What developmental milestone is typically expected to be achieved by 12 months of age?

At 12 months of age, one of the key developmental milestones that many children achieve is the ability to cruise or stand while holding on to furniture. This stage indicates that the child is developing strength and balance, as well as coordination necessary for more advanced movements like walking.

By this age, children have typically acquired enough muscle strength and coordination to pull themselves up to a standing position and move along with the support of furniture or other objects. This skill is an important precursor to independent walking. While some children may start to take a few steps on their own, cruising is a more common behavior observed around this age as they continue to refine their balance and mobility.

Crawling, while common, often occurs earlier, usually between 6 to 10 months. Walking independently generally emerges after 12 months, often between 12 to 15 months. Speaking simple words may begin around this age, but expressive language development typically starts to occur more firmly after 12 months. Thus, cruising or standing while holding onto furniture is the milestone most consistently reached by infants at around a year old.