Week-by-week library · 11 months old
Month 11
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at 11 months old?
This month, a few wobbly seconds of standing alone can feel like a huge deal, because it is.
What's developing
Motor
Standing briefly without holding on is emerging for many babies, an early preview of independent walking, which the WHO's typical window places anywhere from about eight to eighteen months, with a median around twelve.
Communication
Understanding simple words like "no" or their own name is common by now, along with recognizing a few familiar object names.
Try this together this week
- Cheer on every wobbly standing attempt, even the ones that end in a quick sit-down.
- Play simple following-a-direction games ("give me the ball") to build on emerging comprehension.
- Offer push toys for cruising-to-walking practice on a safe, flat surface.
- Keep reading together daily; even short books build vocabulary understanding.
What parents often notice
There is an enormous typical range for first independent steps, roughly eight to eighteen months by WHO data, so a baby who is not walking yet at eleven months is well within that range, not behind it.
Sourced to
- World Health Organization, Motor Development Study (WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study)
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.