Baby and his first days

Baby and his first days

 



11-Month-Old Baby Development

At this age, parents are sometimes concerned if their baby is not walking yet—especially if their friends' babies are walking. But, pediatricians indicate that you probably have nothing to worry about.

"Development at this age is a matter of degrees and percentages," says Corey Fish, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and chief medical officer with BraveCare.com.

Some babies are already walking and others are just not there yet. Both scenarios are pretty normal. As their legs strengthen and their core gets stronger, your baby will become more adventurous with their movement, too.

"Eleven-month-old kids also are climbing on things," Dr. Fish says. "They can get up on stuff and can get up and over things."

For this reason, Dr. Fish indicates that parents need to be more aware of the risk of falls. Think about how to secure heavy furniture to the wall and ensure that your baby is not climbing on things that are not meant for climbing.

"All parents worry a little bit about ground-level falls, but they do that 100 times a day," says Dr. Fish. "But if they get up on something higher than 2 to 3 feet and fall that can cause problems, especially considering the surface that they land on."

At this age, your baby is continuing to build their language and communication skills. Plus, they are starting to understand more of what you are saying, says Dr. Segura.

"They are starting to do something that is called 'joint attention' where they will look at something you are pointing to," she says. "They also are increasingly conscious of things that have names and their purpose, so they might try to brush their hair with a brush or hold a telephone to their ear."

At 11 months, most boys will weigh an average of 20.8 pounds and have a length of 29.3 inches while most girls weigh 19.2 pounds and have a length of 28.7 inches.4 Your baby also will be putting on more muscle this month and losing some of their cute baby rolls as they walk and move more.

11-Month-Old Baby Milestones

Movement, language development, and fine motor skills continue to be the theme again this month. So, you can expect to see your baby becoming more mobile and communicative.

"At this age, I would expect to see some sort of mobility from your baby," says Dr. Fish. "Whether they are crawling, cruising, or walking independently, they should be getting from point A to point B."

Some babies may be displaying additional skills when it comes to movement and making more independent moves like standing upright unassisted or taking one or two first steps. Other babies may be improving their crawling skills instead.

"Babies this age also can learn to crawl up the stairs if they are allowed to practice with close supervision by the parent," says Dr. Segura. "And some babies this age will walk two or three steps without support and can stand for a few seconds without holding onto anything."

At 11 months, your baby is likely communicating in a variety of ways. In addition to saying one or two words, they may be using their hands more to communicate.

"Babies this age are often using hand movements to communicate their wants and needs," says Dr. Segura. "They also will respond to the word no and other simple directions as well as reach to be picked up, and point specifically to things."

They also are perfecting their fine motor skills as well at this age. For instance, some babies will have perfected the pincer grasp and others will still be working on it.

"Babies this age often have perfected the pincer grasp and a large percentage have picked up a word or two," Dr. Fish says. "However, I would not be worried if they do not have words yet. Babies this age also understand words like no—even if they choose not to listen."

Additional Behaviors

  • Throws objects
  • Stands for a few seconds
  • Finds toys when hidden under a cup
  • Vocalizes to songs
  • Bounces to music1


11-Month-Old Baby Food

By now, your baby is likely eating three meals a day as well as nursing or drinking formula. And because their meals are at more predictable times, you might want to consider having family mealtimes. Not only can your baby learn a lot from having meals as a family, but there are a number of benefits that come from family meals, so you may want to start establishing this habit now.5

Your baby is also developing more independence when it comes to eating solid foods. They may be better at picking up foods and may even attempt to use a spoon and open cup.

"At 11 months many babies are finger feeding and self-feeding as well as eating an increased variety of food," says Dr. Segura. "They also are getting better at using an open-faced cup during meals."

You still need to be careful about what types of foods you are feeding. Not only should you refrain from feeding them honey and cow's milk this month, but you also have to watch out for choking hazards.

"Never give babies round pieces of food that could become lodged in their throat," says Dr. Segura. "I also always tell parents the three Ss—to consider the size of the food as well as make sure babies are sitting when they are eating and that they are supervised. They can choke if they are moving around and eating at the same time."

You also may want to refrain from giving your baby juice. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) indicates that juice should not be consistently given to babies under 12 months of age. After their first birthday, infants may have limited amounts of juice each day.6

"Many parents ask if babies should have juice at this age, but there is no nutritional reason to give your baby juice," Dr. Fish says. "If you do decide to give your baby juice, they should have no more than 4 to 6 ounces in a day maximum."

As far as how much food your baby should be eating at one time, Dr. Fish encourages parents to allow babies to determine how much they want to eat at a given time. You also should continue to offer a variety of foods—even foods your baby does not like.

