Month 11

Purpose of Toys for an 11-Month-Old Baby

At eleven months, babies are on the cusp of a major milestone: walking. They are also becoming adept at communicating and are learning by imitating the world around them. The toys for this stage are chosen to support early walking, pointing, and mimicking.

Push Walker with Activities

A push walker is an essential toy for this age. It provides a baby with the stability and support they need as they practice taking their first steps. Many push walkers also come with a front panel of interactive activities, such as spinners, buttons, and lights, that encourage a baby to stand and play, further strengthening their leg and core muscles in preparation for walking.

Pretend Phone

Babies at this age are great mimics. A pretend phone allows them to imitate you, “talking” on the phone just like they see you do. This simple act of imitation is a crucial part of social and cognitive development. It also helps to develop their fine motor skills as they press buttons and hold the phone to their ear.

Sensory Bins (with supervision)

Sensory bins, filled with safe, engaging materials like shredded paper, scarves, or large pasta, are fantastic for an 11-month-old. They can practice their pincer grasp as they pick up and examine the different items. This type of play encourages a baby to explore with their hands and satisfies their natural curiosity. Always supervise your baby closely during sensory bin play to ensure their safety.

Lift-the-Flap Books

Lift-the-flap books are a staple for this age, as they support the development of fine motor skills and problem-solving. Babies love to lift the flaps to reveal what’s underneath, which reinforces the concept of object permanence. These books also encourage your baby to use their pointing finger, which is a key milestone in communication as they learn to show you what they are interested in.