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How to take care of 9 month old baby


Caring For Your 9 Month Old Baby

It may seem hard to believe, but three-quarters of your baby’s first year has come and gone. You’ve given them plenty of love and TLC, and now you’ve got a happy, healthy, precocious, and energetic 9 month old baby on your hands. What could be better?

But each month of growth brings new changes for your baby, and the nine-month mark is no exception. So what can you expect from your 9 month old baby? What should you look for in regard to growth, motor skills, and sleeping habits? Will there be any changes from last month?

In this article, the baby experts at Mustela will answer those questions and tell you everything you need to know to continue providing the very best care for your 9 month old baby. Along the way, we’ll discuss such topics as:

  • Speech production
  • Language recognition
  • Growth
  • Emotions
  • Development of fine motor skills

We’ll also talk about feeding and sleeping habits, immunizations, when to visit the doctor, general childcare tips, how to stay well as a parent, and much more.

Caring For Your 9 Month Old Baby

It wasn’t too long ago that your baby was completely dependent on you for everything. All they could do was sleep, eat, and dirty up a diaper. While your 9 month old baby certainly still does those things, they’re now able to do so much more too.

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Development

Brain

At nine months, your baby’s brain and body are growing by leaps and bounds. Their brain is working in high gear to form trillions of tiny connections (synapses) that will assist them in learning all about the world around them.

What can you do to help? Provide a stimulating environment for them to explore. Include plenty of toys that:

  • Are brightly colored
  • Exhibit unique textures
  • Make baby-friendly sounds
  • Move easily (e.g., cars, Weebles, dolls)

Above all, don’t forget about how important you, the parent, are to your baby’s development. No amount of expensive toys can replace the stimulation of reading, singing, and talking to your little one every day.

Body

Similarly, your 9 month old baby’s body is going to continue changing dramatically in the weeks ahead. Babies of this age literally grow overnight thanks to an increase in growth hormones released while they sleep.

Depending on your baby, you may need to start dressing them in the next size up. That said, some babies may not need new clothes and can get along with the same items they’ve been wearing since month seven.

Either way, don’t be alarmed. Every baby grows at their own rate. As long as your little one is happy, energetic, and still gaining weight (even in small increments), there’s nothing to worry about.

Language

Be on the lookout for your 9 month old baby’s first word. Up to this point, the noises your baby makes may just sound like babble. But around the ninth month, you may start to recognize words like:

  • Mama
  • Dada
  • Hi
  • Bye

In addition to making their own words, your 9 month old baby may be able to understand more of your words. If you ask a simple question like, “Where’s the ball?” or, “Where’s the cat?”, your little one may go pick up or point to that item.

Baby Massage For Development

 

If you haven’t been giving your little one baby massages, now is the perfect time to start!

Baby massages can help calm your little one, promote sleep, and provide a great bonding experience for the two of you. But the great thing is that giving your baby a massage can also aid their development!

Massaging your baby can help with both mental and physical development because it increases their awareness of body position and movement and gets their muscles moving and blood circulating.

But the benefits of baby massage don’t stop there! Narrate the massage as you go and you’ll also help boost your baby’s language skills.

To learn about different types of baby massages and how to give them, read our article here.

And don’t forget to use a safe, natural oil, like Mustela’s Baby Oil, so you can moisturize your baby’s skin while massaging.

This hypoallergenic oil is composed of 99% plant-based ingredients and is free of parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol. Plus, it’s enriched with an elixir of pomegranate seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil.

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Senses

By nine months, your baby’s five senses (smell, taste, sight, touch, hearing) should be completely developed. That’s not to say that they won’t change over the coming months and years, but, at this point, your baby should be able to react to all forms of stimulation.

Perception

Where you may notice some change in your 9 month old baby is in their perception. Specifically, in their ability to perceive your emotions. Some babies will even try to make you smile and laugh at times by bringing you their favorite toy or making funny sounds.

Be positive and reassuring even when your little one is learning new skills. And don’t let your anxiety interfere with your 9 month old baby’s need to explore.

Anticipation

Your 9 month old baby’s memory has come a long way since birth. Your little one can now anticipate when something will happen. One of the first things they begin anticipating is you leaving the vicinity.

When this happens, your child’s mood may suddenly change. This is due to the separation anxiety that develops around month seven. And with an increase in anticipation abilities, your baby may notice when you’re getting ready to leave.

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Your 9 month old baby’s fine motor skills will continue to develop over the course of the next month. This comes in two forms:

  • Picking up smaller items than before
  • Coordinating movements with both hands at the same time

Encourage these skills by providing both small (but baby-safe) and large toys for your baby to handle. The small toys will help with grasping, and the large toys will help with coordination.

