to get really fed up with 'milestones'

[OgglePoggle]

"At 11 months, your baby should be cruising around while holding onto the furniture or your hands. He might even let go of your hands to try out a few tentative steps alone. Some babies at this age experiment by standing on their toes or on one leg."
Um. No, doesn't even stand on his own. Or crawl. He bumshuffles.

"As your baby?s hand-eye coordination improves, he?ll enjoy learning how things work by arranging toys by size and color as well as taking them apart and putting them back together."
Oh, no again.

"Your baby should be feeding himself by now, either with fingers or a spoon."
Fingers yes. Spoon, no chance.

"When you name something like the family dog your baby can point at it."
Guess what? No, again!

"Encourage your baby to start becoming more independent while dressing, eating, and getting ready for bed."
?!

So, I know there are variations. But as a first time mum, I find these utterly disheartening and sometimes downright worrying. Everyone says there are ranges, but milestones always seem to be at the more advanced end of 'normal'. Almost every place I see milestones is like this.

AIBU or should they be a bit more aware of the other end of the scale and not scare us so much?

I completely understand what some of you are saying about not delaying but I do think the milestones the OP has read are somewhat advanced for the average baby of the ages given. I know I, and my children, would all have missed them but maybe it's worth a chat with your HV (or other local mothers with children the same age - much more helpful in my experience!) to allay fears or decide it's worth pursuing.

I do think the examples the OP gives are a bit of a stretch, but on the whole I'd rather be sounding the alarm, getting checked out and finding it's nothing than leaving it too late.

Having said that, my DDs did feed themselves with a spoon at 11 months, but only if the liberal application of food to eyebrows and hair counts.