👶 Older baby
Your 11-month-old baby
Standing solo and getting ready to walk
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Development at 11 months
Eleven-month-olds may stand alone for a few seconds and take steps holding your hands. They follow simple instructions ("give me the ball"), enjoy copying household tasks, and communicate wants clearly with sounds and gestures.
Feeding
Your baby can eat most of what the family eats, cut safely and without added salt or sugar. Encourage using a cup and (messily) a spoon. Milk feeds naturally reduce as solids increase.
Sleep
Some babies drop towards one longer nap over the coming months, but two naps is still common at 11 months. Consistency around bedtime remains your best tool.
Play & connection
Push-along walkers (the sturdy toy kind, not baby "walker" seats, which are not recommended), stacking and simple pretend play all suit this age. Clapping and action songs are favourites.
Focus this month
Resist comparing your baby's walking timeline to others — anywhere from about 9 to 18 months is a normal range for first independent steps.
When to check in
Mention it to your health visitor if your baby is not pulling to stand, not using any gestures to communicate, or is not babbling in strings of sounds.
Your 11-month-old baby: common questions
What should a 11-month-old baby be doing?
Eleven-month-olds may stand alone for a few seconds and take steps holding your hands. They follow simple instructions ("give me the ball"), enjoy copying household tasks, and communicate wants clearly with sounds and gestures. Remember this is a typical range — healthy babies reach milestones at very different times.
How much should a 11-month-old baby sleep?
Some babies drop towards one longer nap over the coming months, but two naps is still common at 11 months. Consistency around bedtime remains your best tool.
What should I feed a 11-month-old baby?
Your baby can eat most of what the family eats, cut safely and without added salt or sugar. Encourage using a cup and (messily) a spoon. Milk feeds naturally reduce as solids increase.
Sources & further reading
- Baby — development and milestones — NHS Start for Life
- Safer sleep advice — The Lullaby Trust
This is general information, not medical advice — every baby develops differently and the ranges here are typical, not targets. Your health visitor and the NHS red book are your personal sources of truth. If you're ever worried about your baby's development, health or feeding, speak to your health visitor or GP. Reviewed July 2026.