Well...with my kids, they really didn't start trying to act up too much until they were 1 1/2. It was more of a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 thing. Most kids start to learn to walk right before a year, or right at a year, so they start to get more independent and may have a fit when you try to get them to do things or when you pick them up. I would just pick your battles. If she gets mad because she wants to pick her outfit, let her. Just mainly step in if it's for her safety, or if you have to do something for her for some reason because you know she can't. I wouldn't tolerate hitting though, and they are notorious for that at that age. Especially if they get into something and shouldn't be and you take it away. Maybe ask her mum what she would do to punish hitting and ask what you can do to correct it. That way you're doing the same thing her mum would do.

As far as getting into things, they mainly fall at that age more than anything. So I would keep an eye on sharp corners or whatnot that she could hit her head on. I would also put all cleaning supplies in higher cabinets or buy cabinet safety devices for the cabinets that you don't want her to get into. And do a run-through of your house and find anything that is smaller than her fist and put it out of reach so that she can't put it in her mouth. Make sure she can't get into electrical cords and whatnot. Pretty much all the same things you would do with a brand new puppy, lol.

As for keeping her occupied...I think the best thing to do with a one year old is to get a bucket full of toys that she ONLY gets to play with when the phone rings, or you have to make dinner or whatnot. Kids get bored of toys really quick, and this way it will be something for her to look forward to and will keep her occupied when you have to be doing other things. And then just have some of her regular toys around all the time for her to play with as well. 

As far as punishing her if she acts up, all I really did with my kids was immediately tell them no and put them in 'timeout' in their rooms and let them wail it out. I wouldn't let them out until they stopped. Its not as easy when it's not your kid, but I also did the Dr. Phil thing of taking away a toy one by one until they straightened up. And even when they did, I still wouldn't give the toys back until the next day. But I would just ask her mum what she does when she acts up, or if she were to act up.  

During the first year of life the life the most common causes of infant mortality in the United States are medical conditions associated with birth defects or low birth weight.  Once they attain the age of 1 year, children are 3 times more likely to die from accidents than any other single cause.  The majority of these happen as the result or inadequate supervision.

It is within the normal realm of child developement to see children walking between the ages of 7 and 18 months.  There is absolutely no reason to show concern if your child isn't walking at 16 months of age.  Recent studies indicate that the act of walking is based more on genetics than the 'practice' of taking steps.  In the Native American communities, the HOPI Indian infants are strapped to a cradle board as soon as they are born.  They spend the first 3 months on that board, with the exception of hygenical reasons.  At 3 months, they are allowed  very little "free roaming".  They stay this way until they reach 1 year of age.

Even though their bodies have been restricted to this cradle board (a board where their arms and legs are bound to the board by means of wrapping the baby to it with cloth), the HOPI children still started walking at an average age of 15 months.  This is also the average age for children of Western cultures (such as ourselves) who are allowed to sit, crawl, pull up, and stand.  Due to this research, scientists now believe that walking is more genetically pre-determined than one thought.

Find out if the mother to this child walked at an early age.  Also, ask you mother when you began walking.  It will give you an idea of what to look for.  Still, if you walked at 9 months and your daughter is still crawling at 14 months.....again, no need to worry.  She's perfectly within the normal range.

So many parents freak when their child reaches its first birthday and isn't even pulling up yet.  We are a society of fast forward sometimes.....lol, but we can't put mother nature in motion.  NOt to say that you are Heff.....I just didn't want you to think your daughter may be behind in anything.  Children develop so differently.  There is a very wide range of what is considered 'normal'.

As far as dangers......I cannot stress to you enough how much to keep an eye on them.  When they have to be unsupervised, put them in a playpen or a crib.  We all know we can't be there 24/7....we aren't robots.  So when you need to go to the bathroom or something, just make sure they are not on the floor when you go. 

Why?   What could possibly go wrong on the floor if the baby can't walk or crawl?  Well.....A LOT...lol.  My oldest son was laying on a blanket on the carpet when he was 6 months old.  I went to the bathroom and came back to find him choking.  He had managed to get a thread from the carpet into his mouth (it was about a foot long) and had swallowed part of it while the other part hung out of his mouth.  Other reasons?  Insects, pets, plants, small objects we may not see in the carpet....a baby will find and put in its mouth.

Once they are walking......they want to explore their new found environment.  I suggest taking them to the bathroom with you at this point....or a playpen.  If you have plants...find out if they are poisonous.  If they are, get rid of them.  If they aren't then put them above the baby's reach.  Install latches on all of your lower cabinets and insert plug covers on all of your outlets. 

Another thing a lot of people don't think about is dresser drawers.  A toddler will pull out a dresser drawer in order to stand in it and reach something higher.  This can be deadly.  If there is something such as a television on top of the dresser and the weight of the toddler in the drawer makes the dresser tip over.....the TV can fall on the child and kill him/her.  It happens ever year.  Either latch or tape shut the drawers on the dressers in the rooms your children will have access to.

Aquariums - extremely dangerous.  Make sure they are in a place where toddlers cannot get to them.  Alos make sure there isn't anything nearby that a toddler can place next to the aquarium (such as a stool or stack of books) and reach the tank.  Not only can the child choke on the items inside the tank, but they can knock the hood into the tank which can electricute them if they reach in the water.

Pet food/water - Make sure it is out of the reach of children.  They can choke on the small pieces of food and can get diseases by handling the food/water.  As healthy as we think our pets are....sometimes we don't know if they are carriers of anything until its too late.

Toilets - keep bathroom doors shut at all times.  Children and toilets do mot mix.  They love to throw things in the water which can clog your drains.

The most important thing you can do for your child and the one in your care during this age is to make sure they get a healthy diet and stimulate their senses.  Children learn rapidly at this age and their brain develops very quickly.  Without proper nutrition, their brains will not develop as they should and they will never be able to regain this later on - ever.  I cannot stress to you how impertant the right diet is to an infant/toddler.  It literally changes their entire life.  your brain requires certain nutrients to grow and without those at the right times....it will miss or 'skip' that growing period.

Reading, music, and physical activity are important for stimulation.  Enlighten the baby's senses.  Show them new shapes and colors.  Play soft music and read, read, read to them.  It may seem like they aren't paying you any attention, but their brain is absorbing all of this and it stumulates the brain to grow and expand (where the nutrients come in to play) which in the end will make for a healthy, happy  baby.

Accidents are always going to happen.  Don't fret.  You seem like you have a good head onyour shoulders and I think you'll do just fine.

As far as discepline....just what the others said.  Find out how/when the mother of your god child disciplines and stick to it.  Otherwise, you will have a very confused child on your hands.  Consistency is key.  Even if you discipline in a different way with your own child, make sure your god child recieves the same kind as given to her by her mother.  These children will soon be at the age where they could be victim to one of the 'fixations' of childhood (oral and anal being the most recognized) and you really want to try and avoid that if at all possible.  Don't scold a child for not eating or not eating certain foods.  Find other ways around it.  Scolding them will put them into an oral fixation that will remain throughout their life.  Children with oral fixations grow up to be smokers, overeaters, etc....whatever fixates at the mouth.

Anal fixations have to do with potty training.  I'll tell you about that when they get there....lol.

NOt to say that you are Heff.....I just didn't want you to think your daughter may be behind in anything.  Children develop so differently.  There is a very wide range of what is considered 'normal'.

Sarah is my goddaughter. :) She is full proof birth control for Heff!