Week 45: Babbling, Balancing, and Big Feelings
At 45 weeks — just a couple of weeks shy of 11 months — your baby is full of energy, noise, and emotion. They might be taking steps with support, babbling nonstop, or melting down when a toy rolls under the couch.
It’s a week of communication breakthroughs and emotional intensity. Your baby is more expressive than ever — and needs you just as much as ever.
Development
This week, your baby might:
Stand briefly without support
Cruise with speed or start pivoting between furniture
Attempt a first step (or seem close but not quite)
Stack, bang, or purposefully place objects
In terms of communication:
Babbling may sound more speech-like: “dadada,” “mamama,” or “uh-oh”
You may hear early word approximations tied to context
They may point, gesture, or look expectantly at you to share attention
They begin to understand simple routines, requests, and questions
There’s a lot going on behind those bright eyes — and it’s all building toward language, independence, and emotional depth.
Sleep
Sleep may be:
Impacted by separation anxiety, especially at bedtime
Disrupted by new skills (pulling to stand, attempting steps)
A little inconsistent while your baby processes a developmental leap
You can help by:
Offering soothing, predictable bedtime routines
Providing comfort if they wake needing reassurance
Giving them time and space to wind down — it can take longer this week
There’s no need to “fix” this. Gentle, responsive support helps them move through it more securely.
Feeding
You might see:
A growing desire to self-feed with a spoon
Refusals or dramatic opinions about food temperature or texture
Teething-related disruptions to appetite or feeding enthusiasm
Offer:
A variety of familiar and new foods, without pressure
Opportunities to eat with you — your baby is learning how food fits into life
Ongoing breastfeeding as needed — still vital for nutrition and comfort
At this age, how your baby eats matters just as much as what they eat.
Play and Interaction
Play is now a two-way street:
Your baby initiates games and routines
They may laugh before the “punchline” of peekaboo — they know it’s coming
They repeat sounds or gestures to make you respond
They look for your reaction — and might try to make you laugh
Encourage this by:
Following their lead in play
Using rich, expressive language to describe what you’re both doing
Allowing space to respond — conversation can happen without words
This is where relationship and learning intertwine. You are your baby’s favourite playmate.
Top Tip of the Week
“Babies learn to talk by being talked with — not just talked to.”
Real Life Reflections
Your baby’s emotions may feel big and unpredictable right now. They may throw themselves on the floor when frustrated, then burst out laughing a minute later.
You’re not doing anything wrong. These swings are part of brain development — they’re learning how to feel, how to react, and how to return to calm.
Your job isn’t to prevent the feelings. It’s to be their steady place while they learn what to do with them. And you're doing beautifully.
Looking Ahead
In the coming weeks, you may see:
A first independent step
Stronger preferences and opinions
Attempts at early words or signs
More frustration as understanding grows faster than communication
Every wobble and babble is a step closer to toddlerhood. You’re right where you need to be.
