11-Month-Old Baby - What to Expect

It's month 11, and if your baby has become one part escape artist, one part demolition derby, all parts messy and curious, she's right on target.

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Transcript:

It's month 11, and if your baby has become one part escape artist, one part demolition derby, all parts messy and curious, she's right on target. Most babies this age are pre-occupied with getting into things they shouldn't be getting into and getting out of things they shouldn't be getting out of, and wreaking havoc while they're at it.
Bucking like a bronco during diaper changes, performing Houdini tricks in the high chair, on a seemingly endless mission to seek and destroy; yes, all that and the bag of chips baby just dumped onto the floor goes with the territory these days. Just you wait, she's just getting warmed up.
Leaps in physical development mean there's no surface too high or cabinet too deep to deter baby during this age of discovery. Your little one's dogged determination, now teamed with his greater mobility and upward mobility as he figures out how to climb, and his finer motor skills, he can grasp, open, push on, pull off, can lead him into a whole lot of trouble fast, so keep a watchful eye on your little stunt baby.
As you shout out, "No, don't touch that," or, "Get down from there," for the third time in an hour, here's a happy language bulletin. Your baby may actually understand what you're warning her not to do or not to touch. Complying is another matter, but it may stop her in her tracks long enough so that you can redirect her safely.
She may say one or two words. Hopefully mama and dada will be among the first she'll speak, but there's no guarantee it won't be car or ball. But she'll comprehend many more, as many as 20 to 50, especially ones you use frequently, and familiar phrases, too. Looking at books becomes much more fun as baby begins to recognize and possibly point to images. In fact, pointing or gesturing with a few fingers, or even the whole hand, will soon become a go-to form of communication no matter what point your little one is trying to make.
With so much ground to cover and uncover, your Energizer bunny may be more wired than ever at bedtime and nap time. He'll need to unwind more, too, and even let off some steam, especially when his day has become a little frustrating, as it often does for one so small whose aspirations are larger than life.
For some babies, some snuggles, a thumb to suck, a well-loved teddy to clutch, will help take the edge off and help them relax. Others find comfort in less adorable and even alarming ways, such as head-banging, rocking, rolling, and teeth-grinding. These rhythmic comfort habits may be startling, but they're usually completely normal, benign, and disappear without parental intervention. Instead of calling attention to these behaviors, which typically only steps them up, offer more opportunities for your baby to get her rhythm on during the day; banging on drums, dancing to music, and extra cuddles, hugs, and rocking at night and before naps to meet her comfort needs.
You're unquestionably baby's favorite playmate, and will be for at least a few years to come. Enjoy your bestie status while it lasts, but that doesn't mean you have to be his only playmate. Now's the perfect time to join a playgroup or get on the play-date circuit.
Interactive play won't be on baby's developmental radar just yet, unless you count grabbing toys as interaction, but your little one will enjoy baby-watching and so-called parallel play, playing side-by-side. Or you and your baby can get your social fix at a baby music or movement class, a baby play gym, or at the playground.
None of it is a must-do, but any or all can be a fun do, as long as there's no pressure to do anything at all. Here's to a fun eleventh month.