Everything is changing and what’s surprising is how often it happens from one day to the next. It feels like he understands everything I say. After a bit of research, I learned that he actually does. And that matters. Talking to him as much as possible supports not only vocabulary development, but brain development as well.
Talk a lot… but not always
There are also moments when it’s important not to talk. Even when we feel the urge. More than that, there are moments when we shouldn’t intervene at all. We shouldn’t help. We should simply observe.
When?
When he is playing or fully focused on a toy. Whatever he is trying to do, if he is doing it on his own, it’s best to be a spectator.
If he wants to play with you, roll a ball back and forth, push toy cars together, that’s great. It’s normal to be there, present and joyful. But don’t interrupt him and don’t praise him while he is playing independently. This is how independence grows, quietly and naturally.
“By myself” everywhere
At this stage, he wants to do almost everything on his own. He carries his dirty clothes to the laundry basket, throws trash into the bin, takes his toys and sometimes even puts them back on their shelves.
At the same time, even the smallest deviation from how he wants things to go can lead to tears and drama. And that’s normal.
Our role isn’t to fix it. It’s to stay close. To offer a hug. To wait for the moment to pass without turning it into a big event.
Your child copies you, not your words
Be mindful of what you do, because at this age you have a constant copier next to you. He watches everything. He mirrors you. Sometimes this helps us correct habits we aren’t particularly proud of ourselves.
Walking, falling, and courage
At 13 months, many children walk confidently. And, of course, they fall countless times a day. That’s okay, as long as they aren’t falling from height or speed.
If you pay attention, you’ll notice that after each fall, he looks at you. Your reaction matters. It should be calm, not panic. Otherwise, he may lose confidence and the courage to keep going.
Welcome to the jungle
After walking comes “The Jungle Book”. Climbing everything in sight. Grabbing onto anything available. Testing limits constantly. This is normal.
Throwing objects is normal too. There’s no reason to get upset.
If he throws your phone on the floor, that’s on you for leaving it there. Not on him. At this age, his job is to throw things in every possible direction.
Hand coordination continues to improve. He can fit more complex shapes than just circles or squares, pull toys, kick objects, or step on them just to see what happens.
Play at 13 months
- cause-and-effect toys (press, drop, open)
- blocks and shape sorters (without pressure to succeed)
- board books with simple images, clearly named
- early pretend play (phone, spoon, brush)
- gross motor play: balls, pull-along toys
Food at 13 months
Oh dear. I went from “my child eats nothing” to “he eats everything he can get his hands on, a lot, often, and with appetite.”
Pay attention to salt. Children are frequently fed foods that are far too salty, which can lead to kidney and blood pressure problems at very young ages, sometimes as early as four or five years old.
He eats exactly as much as he needs. There are days when he eats a lot and days when he eats very little. They are rarer, but don’t force it. He ate yesterday for today.
R eats finger foods now and chews very well. He has three meals a day: fruit in the morning, muffins or pancakes with a raw vegetable or broccoli for lunch, and fish or chicken with cooked peppers or carrots in the evening. This varies from day to day.
Sometimes he gags, but that’s okay. He drinks a bit of water and recovers on his own.
He hasn’t wanted formula for about a week and weaned himself. He drinks water and breast milk if I’m home. If I’m not, then just water.
Sleep settles… differently
We’ve transitioned to one nap a day, from around 11–11:30 to 13–13:30, plus about 12 hours of night sleep. Some of it in arms, some attached, some independently.
Big emotions in a small body
He cries often during this period. When something doesn’t go his way. When he’s frustrated. When something doesn’t work. When he’s told he’s not allowed to pull plants out of the soil. Limits are necessary.
The crying usually lasts about 20 seconds. This is normal emotional regulation.
He does not know what manipulation is.
He isn’t “clever” or calculating.
He doesn’t understand that concept yet.
He is completely sincere, and we should respond accordingly.
Clarity, not rushing
Month 13 is not about doing things “better”, but about understanding more. About observing, being patient, and knowing when to step in and when to step back.
A child does not need to be rushed, corrected, or compared. They need a present, informed adult who is calm enough to allow them to be exactly where they are.
And if signs of developmental delay appear, we don’t deny them and we don’t “wait it out”. We evaluate them properly and intervene gently, when needed.
Depending on the situation, guidance from specialists in sleep, nutrition, or physiotherapy can be helpful.
When to seek an evaluation
Not for panic. For clarity.
- if previously acquired skills are lost
- if there is no progress in a specific area over several months
- if language, motor skills, or interaction seem consistently different from peers of a similar age
- if your parental instinct tells you that “something doesn’t quite add up”, even if you can’t name it
An evaluation does not mean a diagnosis. It means orientation.
“Back in my day” usually comes from care, not from science. Children haven’t changed. What has changed is our access to information. Today, we don’t have to follow advice passed down unquestioned through generations. We can choose what is scientifically shown to support children’s development.
And if advice is not grounded in observation, development, and science, it can be left right there on the floor, next to the phone that just got thrown.
If questions come up, you’re welcome to leave them in the comments. Clarity is built over time, not from a single text.