Standing

Around this time, your 9 month old baby may start to experiment with standing instead of crawling. They’ll use stationary objects (a table, your legs) to pull themselves into a standing position.

Your little one won’t be able to do much beyond that without support, but you can encourage exploration of this skill by holding them up and helping them toddle around.

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Feeding Habits

Food

With the improvement in your 9 month old baby’s fine motor skills, they can handle smaller food on their own. Similarly, as their baby teeth continue to come in, they’ll be able to chew more solid foods.

Cereals and teething biscuits provide nutritional benefits and give your baby the opportunity to practice picking up small objects and moving them to their mouth. Just be sure to avoid feeding your little one foods that won’t quickly dissolve in their mouth.

Drink

You can also encourage the development of your 9 month old baby’s feeding habits by providing them with a sippy cup and a spoon during meals. This is a great time to start weaning your little one off the bottle and replacing it with a sippy cup.

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Sleeping Habits

Bedtime

By nine months, your baby’s sleeping habits should stabilize. They may take fewer naps, and they should be able to sleep through the night barring any extenuating circumstances, like teething or an illness.

You can encourage good sleeping habits by establishing a regular bedtime, including a special routine, for your 9 month old baby. Gather up a cuddly blanket or stuffed animal, sit down in a comfy chair, and read your baby’s favorite book before bed.

Expert tip: If your little one suffers from eczema or sensitive skin, try dressing them in our Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas. These 100% cotton pajamas deliver skin-soothing moisture so your baby can sleep soundly all night long!

Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Immunizations

There are no immunizations recommended for your 9 month old baby as long as they have had their two-, four-, and six-month round of shots. The next set of immunizations doesn’t come until the 12-month mark.

To encourage the development of your 9 month old baby’s immune system, stop sterilizing bottles, cups, and dishes. You’ll still wash them thoroughly with hot water and soap. But by nine months, you don’t have to take the extra step to sterilize everything.

General Childcare Tips

Diaper Changing

Your nine month old is still in diapers — and will be for quite some time. Whether you’re using cloth diapers or disposable diapers, keep up the good work! Keep your baby’s bottom clean, and apply a soothing diaper cream to ward off irritation and diaper rash.

Reach for Mustela’s Cleansing Wipes to gently and effectively clean your baby’s bottom (hint: you can also use these wipes to give your baby’s face or body a wipe-down!). These hypoallergenic wipes are specifically formulated for babies’ delicate skin.

When it comes to a natural, safe, and effective diaper cream, turn to Mustela’s Diaper Rash Cream 1 2 3 or our Environmental Working Group Verified Diaper Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe.

Both are free of parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol and contain zinc oxide to soothe and protect your baby’s skin.

We also recommend our Liniment, which is made with olive oil to moisturize and protect your little one’s diaper area naturally!

Babyproofing Your Home

With a nine month old, you’ve probably got a mobile baby on your hands! It’s around this time when babies start to crawl, though keep in mind that not all babies crawl by nine months. If yours isn’t, don’t fret.

Regardless, your baby is probably getting places by rolling, crawling, pulling up, or scooting around. And within just a few months, you’ll probably have a crawling, standing, and walking little one.

That means it’s time to get serious about babyproofing! Here are some tips for making your home a safe place for a baby on the move:

  • Lower your baby’s crib mattress as they grow so that they can’t pull up and fall out of the crib.
  • Keep the crib out of reach of cords, blinds, curtains, and the like.
  • Raise curtains, tablecloths, and blinds so your baby can’t pull on them.
  • Cover electrical outlets throughout your home.
  • Keep small objects out of your baby’s reach. This includes magnets on the fridge as well objects on low shelves or tables.
  • Use safety locks on any drawers and cabinets that contain dangerous items.
  • Install baby gates on stairs and fireplaces.
  • Put a childproof lock on the toilet as well as any trash cans that your little one can reach.

For a more complete guide to babyproofing, check out our article here.

All of that being said, keep in mind that your baby is not only starting to experiment with words, but they are also beginning to understand what you say. Begin to correct your baby with a gentle “No” when they are about to do something they shouldn’t.

Bath Time

The older your baby gets the more interactive they become, and you may find that bath time turns more and more into playtime! Make it both fun and good for their skin with Mustela’s Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath.

Our biodegradable baby bubble bath formula is composed of 88% plant-based ingredients including marine extracts to help maintain the skin's water balance, cornflower extract to soften skin, and our signature Avocado Perseose to help protect and hydrate.

