Everything you need to expect at 11 months old.

Milestones at 11 months are all about action with intention. Whether your baby standing independently, or pointing across the room to get your attention, they’re showing off growing coordination, communication, and curiosity. This month, your baby should reach 30 exciting new milestones across six key areas: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Development, Sensory Processing, and Communication.

Is your baby up to the challenge?

By this age, your baby’s brain is creating connections faster than you can imagine. While still in the womb, they created nearly 250,000 neurons per minute, and arriving at birth with nearly 100 billion neurons. [1] But this is just the beginning.

In their first year, your baby has been forming 700 new neural connections every second, creating the pathways that support physical movement, emotional attachment, language, and early memory. [2] These connections are what enable your baby to move with purpose, respond to your voice, and engage in new kinds of play problem solving. At 11 months, your baby is standing, thinking harder, and interacting with more than ever before.

This month, expect a baby who wants to explore and communicate more; with lots of determination.

Why this month matters?

This stage is a turning point. Your 11 month old is one month away from being a toddler. This means they’re building the muscle strength to stand and walk, the social awareness to share attention and play, and the early communication tools that lead to speech. Researchers consider this stage a critical window for learning through movement and social exchange. [3]

Your baby is also beginning to form a stronger sense of self. They’re starting to understand what they want, how to ask for it; sometimes using gestures. [4] All of this sets the stage for more complex milestones ahead, like walking independently, forming words, and navigating early relationships.

What are this month's milestones?

This month, your baby is more active than ever, combining growing strength and confidence with improved coordination. You may see them crawling backward down the stairs as they figure out how to safely navigate them. Many babies this age are eager to walk and will do so while holding your hands or while using furniture for balance. They might also begin standing independently for a few seconds at a time and sitting down smoothly from a standing position. They should also be able to pull themselves up to stand from a crawling position, especially if they see something they are determined to reach.

As for fine motor movements, their hands will be very busy. You’ll likely see them shake and throw toys, grab balls that roll their way, and pull off their shoes and socks when they’re done with them. At this point, they'll be able to eat finger foods easily and independently. They may even try to fill empty containers with things they find around the house. If you hold out your hand, they may try to give you a toy, but will hold onto it as if they've changed their minds. It's is all part of learning how to share and how to further control their movements.

Cognitively, your baby will start paying attention to different details. They may examine the small textures and buttons, or notice patterns on a blanket. Their focus is improving too, they might sit still long enough to listen to a short story or you singing a song, especially if it involves hand motions or repetition. This month marks a turning point in how they take in information.

On the social emotional side, your baby is becoming much more aware. Repetitive games like peekaboo and pattycake become interactive because they'll be familiar with how the games work. They’ll likely respond to their reflection in the mirror and may even begin pointing to things that they want you to notice. It might be a bird outside or their favorite toy. In some cases, they’ll start to take turns with you during certain activities or pretend to “share” food, which shows early signs of social connection and empathy.

Sensory exploration is still a major part of how your baby learns. They’re likely to crawl toward interesting objects they spot across the room, using their body and senses to investigate. They may explore textures more intentionally, noticing how different foods or materials feel. You might also see them recognize familiar faces or people at a distance of 20 feet or more. They might wave or smile as they start to connect visual cues with memory.

And finally, communication is improving too. Your baby may pair consonants and vowels like “ba,” “da,” or “ma” into long babble-like chains. They’re starting to listen for your response when they make noise and may react when you ask simple questions or give basic commands. They'll notice funny noises and may even repeat them for fun or attention. Though their words aren’t here quite yet, the building blocks of language are growing everyday.

Work Cited:

1. “The Development and Shaping of the Brain.” Discovering the Brain,

2. “Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing!” Parenting. Give it Time, Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government,

3. Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A., & Kuhl, P. The Scientist in the Crib

4. CDC, Developmental Milestones

   
   

How many of this month's milestones has your baby mastered?

Tracking your baby’s 11-month milestones helps you stay updated with their development and recognize which areas are growing and which ones might need more support. Whether they're waving at someone familiar, or listening to your stories, each milestone shows that they are learning and developing. With a Basic Membership for just $2 per month, you can track all 812 milestones your child is expected to reach by age 4. Stay on top of your baby’s progress and celebrate every exciting new skill along the way!

Create a free account with Fledglings' Flight and get access to 4820 screen-free, play-based exercises. That is 100-200 exercises each month that you can start doing with your baby from the day that they are born to help them to develop into the best version of themselves. In addition, your free account gives you access to 1200+ articles on child development to keep you informed while you help to navigate your child's developmental journey.