Milestones: Your Baby at Nine Months
Nine months already. Where has the time gone?
Here are nine-month milestones from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC. Milestones are cues that your child’s development is on track. We also discuss delays you can look into for this age as well.
Social Skills
They know what they like. At nine months, your baby has favorite toys and favorite people. So much so that they may be a bit clingy with their caregivers and shy around strangers. They imitate people in play. They also do things just to see what will happen and how you will respond, so get ready for some grabbing and dropping.
Language Skills
At nine months, your baby is making lots of different sounds, and also copies the sounds and gestures of those around them. They are able to point things out with their fingers. And they now know what you mean by “no.”
Movement Skills
Your baby is sitting up like a pro, and can even get into sit position by themself. They may not be able to stand on their own quite yet, but they can pull up to stand and stay up by holding onto furniture. They are definitely on the move! Your baby can crawl forward and even start walking while holding onto furniture.
Cognitive Skills
Have you tried playing peek-a-boo with your little one yet? At this age, they love peek-a-boo and looking for things you hide. They now have a better understanding of how to correctly use objects (not everything is for eating?). Your baby is able to gracefully move items from one hand to another, and be able to use their thumb and index finger to pick up small things, like cereal. They are keenly interested in watching the path of objects as they fall, so expect them to knock a few things over. Your baby can now look at the correct pictures when named, so be sure to read lots of books together.
Delays to Look Out For
Starting at 9 months old, your baby is screened for general development using standardized, validated tools by your pediatrician. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, here are delays to watch out for at this age:
- Doesn’t bear weight on legs with support
- Doesn’t sit with help
- Doesn’t babble
- Doesn’t respond to their own name
- Doesn’t recognize familiar people
- Doesn’t look where you point
- Doesn’t transfer toys from one hand to the other, or engage in back-and-forth play
If your child is showing signs of delays, your pediatrician will help you make a plan for therapy services and other needed support. Our mission at Books and Rattles, Inc. is to help families with children at all developmental levels. We are here to help your baby grow and thrive.