In addition to this bubble bath, add other natural and gentle products to your bathtime routine. Keep your baby clean with our Organic Cleansing Gel with Olive Oil and Aloe or, for babies with eczema-prone skin, use our Stelatopia baby skincare line.

And, of course, hydrate your baby’s skin after the bath with a lotion like Mustela’s Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe or Hydra Bebe Body Lotion.

Playtime

Playing is not just a way for your baby to pass the time. It’s a way for them to learn about the world around them, and it helps with their physical, mental, and emotional development. Spend time interacting and playing with your little one.

At nine months old, playtime can include reading a book (encourage your baby to help you turn the pages), clapping and imitating your facial expressions or movements, dropping toys in a bucket, crawling through an “obstacle course,” and anything else that strikes your baby’s fancy!

Make sure they have plenty of opportunities to practice standing, crawling, and moving around. As long as your little one doesn’t get too frustrated, you can try holding them up to help them experiment with walking, too.

Around nine months is when you’ll notice your baby starting to discover the pincer grasp — using the thumb and pointer finger to pick up small items. There are a few activities you can prepare for your little one to help them develop this skill.

 

Pincer Grasp Activities

First of all, when your baby munches on finger foods like cereal, they’ll automatically get some practice with the pincer grasp as they pick up the small pieces of food.

If you want to set up an activity for your baby, try stuffing socks into a ball with large holes. Let your baby pick the socks out one by one.

You can also give your baby more pincer grasp practice by placing small items in the cups of an egg carton. Show your baby how to pick them out and put them back in. Just remember to supervise your baby closely and use items that they can’t choke on.

Similarly, you could collect several small toys and let your baby drop them into a bucket.

Naptime And Bedtime

If your baby is a good sleeper, enjoy it and take advantage of the chance to get some shuteye yourself! Just keep in mind that some babies go through a sleep regression around eight to 10 months of age.

Read more about understanding (and surviving!) sleep regressions here.

If you already have a bedtime routine, stick to it! If not, now is a good time to start. Why is a bedtime routine a good idea?

Doing the same activities in the same order each night helps your baby (and their body) realize that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. This can make bedtime and nighttime smoother for everyone.

Your baby’s bedtime routine should suit your family. It could include a diaper change, a baby massage, putting pajamas on, cuddling and reading a book, a song, or a goodnight kiss. It’s also a good idea to dim the lights before you start getting your little one ready for bed.

Staying Well As A Parent

 

Although you’ve been parenting for nine months, it can still be tiring and overwhelming at times. Remember to take care of yourself in the midst of all the dirty diapers, pediatrician visits, bottles, and breastfeeding sessions!

You might not have as many sleepless nights as you did when you had a newborn on your hands. But it’s still important to get as much rest as possible in order to keep up with a more energetic and mobile 9 month old baby!

In addition to resting, take care of your body by staying active, doing what you can to eat a balanced diet, and caring for your skin. If your baby is still nursing, ease discomfort, moisturize, and protect your nipples with Mustela’s Nursing Comfort Balm.

Enriched with vitamin E to nourish and protect your skin, our vegan, fragrance-free, and dye-free formula is made with 100% naturally derived ingredients so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin.

When it comes to caring for your mental and emotional health, take stock of how you’re doing and what you need.

Some new parents might need a walk outside, a new hobby, quality time with friends, or a good book. For others, caring for mental health might mean asking for help or seeking professional counseling or therapy.

When To Be Concerned

If your 9 month old baby starts to exhibit any of the below behaviors, visit your pediatrician right away:

  • Doesn’t bear weight on their legs even with support
  • Doesn’t respond to their name
  • Doesn’t sit even with help
  • Doesn’t look where you point
  • Doesn’t babble
  • Doesn’t transfer objects from one hand to the other

Similarly, if your 9 month old baby develops a cold, talk to your doctor if the following symptoms persist:

  • Change in appetite
  • Abrupt changes in behavior
  • Fever (102℉ for more than one day)
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Less than usual number of diapers

    Enjoy Your Baby’s Ninth Month

    Your 9 month old baby is growing and changing before your eyes!

    Care for your little one with Mustela’s Cleansing Wipes and Diaper Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe, and have some bathtime fun with Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath. And, of course, don’t forget to show yourself some TLC with Mustela’s Nursing Comfort Balm.

    Before you know it, your baby will be one and you’ll be looking back at their ninth month with a sense of nostalgia. But don’t worry, there are plenty of precious moments on the horizon.

    Continue to give your 9 month old baby plenty of love and affection, and you’ll enjoy these moments for years to come!

