11-Month-Old Baby Activities: Combining Fun with Learning!

What should your 11-month-old be doing?

At 11 months, your baby has already hit various milestones. If they haven’t attempted walking (and for many, this hasn’t happened yet), they are likely able to cruise around by anchoring themselves to furniture and other objects to get from point A to B. Some 11-month-old babies may attempt a few steps here or there. Others may be a bit more ambitious or adventurous, climbing counters or the sides of their cribs. Once your baby is mobile, it’s important for you to monitor him or her closely to avoid any dangerous or hazardous situations.

At this stage, your little one has also probably become fairly grabby. He or she may reach for cabinets or drawers, attempting to open them.

And when it comes to 11-month-old baby games, your child has likely demonstrated their ability to arrange toys in different ways, such as by size or color. They may further show efficiency when it comes to building toys, stacking them, or taking them apart.

Their motor skills also translate over into eating. Your 11-month-old may either be proficient or starting to attempt using a spoon, and their diet is likely filled with more than just basic baby food. Even still, most experts recommend continuing breastfeeding until about a year old, due largely to the many benefits that come with breastfeeding. When to entirely stop breastfeeding often comes down to the parent and what they believe is best for their child.

Lastly, you’ve probably noticed development in your baby's personality. Maybe they’ve shown preferences with food or 11-month-old baby games. They may know how to say ‘no’ at this stage, which often coincides with temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. But a lot of their communication probably consists of incomprehensible gibberish, which is a-okay — your child is still learning!

Along with personality development comes an increased attention span, which means a wide variety of new activities and games you can play with your 11-month-old. It opens the doors to explore and further develop your child’s motor skills and learning abilities, all while having fun.

7 things to do with an 11-month-old baby

With your child developing a sense of curiosity regarding their surroundings, it’s time to explore 11-month-old baby games. What new activities can you introduce? What’s appropriate for an 11-month-old? From musical rhymes, water coloring, and bubbles to bath games, climbing cushions, and food faces, there are many games to play with an 11-month-old baby.

Musical rhymes

When it comes to 11-month-old baby activities, musical rhymes offer an avenue for your child to develop language, music, motor skills, and rhythm. And it keeps your little one busy! Use a recording of nursery rhymes or go by your own memory. Sing along and throw in some actions, encouraging your child to do the same.

Water coloring

Improve your 11-month-old’s ability to recognize colors and help them work on their hand-eye coordination skills through the art of water coloring. Yes, it will be messy, but boy will it be fun! Lay down the proper precautions to make sure it’s an easy mess to clean up. Grab different color paints, a brush, and an object or paper to paint.

Bubbles

As far as 11-month-old baby games go, bubbles are popular. They're a great tool to help develop your little one’s motor skills and coordination. Blow a few bubbles and encourage him or her to do the same, or wave the wand to create bubbles. Encourage your toddler to reach out and pop them.

Bath games

Make bath time fun by bringing games and activities into the mix! Include different toys with a variety of colors and textures for your little one to explore. In addition to satisfying their curiosity, it will keep them entertained while you bathe them. Help them to arrange the toys based on shape, color, or texture. Encourage them and show positive reinforcement when they’ve succeeded.

Climbing cushions

If you're looking for things to do with your 11 month old, why not take advantage of their growing curiosity and adventurous ways? Most babies at this age want to climb, and this is a good thing because it helps them develop gross motor skills. It’s also fun for the parent, too! Arrange cushions for your baby to safely climb over and explore. Set up different obstacle-style courses and help them climb and tackle the obstacles.

Tiny trampoline

Toddlers have lots of energy, and 11-month-old baby activities should be geared at helping them find a healthy outlet for it. The tiny trampoline activity does just that, while simultaneously helping your child learn the balancing skills required to stand and walk. Help your baby stand upright in the center of the bed (or a small trampoline, if you have one), and then help them bounce up and down. Make sure to keep your hands on them for support as they do so. If your 11-month-old is already walking, offer stability while providing a little bit of independence, as well.

Food faces

While playing with your foods isn’t exactly good dinner etiquette, as far as 11-month-old baby activities go, it can help your little one recognize patterns and develop stronger hand-eye coordination and motor movements. Put different foods in various bowls, such as corn, peas, cut up carrots, noodles, and more. Help your baby make faces with the food on their on a plate or their tray. Once they’ve got a face down pat, they can eat the food from the face.

Safety tips to keep in mind

Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas and 11-month-old baby games to keep your baby entertained and moving forward, you’ll want to become aware of safety precautions involved. Being a parent means always learning. So, what should you know?

• Avoid playing near any sharp corners or furniture. Be aware of your child’s surroundings and plan ahead for potential hazards. It’s always better and more fun to play in an area that has ample space.
• Start reinforcing good behavior early on. This includes not giving into those temper tantrums.
• If your baby is already up and walking, consider getting a pair of socks with grips. This will prevent slippage and falls, helping them better maintain their balance. Alternatively, you can ensure they wear shoes around the house.
• Cover up exposed electrical sockets. Your baby is super mobile now, so it’s critical to make sure there are no hazards they can crawl or get into. Electrical sockets are a common hazard, but also consider other toddler-level things, like drawers and cupboards.

Above all, the most important thing is to have fun! It’s almost your child’s first birthday, and there are so many more exciting and happy times to come. Take each milestone as it comes. And remember that as much as you need to help your child further their development, you also need some time to focus on yourself. Perhaps you still have to lose the baby weight, or maybe you're looking to get back to the gym for some 'me time.' Whatever you choose to do, remember that you're setting an example for your child. Encourage them to learn and grow through games and playtime. You’ll also learn a lot about yourself in the process!