Baby Development and Milestones: Your 11-Month-Old

At 11 months, your baby will start to become more adventurous, and explore the world around him! Read on to find out more about your baby’s development.

Physical Development

By this time, your baby should already be moving around the house, albeit, still holding on to you or the furniture to keep him steady while he explores the world around him.

This is the time when you need to be really careful and keep a close eye on your little one, since he’ll try to check out everything that he can see, and he might even start climbing over his crib!

Your baby will be more independent, so this is a good time to let him explore things on his own, but make sure to teach him proper boundaries, and which places are off-limits to him.

Tips: 

• It’s important to keep your home safe, as your 11 month old will open drawers, doors and cabinets, etc.
• Anything that he can see is something new and interesting for him, so keep any dangerous chemicals, as well as any sharp or dangerous objects well away.
• Make sure to cover electrical sockets!
• Your baby develops independence at this stage, so embrace his newfound independence by encouraging him to walk around and explore the world around him. Of course, you should always supervise your baby to make sure that he’s safe and out of harm’s way.
• While you might be tempted to give your baby shoes since he’ll start to walk at this stage, it’s still best for him to walk barefoot so that he can get used to walking by himself. Shoes or sandals might make it difficult for your baby to find his balance.

When to Talk to Your Doctor: 

• If your soon-to-be toddler still has trouble standing, even with support, it’s time to see your child’s paediatrician to make sure that he’s not at risk of a developmental delay. 

Cognitive Development

At 11 months, your baby will start to become aware of what’s happening in his surroundings. He’ll be observing what the people around him are doing, and sometimes even try to imitate them.

Your baby may also be fascinated by colourful storybooks and will reach for them from time to time. He will enjoy turning the pages one by one. 

At this stage, your little one can comprehend what “no” means, but won’t always follow. 

Tips:

• When reading to your baby, make sure he is thoroughly engaged by reading words animatedly or pointing and naming certain objects and characters. 
• Help boost your baby’s development at this stage by exposing him to new things. You can let him touch different textures, objects, and teach him the basic shapes of things so that he can understand these concepts.

When to Talk to Your Doctor: 

• If your child seems aloof and listless, consult your doctor to find out if there is a developmental delay that needs to be addressed.
• Note how he responds to others. Does he seem like he’s not observant and receptive to people and sounds? Ask your child’s paediatrician to do the necessary tests to make sure that it is not a cause for concern. 

Social and Emotional Development

At this age, your little one will start to have his own personality. He knows what he likes, and dislikes, and he can also experience a whole range of emotions that he didn’t experience before.

He’ll also start to play with other kids his age, but some kids still prefer to play alone.

He might start throwing tantrums if you take away his favourite toy, or if he doesn’t particularly like the food that you’re giving him. He’ll learn to use crying as a way to get what he wants, so it’s important to know how to handle your little one during this stage. 

Tips: 

• Now is a great time to start teaching your baby various social skills, as well as setting some simple rules for him to follow.
• Don’t force your child to be social, just let it happen naturally, as parallel play is usually more comfortable for little ones this age. 
• Your baby will be prone to tantrums and misbehaviour at this age, so be firm when saying no, and reinforce your authority as a parent, especially when they touch something that could harm them, like a hot cup or breakable objects. Of course, you don’t need to harshly discipline your baby. A simple no and a stern voice will usually suffice.

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• Consult your doctor if your child’s tantrums are becoming too extreme or worrisome, as this might be a sign of underlying problems. 

Speech and Language Development

Chances are, you’ve already discovered the “big word” that your kid learns at this stage. That word – of course – is “No.” You’ll start hearing it a lot, especially since at this time, your 11 month old may become picky when it comes to food. He’ll also have tantrums if he still wants to play and it’s already nap time.

Your baby will be able to say a few very simple words, so it’s good to start reading to him in order to get his brain ready for learning more words. You can start teaching him different words for objects, and how to use them.

Your baby’s memory will also improve at this stage, so he’ll understand more words as the months go by.

Tips: 

• Talk to your baby and encourage him to communicate. Even babbling, though unintelligible, is a vital part of language development.
• Make sure to sharpen his memory by repeating certain words, or even pointing and naming familiar people and objects. Teach new words and reinforce those words by using them often.
• Boost your child’s attention span by playing games like peek-a-boo or opening and closing your hand while singing. Not only will this improve focus, he’ll find this entertaining, too. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor: 

• If your child is barely cooing or babbling, pay their a paediatrician a visit to find out how to encourage him to communicate. 
• If they barely focus or make eye contact, then it’s best to consult a doctor to know for sure if this is indeed indicative of a developmental delay that needs to be addressed.  

Health and Nutrition

Your baby should now be able to drink on his own, or with a little assistance. When it comes to food, this is when he starts to become more picky about what he wants to eat, so it’s important to be patient. Keep giving different types of food to your baby.

Of course, providing your baby proper nutrition is very important, so make sure to feed him healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, and protein-rich foods, like fish, beef, and chicken.

At 11 months old, your baby should weight about 8.2-10.2 kg. His or her normal height should be around 68.0-75.6 cm.

Tips:

• Let your baby feed himself using his fingers. You can also start introducing how to handle a spoon. 
• Avoid too much sweets, as he might develop a sweet tooth at a young age. Breastfeeding is still highly recommended at this age if possible.
• If you have a picky eater on your hands, just be patient when introducing new food. A baby usually needs several feedings before getting used to a certain taste. 

When to Talk to Your Doctor:

• If your child seems to have a poor appetite or is underweight for his age, consult a paediatrician to find ways to help him achieve a healthy weight. 
• If your child has a high fever (102°F/38.8°C to 103°F/39.4°C) or cough and colds, call your doctor, especially if it persists for more than two days. 

We hope you found this article on 11 month old baby development useful. What can your child do now that he’s nearing his first birthday?