    How to Take Care of a 9-Month-Old Baby: Tips and Tricks

    The First Year

    Not sure how to take care of a 9-month-old baby who’s increasingly mobile, curious and communicative? Find some tips here for baby care during this time in your child’s life, including information on the proper feeding and sleeping schedule for your baby.

    What to Expect in Your Baby’s 10th Month of Life

    When your baby turns 9 months old, they’ve come a long way from when you first brought them home. They’re probably moving around the house (whether by crawling, standing or even taking their first steps), increasingly stubborn and individualistic, and chatting your ears off with their nonsense syllables. You have a curious little adventurer on your hands — one that’s likely giving you a run for your money as they want to learn more and have different experiences than ever before!

    How to take care of a 9-month-old baby can seem overwhelming at times. You can no longer put them down and expect them to stay in one spot; you’ll need to watch them like a hawk as they crawl around and explore. Babies at this age are faster than you may think!

    Knowing what to expect from a nine-month-old baby is the first step to preparing for this increasingly active part of your child’s life. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place with this article. Below, find a few important tips for how to take care of a 9-month-old baby and all of the new changes they’re experiencing in their life.

    What to Expect from a 9-Month-Old Baby: Important Milestones

    As mentioned, your 9-month-old baby is hardly recognizable from the little bundle of joy you brought home. In fact, they’re hardly recognizable from who they were just a few months ago. They truly are a little human at this point — full of their own personality, crazy amounts of curiosity, and an eager desire to learn.

    At this point in your child’s life, you may wonder what to expect. A 9-month-old baby typically hits certain milestones but, because every baby is different, yours may not be at certain development stages yet. That’s okay; your baby may take more or less time to hit certain milestones, or they may skip stages completely — like skipping crawling to go straight to walking.

    If you’re ever concerned with what to expect from a nine-month-old baby and whether your child is developing normally, talk to your pediatrician.

    In the meantime, here are some developments you may expect at this age:

    • Ability to quickly change positions: At 9 months old, most babies are easily transitioning between sitting, crawling and standing positions. However, it may be a bit difficult for them to go from standing to sitting — so be ready for them to cry out for your help when they get stuck. Don’t worry about getting your child shoes quite yet; supporting themselves while barefoot helps babies develop the muscles in their feet.
    • Increasing understanding of language: Whether or not your baby is spouting off real words of their own yet, they understand yours. If you ask your baby a question, you may be thrilled to see they point at the object you are talking about. Therefore, start implementing boundaries by making sure your child understands “no” early on.
    • Longer-term memory: Your child recognizes familiar faces at this time, but that also means they recognize what those faces mean. For example, if Grandma usually comes over for babysitting duty, your child may become agitated and upset. They know her arrival means you are about to leave. Don’t worry — 9-month-olds are pretty easily distracted, thanks to their short attention span.

    How to Take Care of a 9-Month-Old Baby: Getting Started

    When your baby reaches nine months of age, it’s time for another checkup! Your pediatrician will check to ensure your baby’s height and weight are developing normally and will also complete a blood test for lead and signs of anemia. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about what to expect from your 9-month-old baby at this time.

    As your baby continues to grow, you may be unsure of how their feeding and sleeping schedule will be affected by their increasing independence. You can read a bit more about each of these aspects of your baby’s routine below.

    Developing a Feeding Schedule for a 9-Month-Old

    Many parents wonder what to feed a 9-month-old. After all, a child at this age is eating an increasing amount of solid foods, so it’s normal for parents to wonder whether formula or breastmilk is still necessary in their 9-month-old baby’s feeding schedule.

    The answer is yes. In general, feeding a 9-month-old should include about 24 to 32 ounces of breastmilk or formula per 24-hour period. At the same time, a feeding schedule for a 9-month-old baby should include about three small meals and two snacks of solid food. The foods to feed a 9-month-old can include whole, unprocessed foods like bananas, sweet peppers, avocado, and grain cereal. Make sure your baby is getting a balanced meal of foods that are soft enough to prevent the risk of choking hazard.

    Always watch out for signs of an allergic reaction when introducing new foods. Talk to your pediatrician for any concerns about what to feed a nine-month-old and how to avoid developing allergies.

    What to Know About a 9-Month-Old’s Sleep Schedule

    If your 9-month-old won’t sleep through the night, you may be worried that they are experiencing 9-month-old sleep regression. While about 70 percent of nine-month-olds sleep through the night without waking, not all do. If your 9-month-old is not sleeping through the night, they may be experiencing discomfort from an illness or teething, want to practice their new crawling and cruising skills, or simply miss being with their parents. This can understandably be frustrating for new parents.

