Your baby's fingers are becoming more agile. By using the pincer grasp – which lets your baby pick up small objects between the thumb and forefinger – he or she can likely pick up a piece of cereal or other small object easily. (Now that your baby has graduated to solid food, expect plenty of cereal underfoot!)

Your baby is intrigued by tiny things and is still likely to taste-test them. This is fine as long as they're edible and not so small that he or she could choke on them. (See which foods pose a choking hazard.

Children under a year shouldn't play with toys that have parts smaller than 1¼ inches around or 2¼ inches long. Also, keep your baby away from buttons, coins, safety pins, balloons, and rocks. Make sure that mobiles can't be pulled into your baby's mouth, and don't allow him or her to play with a baby powder container – the contents can shake free and clog the throat.

For guidance on what to do if your child does choke on something, see our illustrated guide to infant first aid for choking and CPR.

More mobility

At this age, your baby can sit confidently and may even walk while holding onto furniture, possibly letting go momentarily and standing without support. He or she will take steps when held in a walking position and may attempt to scoop up a toy while standing, too.

Those magical first steps toward independence – and lots more exercise for you! – are just around the corner, if they haven't arrived already. Most babies take their first steps sometime between 9 and 12 months and are walking well by the time they're 14 or 15 months old, though taking longer is perfectly normal, too.

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