The Playbook

Your Baby at 11 Months: First Steps, First Words and Family Meals

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Your to-do list this month

  • Eat together as a family when you can, with your baby in the high chair at the table.
  • Encourage walking with push toys or by holding both hands. Skip the baby walker with wheels.
  • Ask your pediatrician about the switch from formula to whole cow's milk at 12 months, and about the first dental visit.
  • Celebrate every word attempt like it's a speech at the Oscars.
A conversation to have this month

"What did we learn this year that we want to remember for the next one?" Write the answers down. Seriously.

What your baby is doing

Eleven-month-olds are often cruising confidently, standing alone for a few seconds, and maybe taking a first step or two. Plenty of babies walk after their first birthday, and that’s normal. Language is building: first words like “dada,” “mama,” “ball,” or “uh-oh” may appear, and your baby understands simple requests like “give me the cup.”

Encouraging walking

  • Barefoot indoors helps balance.
  • Push toys (a sturdy wagon or walker toy that’s pushed from behind) give support.
  • Hold both hands and walk together, or sit a few feet apart and let your baby cruise between you.
  • Skip the wheeled baby walker. The AAP recommends against them because of serious injuries, including falls down stairs.

Eating with the family

Your baby is probably eating a wider range of soft, chopped family foods now. Family meals help babies learn to eat by watching you. Keep choking safety in mind: soft, small pieces, seated and supervised, with the AAP’s list of foods to avoid or modify. Salt and added sugar are best kept low.

Getting ready for 12 months

A few things change around the first birthday. Ask about them at an upcoming visit:

  • Milk: most babies switch from formula to whole cow’s milk around 12 months, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise. Breastfeeding can continue as long as you both want.
  • Bottles: many pediatricians suggest moving toward cups around the first birthday.
  • Teeth: the AAP and pediatric dentists recommend a first dental visit by the first birthday.
  • The 12-month checkup: growth, development, and recommended vaccines.

The look back

It’s been almost a year. Take a minute with your partner to look back: what was hardest, what worked, what you’re proud of. Write it down. You’ll want it for kid number two, or just for the reminder that you did this.

Frequently asked questions

When do babies start walking?

Many babies take their first independent steps around their first birthday, but anywhere from about 9 to 18 months can be normal. By 12 months, the CDC milestone is walking while holding on to furniture.

Why are baby walkers not recommended?

The AAP recommends against mobile baby walkers because they cause injuries, especially falls down stairs, and don't help babies learn to walk. Stationary activity centers and push toys are safer options.

Sources

  1. Milestones by 1 Year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  2. Baby Walkers: A Dangerous Choice, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
  3. Choking Prevention for Babies and Children, AAP (HealthyChildren.org)

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.