    If you haven’t already, you may consider sleep-training your 9-month-old. This training helps your child develop positive sleep habits, including the ability to self-soothe after they awaken at night. Make sure you are helping your child build sleep independence by following the recommended steps for putting a child to sleep at their age.

    It’s normal for new parents to wonder how to take care of a 9-month-old baby when their son or daughter hits new milestones in his or her development. First-time parents are especially guilty of worrying whether they are doing the right thing for their child. If you’re in this position, take a deep breath. You always have information available to help, as well as the guidance of your pediatrician. Above all else, enjoy these last couple of months before your baby’s first year of life is over!

    Baby 9 months old ✔️ What a baby should be able to do

    Nine months is the age when you can already determine the nature of your baby. Nine-month-olds are increasingly different from each other: some tend to actively explore the world, others prefer calm and focused activities. But although individuality is clearly visible in each baby, the development of a child at 9 months must meet certain criteria.

    Content:

    • Physical development
    • What should a child be able to do at 9 months?
      • Basic skills
      • Motor activity, reflexes, motility
      • Intellectual development
      • Psycho-emotional development: emotions and mood
      • Changes in the perception of the surrounding world: the development of the senses
      • Speech and communication
      • Playing skills
      • Social skills
      • Daily routine, sleep and nutrition rules
      • Baby care at 9 months
      • Potty training
    • What a child should be able to do at 9 months: the opinion of Komarovsky
    • Development problems at 9 months and how to solve them
    • How to help your baby develop: tips for parents

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    Physical development

    The main changes in the physical development of the child, noticeable at the ninth month of life:

    • muscles become stronger, coordination improves markedly - confirmation that the baby is almost ready to start walking;
    • hearing continues to develop: the baby is able to recognize quiet sounds, is not afraid of familiar sounds;
    • in many children, incisors erupt on the lower jaw.

    According to the World Health Organization, the average height of a nine-month-old baby should be between 68 and 74 cm and weight between 7.3 and 9.9 kg. The table below shows the norms of weight, height, head and chest circumference of children at 9 months, corresponding to the centile tables used by Russian pediatricians:

    Boys weight Girls weight Boys height Girls height Boys head circumference Girls head circumference Boys chest circumference Girls chest circumference
    7.1-11 kg 6.5-10.5 kg 67.5-76 cm 65.5-75 cm 42.6-47.5 cm 41-46 cm 44-51 cm 44-49 cm

    ⠀

    A specific child may not meet conventional standards - for example, if at birth the baby was large or, conversely, was born with a small height and weight. Then the norm of weight and height at 9 months can be calculated as follows: compared with the previous month, the weight should increase by about 0.5 kg, height - by 1-2 cm. Head and chest circumferences increase by an average of 1 centimeter.

    Differences between boys and girls

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    The physical differences between boys and girls are still minimal: the height and weight of babies are approximately the same regardless of gender. Boys and girls also learn basic physical skills at about the same time.

    At the age of nine months, differences in the emotional and intellectual development of children may appear: boys need the presence of their mother more, and girls are more affectionate with loved ones. Boys tend to involve adults in active games, girls can get carried away with calm activities for a long time. Although there are exceptions here: boys are diligent, and girls are very active - both options are completely normal.

    Approaching the first important date, one year, the child may begin to copy the behavior of the people around him of his gender. Boys at nine months sometimes show unreasonable aggression, and girls excessive emotionality, imitating the behavior of older children or adults. The task of parents in such cases is to gently stop unwanted manifestations of character. Nine-month-olds already understand the word "no".

    Physical ability

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    Basic physical abilities of a nine-month-old child:

    • stands confidently at the support, tries to stand without it;
    • sits confidently;
    • takes steps to the side at the support, shifting from foot to foot;
    • has already mastered the skill of crawling well.

    If your baby has not mastered all the skills - just give him time, the child's personal peculiarity may manifest itself in slowness. Some babies seem to prepare for the “snatch” and may start to stand well, crawl or even walk right away a little later - at 10-11 months.

    What should a child be able to do at 9 months?

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    A variety of baby skills continue to develop, and new skills are emerging: related to physical activity, intellectual and emotional development. The sense organs also function better. A noticeable breakthrough in a nine-month-old child is observed in the field of speech formation, the development of gaming and social skills.

    Basic skills

    What a child can do at 9months — basic skills:

    • has mastered or is trying to master the skills of sitting and crawling;
    • tries to walk with or without support;
    • plays meaningfully with toys;
    • chews solid food if at least five teeth have erupted;
    • drinks from a mug by himself, understands the purpose of the pot.

