9 Months Old Baby Development & Milestones
At 9 months old, your baby is continuing to make significant strides in their growth and development. Physically, many babies now crawl confidently, using their hands and knees to move around. They may start pulling themselves up to stand with support and are also exhibiting enhanced fine motor skills, may be able to pick up smaller objects with a pincer grip, such as tiny objects and pieces of food.
On the communication front things get very exciting as well. Their babbling would have intensified and more varied too with possibly the first intentional sounds like “dada” or “mama,” even if not yet tied to specific meanings. You would notice they are becoming more interactive, engaging in games like peek-a-boo or waving.
Many babies now eat a wider variety of solid foods and may be exploring different textures, while some may be transitioning to drinking from a cup. Sleep is also more predictable and follows a schedule.
9th Month Milestones
9th month marks a huge milestone as many babies now are able to sit unassited, may be able to pull to stand, communication is better, would be moving around the house (crawling, scooting) more confidently. There is massive growth emotionally, socially and cognitively. Let us dive into the individual miletsones this month.
Sitting Up
By 9 months of age babies should be able to sit independently without any support. They may have used their hands to stabilize themselves before, but by now they would have developed better balance and can sit without leaning forward or to the sides. This opens up a whole new world, allowing them to interact with their environment from a more upright position and engage in activities like reaching for toys, playing, and exploring. It strengthens their core muscles and improves their ability to move and transition between positions, such as from sitting to crawling and future miletsones like standing and walking.
Crawling
If your baby has not already rolled from back to stomach and vice versa they will master the skill this month, remember to baby proof the house. Don't panic if your baby is not there yet as every baby is different and reaches milestones at their own pace. If you still worried talk to your pedeatrician.
Pull to Stand
Pull to stand is an important milestone for your baby and an exciting sign of your baby's growing strength and coordination. Your baby may already be doing it or would be anytime soon so be on the look out. Your baby is developing stronger muscles, especially in their legs and core, and improving their balance and coordination. It also sets the foundation for future milestones like cruising (walking while holding onto furniture) and eventually taking their first independent steps.
While pulling to stand is a big achievement, babies at this age are wobbly and may still need assistance to maintain their balance, they will gradually learn to lower themselves back to the floor safely until then be on a look out for any accidental falls here and there
Pincer Grasp
The pincer grasp is an important developmental milestone that typically emerges around 9 months of age, where a baby is able to pick up small objects using their thumb and index finger, much like how adults hold a pen or pick up a tiny object. It marks a significant improvement in fine motor development and hand-eye coordination compared to before where they would scoop objects into their hands using their whole fist.
The pincer grasp allows babies to explore and manipulate their environment more precisely, which is especially important as they begin to self-feed and interact with small toys and objects. Don't expect them to be perfect and skilled like adults right away that takes lot of practice over the coming months to years. But it is a start and a crucial milestone in your child's life. If your child is not doing this yet, thats normal too and may develop this skill any time between the 9 - 12 months of age.
Feeding Routine
By 9 months of age your baby would have already tried a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and more. They have have developed preferences for certain foods as well. This is the time to gradually swap milk feeds with solids during the day when your baby is more alert and willing to try. Solids should be given first at every meal time and supplemented with milk as required after the solids. Give them lots of finger food that they can try. Cut tiny pea size pieces of fruits, boiled vegetables, hard boiled egg, tofu, paneer, pasta or cooked shredded soft meat.
Milk is still a major part of the baby's diet at 9 months of age with about 24 -32 ounces or 700 - 950ml of milk each day still being consumed. Slowly as your baby ages the appetite for milk comes down and can be swaped with solids for major part.
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Sleep Routine
Your baby will still continue to clock about 14 hours of sleep each day including 2 naps each day. Sleep by now is in a set attern with around 9 to 10 hours of sleep at night and 2 naps during the day.
Sleep disturbances is also not uncommon with your baby who used to sleep through the night may get up now frequently due to teething, seperation anxiety or just milestone related changes in pattern. All this is normal and should resolves in a couple of weeks on its own. Key is to continue to follow a consistent night time schedule so your baby knows its time to sleep and is not overtired.
Height & Weight
The average weight for nine months old baby girl is around 8.2kg and height of 27.5 inches.
The average weight of nine months old boy is around 8.9kg and height of about 28.3inches.
On an average babies grow 2 pounds or around 1kg in weight and about an inch in height each month until 6 months of age and half a kg and half and inch here on till 12 months of age. Every child is unique and so is their growth rate so don't be alarmed if they are not close to these numbers as some babies may be above the average numbers and some take longer based on how much they feed, how often they feed, if they had a low birth weight or were premature or had any illnesses. Know that it is normal to fluctuate a little from the normal at this age, talk to your doctor about your concerns.
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9th Month Doctor's Visit
There may not be any vaccinations this month, unless you are catching up on any missed ones or your Doctor recommends some based on the season and situation. Your Doctor or the Nurse will also perform a complete thorough physical exam, checking your baby from head to toe for any rashes, infections, or anamolies. They take your baby's height, weight and head measurements and map them against the growth chart to track progress and check if they fall within the normal range.
The doctor will enquire about the baby's feeding pattern, solids intake, sleep, bowl movements, any signs of fussiness or distress. Now would be the right time for you to bring up all your concerns however small so you can be at peace knowing everything is fine. They may recommend food groups to try, how to feed, how to wean, and caring for your baby's teeth as they begin to appear.