Although you should not force your baby to eat something, it does take several tries before a baby decides if they like a particular food. You also may notice that your baby now makes faces when they eat something they do not like. Keep introducing new foods and make mealtimes fun.

11-Month-Old Baby Sleep

By this age, your baby is sleeping through the night and may start to transition to one nap a day, says Dr. Fish. This can be challenging for parents especially if they counted on those two naps as downtime for themselves or to get tasks accomplished while their baby is sleeping.

Some babies may even start fighting their naps altogether. But it is important to stay consistent with your baby's sleep schedule. They still need about 14 hours of sleep at this age, with some of that sleep occurring during the day.2

There is a chance that your baby may go through a slight sleep regression at this age. Most likely this is due to a growth spurt or teething.2 Some babies will even experience disrupted sleep when they are learning to conquer a developmental milestone, Dr. Segura says. Offer comfort when your baby wakes up, but also allow them time and space to go back to sleep on their own.

11-Month-Old Baby Schedule

Babies this age are active, full of energy, and eager to explore the world around them. What's more, your baby is likely sleeping and eating on a consistent schedule which makes planning things as a family a little easier.

Just try to be consistent with your baby's sleep schedule. While getting off track once in a while is OK, babies thrive on predictability says Dr. Segura. This doesn't mean you have to be chained to the house, though. In fact, it is important to get out and see the world. Even a trip to the grocery store can be a fascinating experience for a baby.

During your baby's awake times, they enjoy playing with a variety of different toys. From active toys to books and blocks, your baby will love not only learning how things work but also listening to stories, using their hands, bouncing to music, and moving around. Do what you can to provide a safe and stimulating environment that allows your baby to learn and explore.

11-Month-Old Baby Health and Safety

As far as safety this month, babies this age are much more mobile and more adept at getting around, says Dr. Segura, so if you have not baby-proofed your house yet, you should. There are a number of hazards that pose a risk to your baby like falls, eating something poisonous, or sticking things in outlets.

"The big thing at this age is the risk of falls," says Dr. Seguar. "Falls happen quite a bit just when babies are learning to walk, but falls from a greater height are a big risk. Parents need to put baby gates near stairs and doorways and refrain from using unsafe equipment like baby walkers."

You also need to make sure your environment is free of things that are a choking hazard or are poisonous. Babies this age still exploring their world by putting things in their mouths, so you need to look at everything in your home and consider whether it is safe for your baby.

"Poisoning and choking continue to be big risks at this age," says Dr. Segura. "Babies put everything in their mouth because they are doing a lot of oral exploration, so parents and caregivers need to be sure they are not leaving small objects near the floor. Look at the floor from their level and crawl around to see what they see."

Your baby also will continue to teeth this month—or begin teething if they have not done so already. In fact, some babies do not get their first tooth until after their first birthday.7 If your baby is teething, talk to your pediatrician about how to treat your baby's discomfort.

Some healthcare professionals will recommend over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. They can let you know how much to give your baby since dosing is based on your baby's weight. Other options for teething pain include massaging your baby's gums with clean fingers, offering solid teething rings (not liquid-filled), or a clean frozen or wet washcloth.7

11-Month-Old Baby Care Basics

A lot of your baby's focus this month will be on learning to walk. To support your baby's new skills, allow them to walk barefoot as much as possible.

Obviously, when you are outside, your baby will need shoes. But when you are at home or inside, allow them to go barefoot—without shoes or socks—so they can better practice the movements involved in walking.

Going shoeless also helps your baby improve their balance, strength, and coordination. There is even some evidence that being barefoot may help the arch of their foot to develop as well.8 Other ways to encourage walking are to get them a push toy as well as limit their time in activity centers.

Your 11-Month-Old Baby’s Development

 



10-Month-Old Baby Development

During your baby's 10-month, they are getting stronger in preparation for walking. They also are perfecting a number of skills that they have been working on since their 9-month check-up.

Additionally, your baby's brain continues to act like a little sponge absorbing information all around them, so make sure you are talking to them about the things they see as well as the things you are doing. Whether tell them how you're changing their diaper or point out the sights when taking a walk, your baby is listening and learning. Never shy away from engaging with your baby even if it is just the two of you.

You also can continue to encourage your baby's gross and fine motor skill development by providing toys that help them practice those skills or by walking with them or holding their hands while they stand.

"Usually around 10 months, babies are more mobile," says Corey Fish, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and chief medical officer for BraveCare.com. "They are crawling, pulling to stand, and cruising. I have even had kids walking at 10 months. It is rare, but it does happen. Babies this age also are feeding themselves more and grabbing finger foods."

