10-11 Months

If lactating you should have a good routine down by now with how feedings go. Your baby will have become more efficient at removing the milk so feedings may become shorter periods of time. They may well be more mobile, meaning you may feel more like a step stool for a gymnastics routine rather than the sweet cuddle session it used to be. For most babies this age, their curiosity is growing, and your baby is able to move faster than before. An interesting and safe environment can help babies at this age keep learning. This means they may be distracted at the breast often removing or twisting away at any given moment. If you feel like its getting out of hand, you can always try removing distractions by moving to a dim lighted and quiet space if there is one available.

Development wise, most babies this age respond to simple verbal requests. Your baby might become skilled at gestures, such as shaking the head no or waving bye-bye. Expect your baby's babbling to take on a new tone and evolve to words such as "dada" and "mama." You might hear certain exclamations, such as "uh-oh!" Talk to your baby whenever you can and give your child a chance to reply. Using adult speech, not baby talk, teaches your baby to imitate words correctly. And using all the languages your family speaks helps your child learn them at the same time. Praise your baby for good choices. Steer your baby away from unsafe situations. Use a calm no if your baby hurts others. Explain calmly why the action isn't OK, and then redirect your baby's attention.