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Your daughter and Elmo were inseparable, until one day she left him in her dust -- literally. Chances are they'll be reunited, but she's just too busy for him now. As toddlers learn to walk, they often cast aside toys or even other skills they're learning. They might also seem inattentive in a way they weren't before, but it's nothing to worry about. Young toddlers can usually focus on mastering one thing at a time, and a milestone as big as walking often leads to a stall in playing, talking, and other activities.

But as your child gets more confident on her feet, she'll keep growing in other areas and come back to beloved toys. "Play is how they learn," says Jennifer Shu, M.D., coauthor of Heading Home With Your Newborn. "Once they start to walk, they are no longer confined to a certain area and learn even more by playing."

Just be sure she has a safe place to practice walking -- and toys to play with when she finds the time.