Your Baby’s Development. What Most Babies do at 9 Months:

Social/Emotional

  • May be afraid of strangers
  • May be clingy with familiar adults
  • Has favorite toys

Language

  • Understands “no”
  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mama” and “babababa”
  • Copies sounds and movements of others
  • Uses fingers to point at things

Learning/Thinking

  • Watches the path of something as it falls
  • Looks for things he sees you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Puts things in his/her mouth
  • Moves things easily from one hand to the other
  • Picks up things like cereal between thumb and index finger

Movement/Physical Growth

  • Stands, holding on
  • Can get into sitting position
  • Sits with no support
  • Pulls to stand
  • Crawls

Talk to your child’s doctor if your baby:

  • Does not bear weight on legs with support
  • Does not sit with help
  • Does not babble
  • Does not respond to own name
  • Does not recognize familiar people
  • Does not look where you point
  • Does not transfer toys from one hand to the other

All children develop at their own pace, so try not to compare your child to others.  If you ever have concerns, make sure to bring them up to your child’s provider.  If your baby was born premature, he/she will be on a different developmental milestone path.  This is a great thing to discuss with baby’s provider at the 9-month visit!

Source: cdc.gov