At 10 months of age, most male babies boys weigh around 20.2 pounds while female babies weigh an average of 18.7 pounds. Additionally, male babies are about 28.9 inches long while most female babies are around 28.1 inches long.4

10-Month-Old Baby Milestones

Babies this age will generally walk with you holding both of their hands, Dr. Segura says. They also imitate speech sounds, respond to the word no, and may say a few words. They also are getting better at using their hands, which means that the things they used to have trouble picking up are now being picked up with more ease.

"Babies this age can use their thumb and forefinger to pick up things and everything goes in the mouth," Dr. Fish says. "They also can clap or wave and might even have a word or two—even though they are still babbling a lot. You also should expect to them to be making eye contact as well as responding and engaging with people around them"

Object permanence also is much more developed at this age, Dr. Segura says. When you hide a toy or another object they will know that the toy still exists. They also know that you still exist somewhere in the house even when you are not with them. When you leave the room they may cry for you, especially because separation anxiety is still prevalent at this age as well.

Overall, as long as your baby is moving around their environment, using their hands, and babbling you probably have nothing to worry about—even if you feel they are a little behind their playmates or cousins. Remind yourself that each baby develops at their own pace and milestones are not hard and fast rules, but instead guidelines that let you know what to expect.1

"Parents have a tendency to want to compare their baby to other kids," Dr. Fish says. "I see thousands of kids and parents are often more worried than I am. Usually, if your baby is behind on one thing, they are ahead on another. There is such a wide range of normal and being behind on something usually has no bearing on future anything."

Additional Behaviors

  • Shows curiosity and explores how things work
  • Understands simple one-word phrases or requests
  • May take a step or two
  • Stands up unassisted
  • Develops specific preferences for tastes and textures1


10-Month-Old Baby Food

By 10 months, your little one is likely a pro when it comes to finger foods. Plus, they probably have a wide range of flavors and textures that they are eating.

"Babies can eat pretty much everything but honey and whole milk, assuming it's not something they could choke on," says Dr. Fish. "Even peanut butter and eggs are fine. The data has been clear for a long time that you want to introduce those foods as early as possible."

Some parents consider giving their babies cow's milk at this age, but Dr. Fish says that not only is there a risk of anemia, but the electrolyte balance in whole milk is radically different and can cause some electrolyte disturbances in your baby. He does indicate that foods that contain whole milk like yogurt and cheese are fine.

As far as how much your baby should eat at this age, the general guidelines include around 24 ounces of formula or three to four feedings per day. They also should be getting 2 to 4 fruits a day, 2 to 4 vegetables, 2 to 3 protein foods, as well as some starches.3 But, many pediatricians, like Dr. Segura, advise letting your baby determine how much they eat at any given time.

"Some kids eat a ton of solids and some don't eat as much," Dr. Fish says. "I don't really use the tablespoon guideline. I try to let the kid be a kid and try not be a micromanager when it comes to food."

For this reason, many pediatricians recommend baby-led weaning instead of trying to get your child to eat or drink pre-determined amounts of food. Also, now that your baby is eating three meals a day, Dr. Segura recommends that they eat what the family is eating if possible.

"Try to have at least one meal a day as a family," she says. "This sets a good foundation for the next several years of life."

10-Month-Old Baby Sleep

At this age, some babies are still taking two naps a day while others are in the process of transitioning to one nap a day. Regardless of how many naps your little one is taking, they typically need about 14 hours of sleep at this age.2

Most of the time, babies sleep about 11 hours at night and 3 hours during the day. If they are taking two naps their naps are about 1 1/2 hours each.2

"The transition to one nap a day can be hard on parents," Dr. Fish says. "Parents might count on that nap as downtime and it is difficult to give that up."

While many babies this age are sleeping through the night, there are a few that struggle to sleep one long stretch. However, according to Dr. Fish your baby should no longer be waking up to eat in the middle of the night.

"Most babies this age are capable of sleeping through the night," says Dr. Fish. "When kids are not sleeping through the night, it sometimes has to do with how the parents are reacting when their baby is waking up or there is a specific reason for the [night waking]."

An illness, teething, separation anxiety, and growth spurts all impact sleep. So if your baby was sleeping through the night and suddenly starts waking again, you may want to investigate to see what else is going on. If it continues to be a problem and you are not sure what to do, talk to your pediatrician for advice.

If nothing is wrong with your baby—and you are consistently following a bedtime routine and putting your baby to bed at roughly the same time each night—you might want to experiment with sleep training or even consider hiring a sleep coach.

Sleeping is a skill that can be taught and if you are struggling to get your baby to sleep, looking into different sleep training methods may be the answer for your situation.

