Your 11-Month-Old: Milestones & Development

Vera Malushi, PT, DPT, lends us her expertise as a pediatric physical therapist to recommend developmentally-appropriate ways to play with your 11-month-old. She is the founder of Milestones Pediatric Physical Therapy and shares a wealth of knowledge and tips on her Instagram page @milestones_pediatric_pt.

Can you believe you only have a month left before your baby officially enters toddlerhood? Whether you’re ready or not, your little one is growing up at a rapid pace, and they’re really turning up the dial in mobility and independence. So much has changed over the last year, and now that you’ve tackled your fair share of sleep regressions, growth spurts, and teething woes, you’re a pro at rolling with the punches. Each day brings something new and exciting, and this month is no different! Here’s everything you can look forward to in these last few weeks before your baby’s first birthday:

Physical development & movement

At 11 months old, your baby has most likely tripled their birth weight. They weigh between 15 to 27 pounds, and stand between 26 to 32 inches tall! If that seems like a huge range, that’s because every baby is on their own growth curve, however big or small. Their growth has slowed down a bit now because they’re burning so many calories every day from crawling, cruising, playing, and maybe even walking!

You’ve seen huge strides in their gross motor development lately, and you probably have a very active baby who’s busy cruising along the sofa and other pieces of furniture. Your little one may even be standing alone for a few seconds or more! Most babies this age haven’t taken their first steps yet, but likely will within the next few months. This is a great time to pull out the pull and push toys, as well as an activity center that your little one can cruise around.

If your little one is particularly adventurous, they may have recently discovered the joy of climbing—all over the sofa, the crib slats, chairs, and whatever else they can tackle! If you do have an unruly climber on your hands, make sure that all your heavy furniture is properly anchored to the wall and that your cabinets are baby-proofed so little hands can’t get to whatever is inside. You’ll also want to cover any sharp corners as an increase in mobility will inevitably lead to an increase in slips and falls.

Emotional development

At this age, your baby can express when they’re scared or anxious, and will look to you to know how to react. It’s normal for them to be clingy with you or regular caregivers, especially when strangers are present, and they may also cry when you leave the room. If your little one is still experiencing a lot of separation anxiety, be patient. Although this stage can be a difficult time to navigate as a parent (especially when you’re feeling fatigued from carrying 20+ pounds all the time), rest assured that it does not last forever.

Language

It’s amazing how much your baby’s expressive and receptive language have improved as of late! They may have uttered some first words by now, and although their pronunciation isn’t perfect (like saying “ba” for “ball”), they’re learning that they can communicate their wants and needs. By now, they’re also able to follow simple instructions like “go get the ball” or “wave bye-bye.” Because the oral motor skills required to speak take a long time to master, your baby communicates with you mostly by pointing. Reinforce vocabulary and language skills by naming the objects they’re pointing at, and continue to speak as much as you can around them, no matter how one-sided the “conversation” feels. Although you might not be able to tell, their brain is absorbing everything you’re saying and doing!

Feeding

Now that your baby is getting much more proficient at picking up food and chewing, family mealtimes are becoming more enjoyable—although the mess may still cause plenty of stress! Although you still want to avoid added sugar, salt, and unsafe foods for babies, your little one can pretty much eat whatever the rest of the family is eating. Since your baby’s growth rate is slowing down and they’re getting more nutrients from solids, you may find that they’re taking in less breastmilk or formula than usual. It’s normal for babies to show less interest in bottle feedings around this age, and your little one may even begin self-weaning from the bottle if they prefer to drink from a cup!

How to play with your 11-month-old

“In month 11, we are progressing upright skills and encouraging steps. Babies this age LOVE bubbles. Use your spill-proof Fubbles to motivate baby to balance in standing by placing your baby in standing (with support or freely standing) in the middle of the room. Blow the bubbles all around and encourage baby to pop them with their index finger (bonus points for finger isolation at this age). Baby might take some steps or just practice being wobbly.”
Dr. Vera Malushi, PT, DPT