    Movement, reflexes, motor skills

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    Most nine-month-old babies can sit and crawl. Often in a baby at 9months there are manifestations of other motor activity:

    • gets up and stands without support;
    • self-sits, can sit up to 15 minutes continuously without changing position;
    • takes the first steps, holding on to the edge of the furniture or the hand of an adult;
    • chooses an alternative - instead of crawling - method of movement: on the buttocks or on his knees.

    By the middle or end of the ninth month of a child's life, reflexes characteristic of newborns fade away. Now, if the baby is placed on the back, he does not bend his limbs and does not squeeze his toes: on the contrary, the child stretches his arms and legs to the sides and takes his feet back without pressing his fingers.

    At nine months, fine motor skills are actively developing, closely related to the development of speech. The child is able to take small objects using the thumb and forefinger, builds towers from cubes, takes several small toys in one hand.

    Intellectual development

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    Moms and dads of a nine-month-old baby often feel like their baby is growing up literally every day. This is true - at the age of 9 months, the neuropsychic development of the child becomes especially active, the baby acquires new skills that confirm the timely intellectual development:

    • understands and fulfills simple requests, such as: “Take a cube”, “Give me a pen”, “Give me a spoon”;
    • knows his name and always responds to it;
    • builds complex cause-and-effect relationships relative to an earlier age: for example, he understands that if dishes ring in the kitchen, it means that dinner is coming soon;
    • understands individual words, showing the named object at the request of an adult: for example, he shows an image of a dog in a picture if asked to show a dog.

    Psycho-emotional development: emotions and mood

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    The baby clearly shows emotions and mood:

    • demonstrates attachment to favorite toys, distinguishes them from other objects;
    • shows mood and emotions with the help of pronounced facial expressions, experiences various and complex emotions: joy, interest, anger, shame, disgust;
    • copies the behavior of adults, tries to involve mom and dad in all his activities;
    • is wary of strangers, sometimes even hostile, tries to avoid bodily contact with strangers;
    • knows how to attract the attention of parents, and tries to slightly manipulate adults: usually with the help of tears, whims.

    A nine-month-old child feels well the emotions of close people: he is happy when his parents laugh, and sad if a loved one is upset.

    Changes in the perception of the surrounding world: the development of the senses

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock. com

    At the age of 9 months, the development of hearing and vision is especially noticeable. The child distinguishes quiet sounds: whispers, quiet music from the next room. The most favorite melodies appear, to which the baby emotionally reacts: claps his hands, sings along, dances.

    Vision at nine months develops thanks to the child's ability to concentrate: he follows a fast moving object with his eyes, attracts the attention of parents with the help of eye contact, instantly distinguishes familiar people from strangers.

    Speech and communication

    The baby already communicates consciously and with pleasure with close people. And although only simple words are present in his speech, it seems to the child himself that he is already talking with his parents: he asks, answers, agrees, refuses. True, it is still difficult for others to make out the speech of the young speaker - nine-month-old children clearly pronounce words of one or two syllables: “yes”, “no”, “mother”, and the like.

    The child also uses sign language to communicate with loved ones: he nods when he agrees, shakes his head when he refuses, and waves his hand when saying goodbye. He understands the names of body parts well and willingly shows his eyes, mouth, hands at the request of his parents. Starting from 9months, the passive vocabulary of the baby is actively enriched - it is important for adults to talk more with their son or daughter, paying special attention to the names of objects.

    Playing skills

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

    A nine-month-old baby enjoys playing with toys that previously did not arouse much interest in him: he assembles and disassembles a pyramid (usually not following the correct sequence), rolls cars, takes toys out of boxes and folds back. As before, household items remain the most favorite toys: the child likes to tear paper, knock with spoons, use the lid of the pan as a drum.

    The baby willingly looks at bright pictures in children's books, turns the pages himself. Plays patties and other finger games, plays hide-and-seek with an adult, hiding from mom or dad under a blanket.

    At 9 months, children become especially interested in walking on the street, watching the street games of older children.

    Social skills

    A 9-month-old baby, having perfected the skills of sitting and crawling, strives for independence. Often a child tries to defend his right to independence: he does not obey his parents, pushes his hand away when they offer a thing that is not interesting to him, expresses disagreement in any other way.

    Parents can try to direct their children's manifestations of independence in the right direction. For example, you can ask the baby to wash his own hands, use cutlery, try to take off some items of clothing.

    Day regimen, sleep and nutrition rules

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    The duration of the baby's sleep changes, and, accordingly, the whole daily routine becomes different compared to an earlier age.

