Month 11 - BimBubble

The 11th month

You and your baby are already entering the home straight of the first year. It’s amazing how quickly time flies – at least most of the time! Perhaps your baby is showing an increased need for closeness again. What may look like a step backwards is actually a side effect of increasing independence. Your baby is about to take their first steps on their own, or has already done so. This is also a big deal emotionally and can unsettle the baby. All the more reason for them to seek closeness and protection again: mum and dad are there for me.

The 11th month in brief

Your child will become more and more independent – and may show a stronger need for closeness and security as a result.
They can already do a lot on their own, but some things still don’t work as desired. This can frustrate your baby and lead to initial reactions of defiance.
After the “scissor grip”, your child can now practise the “tweezer grip” and pick up small things such as peas.
Movement is still a favourite pastime and most babies love an obstacle course made of pillows.
Your baby will imitate you in all kinds of situations. Use that curiosity and involve them in your everyday activities as often as possible.

Frustration is natural

Your baby can already communicate their needs better and point to things they want or simply get them on their own. They may even be able to string a few syllables together, say simple words and tell you what they want. However, as independence increases, so does frustration: your baby is not yet able to do everything they want to do. They often already know relatively precisely what they want and what they don’t want. And if it doesn’t work out, strong emotions ensue. These can overwhelm the child, and they may already be showing the first signs of defiance. You can support the baby by taking their feelings seriously and guiding them through them – which doesn’t mean always giving in and fulfilling the child’s every wish.

Obstacle course in the living room

Now that your baby has perfected the “scissor grip”, they will also practise the “tweezer grip”: They try to grasp smaller objects with the index finger and fingers without using the whole finger, but only their fingertips. If you look at pictures from a few months ago, you will notice that your baby’s head is not that big compared to their body. Many babies lose a bit of their baby fat during this time and really stretch out. No wonder, they are constantly moving! A crawling course made of cushions – preferably with a tunnel between the sofa and table – will keep your baby wonderfully entertained and allow them to let off steam.

Discovery moment of the month: “Being there is everything”

You are under constant observation and your baby will imitate everything possible. It’s quite possible that they will be much more interested in what you are doing at the moment than in their toys. Utilise this curiosity and involve your child in your activities as often as possible. This teaches the child to feel part of the community and strengthens their bond with you. You can give them a cloth to clean with, let them put laundry in the washing machine or let them “cook” with empty plastic dishes.

BimBubble tip

The first year of your baby’s life is slowly coming to an end. Perhaps you can take some time this month to reflect on the past year. Because next month will be all about the birthday. You can look at photos, or perhaps start creating a photo album or write down your thoughts and feelings in a notebook. And above all, you should take time to recognise your achievements over the last few months. You can be proud of what you have achieved!