Parenting Tips for Your 11 Month Old Baby

Try to give your baby things to play with that will give her many learning opportunities. Make available:

• Things or toys that encourage movement, such as push/pull toys, balls

• Toys with pieces that fit together, such as shape boxes, simple puzzles, blocks, stacking rings, nesting bowls

• Toys that require pressure to put together or take apart, such as bristle blocks, pop beads, rubber puzzles, pegboards, plastic pegs

• Things with varied textures, such as textured rattles, balls, blocks, fuzzy puppets

• Toys that make noise, such as musical toys, rattles, squeaky toys

• Toys that involve cause-and-effect relationships, such as windup toys, busy boxes

• Toys with hidden parts, such as a jack-in-the-box

• Toys that encourage talking, such as toy telephones, puppets

• Things that encourage pretending, such as play dishes, picnic supplies, hats, dolls, cardboard boxes

• Things for cuddling, such as stuffed dolls and toys

Even the best toys are better when you and your child play with them together. Infants need time to play alone, but they also need your praise and assistance.