    On average, a 9-month-old baby sleeps about 15 hours, of which 9-11 hours falls on night sleep, the rest of the time - on the day.

    During the day, the baby usually sleeps twice, but more often he chooses his own bed for sleep than the stroller - walking on the street captures the attention of the crumbs so much that he does not feel sleepy. Nine-month-olds often sleep continuously at night, but breastfed babies may wake up 1-2 times a night to get breasts.

    Approximate daily routine for a baby at 9 months may look like this:

    • 7.30 - get up, hygiene procedures, feeding;
    • 8.30 - quiet activities and games;
    • 11.00 - feeding;
    • 11.30 - sleep;
    • 13.00 - walk;
    • 14.30 - feeding;
    • 15.00 - active, calm, educational games and activities;
    • 16.30 - walk, partially or completely combined with sleep;
    • 18.30 - feeding;
    • 19.00 - mostly calm activities that do not disturb the nervous system before going to bed: reading, educational games;
    • 21. 00 - hygiene procedures;
    • 21.30 - feeding and getting ready for bed;
    • 22.00 - the beginning of the night's sleep.

    A nine-month-old baby eats 5-8 times depending on the type of feeding - children who receive breastfeeding eat more often than their peers who are formula-fed.

    The child's diet becomes more varied: sour-milk products, meat and fish dishes can be added to already introduced cereals, fruits and vegetables. Before introducing new complementary foods, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician .

    Baby Care at 9 Months

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    Baby care remains the same: keep hair, nails and ears clean, wash your baby, bathe every other day or more often as needed. Teeth should be brushed regularly, even if there are not many of them at all, using a special brush and paste - more accurate recommendations for oral care will be given by a pediatric dentist.

    If you haven't used additional hardening procedures other than standard sun and air baths, now is the time to do it. You can gradually teach your son or daughter to sleep with the window open, starting with a long airing of the children's room before going to bed, eventually leaving the window open all night. Another useful hardening procedure is dousing the legs: start with warm water, gradually move to cool, when the child gets used to it, move on to contrast douches.

    Read more How to increase immunity at home: the rules for hardening children and adolescents.

    Potty training

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    At 9 months old, it's time for a baby to learn about the purpose of the potty, provided that he already knows how to sit well. In order for the study to be successful, invite the child to use the potty immediately after waking up, before going to bed, after eating and walking - at these moments he will most likely use the potty for its intended purpose.

    Potty misfires are common in 9-month-olds, on average babies are potty trained by one year or so. Don't insist on spending a lot of time on the potty to achieve the desired result - if nothing happens within one or two minutes, let the crumbs get off the potty so that this important item does not start to cause rejection in its owner.

    What a 9-month-old baby should be able to do: Komarovsky's opinion

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    Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky, a well-known Russian pediatrician and Ph.D. to toys of different colors and textures.

    At the age of 9 months, the doctor recommends starting the socialization of the baby: parents can bring the child to the playground so that he gradually learns to interact with the team.

    As for the rest, Evgeny Olegovich advises not to chase average standards and achievements of neighbor children. Komarovsky is of the opinion that each baby develops at an individual and right pace for him.

    Developmental Problems at 9 Months and How to Solve Them

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    Parents of young children often worry about whether their son or daughter is developmentally behind and whether some disturbing symptoms are normal. Difficulties that do not indicate problems in development and should not bother you:

    1. The child does not want to try new foods. Especially often unfamiliar food is rejected by breastfed children, for whom mother's milk remains the preferred dish. What to do: offer new foods when the baby is definitely hungry, try decorating the dish in an unusual way.
    2. The baby is very afraid of strangers and shows a lot of fear, a normal behavior at the age of nine months, which will go away on its own with time.
    3. Unpleasant teething symptoms: the baby is naughty, some children may have a fever. What to do: Ask your doctor to prescribe teething medications or other advice on how to manage the problem.

    Symptoms that may indicate developmental problems - check with your pediatrician if you notice these symptoms in your baby:

    • does not sit up on his own even when seated by an adult;
    • does not respond to strangers;
    • does not try to repeat the sounds and syllables after the parents.

    How to help your baby develop: tips for parents

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    Activities and games to help your nine-month-old baby develop properly:

    • any activities aimed at developing fine motor skills: finger games, games with toys and objects made of different materials, pouring cereals and pouring water from one container to another;
    • games with cubes, pyramids, balls of different sizes and made of different materials;
    • first drawing lessons using finger paints;
    • training in the ability to put on and take off clothes in a playful way;
    • If possible, socialize and play with other children under adult supervision.

