All exercises by age

Baby Exercises at 12 Months

At 12 months, your baby is pulling to stand, cruising along furniture, and preparing to walk. Exercises at this stage build standing balance, develop the hip and leg strength needed for independent walking, and introduce advanced movements that challenge coordination and confidence.

10 exercises13-15 minutesOT-reviewed

By twelve months, you're not teaching anymore -- you're coaching. Your little one is pulling to stand, cruising along furniture, maybe taking those first wobbly steps that make your heart stop and soar at the same time. Everything you've done together has been building toward this. Set up the obstacle course, play the walking games, and try to keep up. They've got this, and so do you.

-- Andri, founder of Baby Acrobatics

Toddler doing bear walk on hands and feet
Parent lifting baby overhead for shoulder sit

What to expect at this stage

✓Pulls to stand using furniture
✓Cruises along furniture sideways
✓Stands briefly without support
✓May take first independent steps
✓Squats to pick up toys from standing
✓Points and uses pincer grasp for small objects

Exercises for this age

A selection of 10 exercises from the 98 in the full Blueprint. The complete guide includes video demonstrations, safety cues, and personalized daily routines.

💪Strength·8-14 months

Supported Standing Play

Set up stable furniture at appropriate height with toys on top. Let baby pull to stand and play.

Lower extremity strengthening with strong evidence for bone mineral density impact.

💪Strength·9-15 months

Crab Walk Cruising

Provide a cruising path along stable furniture with toys spaced along it to motivate lateral stepping.

Develops lateral weight shift and hip abductor muscles essential for stable walking.

💪Strength·12-24 months

Squat-to-Stand Play

Place toys at various heights to motivate squatting down and rising through full range.

Builds quadriceps strength, hip and ankle flexibility, and functional transition skills.

🧘Mobility·10-15 months

Bear Walk

From crawling, encourage baby to straighten legs into a hands-and-feet position and walk forward.

Baby can achieve standing without furniture -- a major independence milestone.

💪Strength·10-15 months

Kneel-Up Transitions

On a padded surface with sturdy furniture, guide progression from tall kneel to half kneel to standing.

Teaches correct leg-driven biomechanics for standing up independently.

💪Strength·11-24 months

Weighted Push

Provide a stable container at waist height for baby to push while walking.

Heavy work provides calming proprioceptive input and refines walking patterns.

💪Strength·7-15 months

Sitting Equilibrium Challenges

In stable sitting, provide reaching challenges and gentle tilts in all directions.

Builds automatic postural adjustments that maintain balance when center of gravity shifts.

🎪Acrobatic·6+ months

Overhead Lift & Shoulder Sit

Lift baby overhead and onto your shoulders for a high perspective.

Builds core strength and stimulates the vestibular system for balance and spatial awareness.

🎪Acrobatic·8+ months

Around The World Spin

Hold baby securely and rotate them through a full circle around your body.

Stimulates the vestibular system for balance and develops spatial awareness.

💞Connection·9-18 months

Pincer Grasp Development

Place small safe objects on a flat surface for baby to pick up with thumb and index finger.

Develops precise thumb-index finger opposition essential for self-feeding and tool use.

+88 more exercises, personalized routines, and video demos inside the full Blueprint.

Want the full picture?

This is a selection of 10 exercises from the 98 in the Baby Acrobatics Blueprint. The full guide includes:

  • ✓98 exercises with step-by-step video demonstrations
  • ✓Personalized weekly routines for your baby's exact age
  • ✓Safety guidance and milestone tracking
  • ✓5 ready-made daily routines (tummy time, gas relief, bedtime, and more)
Get the Baby Acrobatics Blueprint

A typical daily routine

💞Connection
🧘Mobility
💪Strength
🎪Acrobatic

A 12-month routine includes 8-9 exercises and takes about 13-15 minutes. Sessions focus on standing balance, walking preparation, and advanced coordination challenges.

The Blueprint builds your baby's routine week by week, matched to their exact developmental stage. Every exercise includes a video walkthrough so you know exactly what to do.

Get your personalized routine

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

Baby Movement Milestones Complete Guide→Baby Milestones Exercise Routine→Working Parents Baby Development Guide→
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All exercises independently reviewed by licensed pediatric occupational therapists (OTD, OTR/L).

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