Skip to Main Content
What's Your 11-Month-Old Baby Up To?

What's Your 11-Month-Old Baby Up To?

First steps. First words. Working toward becoming independent. At 11 months old, your little one takes on new adventures. Let’s fuel the wonder.

Medically reviewed by a board-certified pediatrician

Your 11-month-old baby’s development

  • Walks by “cruising,” or holding onto furniture
  • Understands and uses a few words
  • Begins to develop a sense of independence 

11-month-old development: Cruising

Standing, stepping, and balancing are all tough skills to master. Your little one’s learning how to coordinate all three. Fortunately, your kiddo is more than willing to put in the time by hanging onto the furniture. After all, why stand still when you've got places to go?

You can help by offering your child a push toy, like a play vacuum or lawn mower, to encourage them to start putting one foot in front of the other.

11-month-old development: Language

What will be the word that launches a thousand conversations? When will talking to your child finally be rewarded with a true response? Any day now, parents, any day now.

Babies tend to start small, with simple words like “buh” for bye-bye. Whatever sound it ends up being, it’s guaranteed to be the sweetest one you've ever heard.

11-month-old development: Independence

Reading books to your child helps them learn and grow. Even if it’s the same one over and over. Adding a dramatic reading voice can also amp up the fun, for both of you. Letting them turn the pages on their own gives them another step in the right direction for independence. 

And if any of this makes you weepy, just know you’ve still got a few more years before your munchkin leaves the nest.

These are big times for your 11-month-old’s development—full of experiments, frustrations, and confidence boosts. Let’s cheer them along as their development continues now and into next month.

All information on Enfamil, including but not limited to information about health, medical conditions, and nutrition, is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for a healthcare professional's medical identification, advice, or management for specific medical conditions. You should seek medical care and consult your doctor or pediatrician for any specific health or nutrition issues. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment, care, or help because of information you have read on Enfamil.