Social skills advance during a baby's eleventh month of life. There is an increased awareness of approval and disapproval. Imitation is more intentional, polished, and useful for learning. Babies this age still have a strong dependency on their mothers. They tend to follow mom constantly around all day and imitate her behaviors and actions. An attachment to fathers emerges. Baby boys really like roughhousing with dad and begin relating to his masculine identity. Eleven month old babies tend to shake their heads and say "no" to everything--even when they mean "yes". They know what being good and being naughty are. Babies will test their parents' "no" by teasing and bothering them for the response. New growth and developmental milestones occur by the end of 11 months.

The 11-month-old's motor skills may include:
* Standing alone and maybe walking alone.
* Climbing up stairs.
* Squatting and stooping independently.
* Scribbling with crayons.
* Transferring a spoon to the mouth.

The 11-month-old's language skills may include:
* Speaking in gibberish while making a few clear sounds.
* Imitating speech rhythms, inflections, and facial expressions.
* Relating words to symbols, for example, he may speak the word "doggie" and then make a growling sound.

The 11-month-old's mental abilities may include:
* Exploring containers and their contents.
* Increasing imitation behaviors.
* Turning pages in a book and looking at the pictures.
* Exploring ways to achieve a goal.

The 11-month-old's social traits include:
* Obeying commands.
* Seeking approval and avoiding disapproval.
* Refusing forceful teaching.
* Showing guilt at doing something wrong.

Walkers can be dangerous and are not recommended for helping babies walk. When ready, babies will focus their energy on learning to walk. Keep your baby safe from accidents or injury. Be sure your home is baby-proofed. Store prized possessions, or place them out of the baby's reach. Cover electrical outlets and be observant when the baby is around electrical cords. Encourage the baby's exploration of her world.

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