More and more every day, you'll notice your baby doing things he couldn't do before. Once he turns 9 months old, you'll see him pull himself up to a standing position. He'll do so by gripping to the side of his crib or by holding on to your hands, but before you know it, he'll be testing out his wobbly knees with a few steps!
But first, take note:- Wait until the end of 9 months before observing your baby for his 9-month-old milestones. Every child is different. Some reach their milestones earlier, and others a little later.
- Make sure your baby is well-rested and fed. Some of the items on this list may require you and your baby to engage in simple activities. Fussiness may make it harder to get accurate observations.
- Talk to your child’s doctor at every well-baby visit about the milestones your child has reached. Always consult with a pediatrician who will address your concerns and be able to inform you on what to expect next.
What other parents are reading
With guidance from Special Education teacher Joji Reynes-Santos, and based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (a tool used by pediatricians for screening a child's development), below are developmental milestones most babies reach by 9 months old:
Physical development- can pull herself up to stand
- stands on her own while holding on to something
- sits without support
- can get into a sitting position on her own
- crawls
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWCognitive or mental development
- looks for things she sees you hide (e.g. a toy placed inside a box)
- passes a toy from one hand to the other
- can pick up a small object with her thumb and pointer finger
- plays peek-a-boo
- pokes objects
- likes to bang objects (e.g. bangs spoon on his plate)
Social and emotional development
- has favorite toys
- may be afraid of strangers
- may be clingy with familiar adults
- may offer you a toy when you hold out your hand to ask for it
Language and communication development
- makes a lot of different sounds like “ba-ba-ba” or “da-da-da”
- tries to copy sounds and gestures of others
- points at things using his finger
- understands “no” and may be able to follow simple commands like “come here”
Red flags
Children develop at different rates, says the AAP. There may be nothing to worry about. However, it’s important you still bring up any red flag concerns with a pediatrician. According to the CDC, talk to your child’s doctor if your 9-month-old baby:- doesn't babble
- doesn't look where you point
- doesn't sit with help or bare weight on legs with support
- doesn't respond to own name
- doesn't show interest in games like peek-a-boo
- doesn't recognize familiar people
- doesn't transfer toys from one hand to the other
What other parents are reading
Playing with your baby to boost development
1. Talk to your baby and have “conversations”
Narrate everything you do with your baby -- when you're giving her a bath, preparing her food, dressing her up, etc. She loves listening to you talk. Have conversations too. Say or ask her something (don't be limited to yes or no questions) and wait for her to babble back. Sing songs together as well!
2. Use a lot of gestures
As young as 9 months old, babies can already understand gestures. When you extend your pointer finger, your baby already knows that you are trying to show her something. Other common gestures you can do include: holding out a hand to ask for an object, nodding, shaking (which means “no”) and waving (as a greeting for “hello” and “goodbye”).
3. Make up games
You've probably already exhausted playing peek-a-boo and the itsy-bitsy spider, so, make up your own games. Take cups to play with at bath time. Stack blocks and let your baby knock them down. Find more great ideas here.
4. Teach cause and effect
By now, your baby might be able to understand cause and effect or how a few things work. When you press a button on her toy, music comes on and you can dance to the tune. Show her that when you squeeze a stuffed doll's tummy, it giggles. “Self-confidence will grow as your baby realizes he or she can make things happen,” says the Mayo Clinic.
5. Keep reading
“Reading aloud is one of the simplest ways to boost your baby's language development,” says the Mayo Clinic, so keep at it! Make sure there’s always a time in your day when you and baby have storytime. It’s not just the words that help either. The act of reading aloud -- using different emotions and expressive sounds -- fosters social and emotional development too.
Sources: CDC, AAP, Mayo Clinic, Ages and StagesCONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now
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