10-Month-Old Baby Schedule

At 10 months old, your baby is likely a very busy little person. They are all about exploring the world around them, trying to open cupboards to discover what’s behind them, and testing boundaries—and maybe even your patience at times. But this time period is also one of the most predictable in terms of a schedule.

"Now that your baby is [napping consistently], it is much easier to have them on a schedule," Dr. Segura says. "Some days you might get off schedule, and that is OK, but babies this age really thrive on consistency."

Do what you can to maintain your baby's schedule while still being flexible when you can. To put things into perspective, Dr. Segura indicates that most babies this age are up from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m with two naps—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. They also have predictable wake windows—or time periods when they are awake—with each one lasting about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.

Knowing this information can give you a sense of freedom and control over your day. Additionally, you can make use of your baby's nap times to rest and recharge so that when they are awake you have the energy to interact and play with them.

"I recommend providing a stimulating and safe environment for baby," Dr. Segura says. "They will be able to explore more when you have at least one room that is completely child-proofed."

Play interactive games, sing songs, and bounce to music, she says. You also should have a nighttime routine, if you do not have one already, and aim to read at least one book a day to your little one—possibly even more if your schedule allows.

10-Month-Old Baby Health and Safety

Because babies this age are increasingly becoming more mobile, you will need to reframe your thinking when it comes to keeping your baby safe. Before your baby was crawling around, you didn't have to worry about what you had under sinks or in low cabinets.

You probably also did not think about the dog's dishes, the vitamins on your coffee table, or even where you kept the garbage. But now all of those things are potential hazards for your baby.

"Babies this age get into everything," Dr. Fish says. "If there is a way into things, they will find it. Even childproof medicine bottles are not truly childproof."

Dr. Fish also suggests being cautious with any standing body of water. Kiddie pools outside, mop buckets filled with water, dog bowls, open toilets, and so on can all pose a drowning risk for babies.

"Water safety is important at this age," says Dr. Fish. "If you run a bath and leave it unattended while it is filling up, your baby could potentially climb in. You should stay in the bathroom while the water is running and empty it as soon as you're finished. You also need to be careful around any other standing body of water and keep your baby safely away from it."

This age is also a good time to check your baby's car seat to ensure they are not too long or too heavy for it, especially if you are still using an infant carrier. While some carriers go up to 35 pounds, others have lower weight limits, so you want to ensure your car seat is safe for your baby.

"I always advise parents to look for the best carseat you can find that goes backward and forward and has the highest possible weight limit," Dr. Fish says.

10-Month-Old Baby Care Basics

One of the most important—and most enjoyable—ways to care for your baby at this age is through play. A large portion of what your baby is learning right now comes through play and exploration, especially if you are playing and communicating with them They learn what to believe about the world, how to love, what it means to trust, as well as develop and hone their physical skills.

You also can expect that your baby might experience their first or second cold around this age, especially if they have recently started daycare. In fact, you can expect quite a few colds during their first year in childcare.5 Also, make sure you follow the daycare's guidelines for when to keep sick kids at home.

"A lot of kids this age have started daycare—or may be starting—and when that happens you can count on one new illness every 2 to 4 weeks for the first year," Dr. Fish says. "Generally, when this happens what worries parents most are fevers, but there is no such thing as a fever so high that something bad will happen because of the fever. The height of the fever is not predictive of the severity of the illness."

Instead of focusing on the the fever, pay attention to how your baby is acting and feeling. Symptoms like lethargy, extreme fussiness, signs of dehydration, or pain (like pulling on their ear) may warrant a trip to the doctor. Likewise, your baby should see a doctor if their fever does not respond to medications or it lingers for more than 24 hours.6

What Else to Know About Your 10-Month-Old Baby

At this age, it is not uncommon for parents to start to worry about when their baby is going to take their first step. If you find yourself stressed that your baby is not showing many signs of walking, take a few deep breaths and try not to resort to pushing your child before they are ready. Every baby is different and some babies simply have less interest in walking right now and may actually be working more diligently on speech or fine motor skills instead.

Sometimes parents in an effort to get their baby interested in walking will invest in unsafe toys like baby walkers hoping that will encourage them to take their first steps. But Dr. Segura says that not only can baby walkers delay walking because the wheels are doing all of the work, but they are very unsafe for babies.

"Parent assume that because things are being sold that they are still safe," she says. "But walkers should never be used. Stationary activity centers are much safer. I have heard of baby flying down stairs or out doors while strapped in a walker. Plus they can get places a lot quicker which can be hard for parents to keep them safe."

So, while you may be anxious for your baby to take their first steps, rest assured it will happen in time. Until then enjoy this time with your baby, playing games, reading books, and singing songs. Before you know it your little one will be toddling around.

Your 10-Month-Old Baby's Development and Milestones

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