Here’s what you can expect from your 11-month-old in the weeks to come.
You Have an 11-Month-Old!
Gone are the days when your baby relied on you for everything, and when you could safely assume they would stay put wherever you last saw them. Now you have a moving, cruising, sometimes bruising almost-toddler who is likely exploring everything they can get their hands on and gobbling up the solid foods you put in front of them.
Babies this age are inquisitive and sometimes destructive. They’ll pull out every piece of Tupperware you own if you fail to babyproof those cabinets. And their personalities are starting to shine through as they find new and exciting ways to communicate with you—from using short words like “yes” and “no” to reaching out their chubby little arms to let you know they want to be picked up.
This is an exciting time, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to start preparing yourself for what’s to come.
Keeping Everyone Safe
The more mobile your little one becomes, the more important it is to ensure your home is set up to prevent injuries and accidents. Now is the time to move beyond babyproofing and into toddler-proofing. Look around your house and take the steps necessary to prepare for a moving, cruising, and eventually walking and running child. You’ll want to cover all your safety bases, which means:
- Gating off stairs. Kiddos this age will explore everything if you let them—which means an unattended climb up the stairs could result in a tumble down.
- Checking furniture. Even furniture items you might not have even thought of as dangerous, like a coffee table, could be used to pull themselves up on, resulting in crashing down on top of them.
- Cords should be tucked away (and ideally covered).
- Furniture should be bolted to the walls or sturdy enough to remain firmly on the ground.
- Covering outlets.
- Childproofing cabinets and drawers. Accessible cabinets should be locked tight, especially if they have harmful things inside (hello, Tide Pods!).
And even if there are no safety concerns in those cabinets to worry about, it definitely gets exhausting putting everything back and reorganizing it all every time your little one decides to redecorate!
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also recommends being vigilant around water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for toddlers, which makes pool fences incredibly important, as well as never leaving your little one around open bodies of water, no matter how shallow.
Keep in mind: 11-month-old babies are also prone to slips and falls. Some may be walking already, but even those who aren’t have likely started pulling themselves up. Unfortunately, they’re unsteady on their feet, still learning what this whole mobility thing is about. That makes keeping your baby barefoot or in socks with treads on the bottom important, if only to give them just a little more stability as they experiment with what their feet can do.
11-Month-Old Baby Milestones
As you’ve probably already learned, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to baby milestones. What one baby does at 11 months another may not do until 14 or 15 months. And that’s okay!
Still, there are some basic milestones you can expect to be coming up against right about now.
Moving and shaking
It happens quickly: crawling becomes cruising, sitting becomes standing, and before you know it, your baby will be walking. Wherever your baby is at in that cycle, it’s a new and exciting time for all involved.
And it’s not just those gross motor skills your baby is improving upon. At 11 months old, babies are also working on those fine motor skills, experimenting with everything from bringing a spoon to their mouths to picking up smaller objects with their thumb and forefinger.
Give your little one plenty of opportunities to develop these skills—they are the building blocks to bigger and better things still to come.
Temper tantrums
One of the hallmarks of toddlerhood is the dreaded tantrum, but what you may not have realized is they start sooner than you think. As your baby begins showing off that new personality of theirs, they’re also developing a much wider range of emotions. And sometimes, those emotions are going to explode into bouts of frustration they may not have a whole lot of control over.
Try to remember your baby is at an awkward time where they are gaining more insight into what they want, yet still lack the ability to always communicate those desires clearly. They also may struggle to understand why you aren’t giving in to each of those desires, and they aren’t as in control of their emotions as you might like.
The result can sometimes be kicking, screaming, or crying fits that rival anything you experienced in early infancy. Because apparently you went from cuddly newborn to the preteen stage. Awesome.
Learning right from wrong
Of course, just because their frustration is justified doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be expected to follow some basic rules. Believe it or not, your 11-month-old can understand quite a bit at this point—and with repetition, you can start to instill some important values even now.
Don’t get us wrong: your baby isn’t ready to follow a long list of dos and don’ts. But repeating simple sentences like, “Soft hands with the dog,” and “Ouch! We don’t throw toys!” can set the stage for helping them understand the rules they are expected to follow.
Imitation
Your baby is always watching you, and you may be seeing that more and more now in how they play. From the way they work at their toy kitchen to the sweet way they cuddle and babble at their baby doll, your little one is about to start imitating you in a thousand different ways. So, yes, that could mean being a little more careful with what you say. Ahem.
Blah, blah, blah
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), most babies will be saying at least one word within the next month. That could be ma-ma, da-da, yes, no… simple words that help them communicate what they want.
Of course, if your baby hasn’t uttered a single word yet, that’s not reason to panic. But they should be communicating with you in new ways, such as waving goodbye or pointing to objects they are interested in. It’s also common for them to be babbling by this point, responding to their name when you call it, and taking turns “responding” to you when you talk to them first.
Your New Normal
With all these changes going on, you want to make sure you’re meeting your 11-month-old’s needs. When in doubt, you can always check in with your baby’s pediatrician. But in general, here’s what to expect from your growing little one.
How much should an 11-month-old eat?
While your baby is still getting breast milk or formula for at least another month (and longer if you want—the AAP says breastfeeding can continue as long as Mom and baby both want it to), you’ve likely noticed they are focusing more on solid foods these days. That’s a good thing—by a year old, solids should be their main source of nutrition.
But how much should your 11-month-old be eating, exactly?
This will vary by baby, but a good general guideline is 16 to 20 ounces of milk or formula a day combined with three meals and two snacks made up of solid foods.
Remember: your baby’s meals will be much smaller than yours. But if you are providing them with a variety of foods to choose from at multiple points throughout the day, they will typically let you know when they are full and when they would still like more to eat.
How much should an 11-month-old sleep?
The 11-month-old sleep schedule is pretty similar to what you’ve been doing already. At this age, your baby should still be taking two naps a day and sleeping for ten to twelve hours a night.
How much should an 11-month-old weigh?
According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) growth charts, the average 11-month-old weighs between 16 and 24 pounds. Of course, your baby’s weight may vary based on their height and average growth pattern over this first year.
Enjoying this Last Month of Babyhood
Big things are on the horizon, even as you may look back with misty eyes on how quickly it’s all flown by. Don’t forget to soak up this last month of infancy with your little one. And think about this: no child ever remembers their first birthday. That milestone is a celebration that is more about the parents making it through the first year than the baby. So plan a celebration you’ll remember.
You’ve earned it!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I worry about baby milestones?
The best thing you can do to ensure your baby is on track with their milestones is to keep their recommended baby well-child check-ups. Your care provider will be able to make sure your baby is developing on track and address any issues or concerns you may have.
How big is an 11-month-old?
The average 11-month-old weighs between 16 and 24 pounds.
