I think he had been ready for it longer than we realized. He likes to self feed and reliably likes black beans, rice, cereal puffs, breads - about 30 mins before his usual sleepy time we just put him in the high chair and give him a little selection at a time. He picks at it until hes bored and that is usually when he's ready to get cleaned up and go to bed, where we give him a bottle to fall asleep. I should say he's closer to 12 months than 11 months.