Your Baby at 11-12 Months

Gross Motor and Large Muscle Development
She is able to squat down to pick something up off the floor.  She may be able to stand up in the center of the room.  She may take independent steps.  She climbs up stairs or on furniture, but may need help getting down.

Fine Motor and Small Muscle Development
She helps when getting dressed by pushing her arms through a sleeve.  She may pull on shoelaces to untie them or un-velcro them, or take her socks off.  She may remove and place rings on a tower cone toy.  She turns pages of a book, many at a time.  She may carry a spoon toward her mouth in an attempt to self-feed.

Cognitive, Social and Visual Development
She opens drawers or cupboards to explore the contents.  She is interested in fitting toys together.  She responds to music by rocking, dancing and bouncing.  She points to a few body parts on request.  She enjoys games like hide-and-seek, or rolling balls back and forth.  She gives affection to people and favored toys and objects.  She may begin to test parents in feeding and bedtime situations.  She uses the same sounds or hand motions for a word, regularly says "ba" for bottle or consistently puts fingers near her mouth for bottle.  She can amuse herself for 30 to 45 minutes, but is happier playing alone when other people are in the room.

Activities for You and Your Baby

• She may begin to share toys with you. Show your interest in what she is playing with. Ask her to show you what she is holding. If she gives it to you, tell her how wonderful she is, admire the toy and give it back to her.

• Put toys up on a couch or chair that is her height so she can stand up and play and practice climbing.

• Give her toys she can put together, take apart, open, close, turn and twist. She likes cabinet doors, keys in locks, boxes with lids, etc.  Give her blocks or boxes that she can stack or build with. Also give her toys she can practice pushing or pulling (a toy car).