2 years with antibiotics.

Although your baby will overcome most illnesses on his or her own, you should contact your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:^8.15

• You have had a fever for three or more days or your temperature is above 40 °C.
• They feel cold to the touch, or they feel hot to the touch and tremble.
• You are quiet or excessively sleepy.
• You suffer from rapid breathing or difficulty breathing.
• You have a barking cough or make harsh noises when breathing.
• They are difficult to wake up or appear confused when they wake up.
• They have pale, gray or spotty skin.
• Their crying changes (e.g. they cry more, cannot be comforted, or stop crying).

If you have any further concerns about the health of your 13-month-old child, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

The best way to help your 13-month-old baby reach his milestones is to engage him in fun and developmentally appropriate activities. Here are some ideas for how to engage your little one:⁹

• Repeat the sounds your baby makes.
• Tell them the name of an object they see before you give it to them.
• Let them help with simple tasks, such as putting away toys at the end of the day.
• Sing songs and make movements that your baby can imitate.
• Dance with them.
• Read books together.
• Play hide and seek.
• Teach them the desired behavior, such as gently touching their pet.

With all the growth and milestones your 13-month-old baby is going through, their safety is a top priority. Babies explore their world without a sense of danger. It’s up to you to make sure they stay safe while you allow them to explore their surroundings. Here are a few tips to help you keep your baby safe:¹⁰

• Keep all cords, fragile items, medications, household cleaning products, choking hazards, and hot or sharp objects out of reach.
• If your baby has ingested any potentially harmful substances, contact Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of all stairs.
• Prevent drowning by keeping all toilet lids closed and supervising your baby while he or she is in the bath or near water.
• If there are weapons in the house, keep them unloaded and locked in a secure cabinet.
• Use a rear-facing car seat.
• Apply at least SPF 30 Sun protection before playing outside and reapply every two hours.
• Do not smoke near your baby or allow others to smoke.

Watch your the baby enters toddlerhood is rewarding and bittersweet as they leave babyhood behind. By helping them reach new milestones, keeping them safe, and engaging them in stimulating activities, you can support your 13-month-old’s growth. The next year will be full of new achievements for your little one, and their journey of discovery has only just begun.