    In fact, serious developmental disorders are visible much earlier than 9 months, and your pediatrician would have noticed them by now. But if you are still worried about the developmental features of your son or daughter, tell your doctor about your worries: the younger the child, the higher the likelihood of correcting problems without the slightest consequences.

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    Child development calendar from 9 to 10 months

    Child development calendar from 10 to 11 months

    A growing man has already overcome many important trials. What will bring him the tenth month of life?

    At the age of nine months, the baby will thoroughly consolidate the previously acquired skills, will improve the recently mastered, and of course, replenish the baggage of accumulated knowledge. Now, most attempts will be crowned with success, since psychomotor, physical development already allows you to get a long-awaited practical experience. Some children are just beginning to prepare for independent walking, and some will already take their first steps in the range of 9-10 months of age.

    A nine-month-old child begins to intensively stock up on an arsenal of the most important skills in front of the opening door to the world of independence. He is less irritable, as he is increasingly able to carry out his plan, to get what he wants.

    What can a 9 month old baby do?

    It must be remembered that the success of a child is determined not only by the capabilities of the organism (his body), but also by the real, adult desire to "win", titanic efforts and willpower.

    Just as mom and dad see the baby every day (hour, minute), it is quite difficult for them to catch the conditional transitions from one age to another (monthly), and, accordingly, evaluate the existing "standards" - indicators indicating the good development of the baby. Let's dwell on the latter in more detail.

    Nine-month-old infant:
    Sits up spontaneously, stays in a sitting position for about 10-15 minutes;
    in a sitting position can stretch, pick up a toy;
    stands up holding onto a support, takes a few small steps;
    holding the back of the chair moves it and takes steps;
    Crawls confidently like a bellies, not always or not for long - on all fours;
    makes many aiming movements: takes small objects with two fingers, tries to examine them in detail, feel them;
    firmly holds everything that has fallen into his strong fingers, unclenches them with difficulty (gets nervous if they try to remove an object from the palm of his hand).

    A nine-month-old baby is still teething.

    Sometimes, this process is accompanied by moderate discomfort (the baby is capricious, scratches his gums, puts toys in his mouth), and sometimes it causes severe anxiety. An immature body is not yet able to respond to pain, as a temporary phenomenon that must be endured: the immune system fails, and infectious diseases join at that time.

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    That is, fever and loose stools are not always a common reaction to anxiety. It could be a parallel ongoing viral infection. In any case, you should not allow high temperature numbers (use antipyretics), and also, do not neglect painkillers (local action, if necessary - general). If the pediatrician talks about the presence of ARVI, it is necessary to start the recommended treatment in parallel, not forgetting the intensive heating (flooding) of the child, airing the room, humidifying the air in the baby's room.

    Some features of the development of a 9-month-old baby

    The list provided earlier, indicating the level of development of the child, does not fully reflect the scale of changes in the psycho-emotional and physical state of the infant. All of them are important, and should not go unnoticed, underestimated by mom and dad. What is it about?

    Motor skills
    Lying on his back, the child easily throws his legs up to his head, grabbing them with his arms, pulls his feet into his mouth. Easily turns over in all directions, independently passes into a sitting position. Sits without support, keeps his back straight, confidently maintains balance. It can turn around its axis, move forward a little.
    Now the baby begins to crawl "on all fours". Grabbing a crib or other furniture, he stands on his legs, one by one takes small steps. Holds for a few seconds in a standing position without support. Tries to take a step, but the attempt ends with a soft landing on the ass.
    In the history of evolution, the ability to oppose the thumb to the index finger was one of the greatest developmental advances. Now the primitive man was able to master the use of more convenient tools, to begin to learn primitive writing.
    For the development of a child of 9 months, this skill also undoubtedly plays a crucial role. He holds on to the support more confidently, thereby discovering new opportunities for learning, ensuring safety when performing difficult movements. Firmly holds a toy, a cup, a pacifier in the handle. This means that the baby is able to adapt to a more independent existence, ceasing to attract his mother for the slightest reason.
    In a word, already from 9 months a new stage begins, at which the child learns to do a lot without the help of dad and mom, and parents, in turn, refrain from unnecessary interference and guardianship, but at the same time, do not lose their vigilance , actively insure the baby.

    Speech development and social contact
    Former dada, mom, dad, tata are decorated with bright intonations, sometimes the words sound consciously, are applied in relation to a specific object.
    Hearing his name, the child becomes animated, turns his head, smiles, may scream with delight. The emotions of the crumbs are open and spontaneous: he does not hide either joy, or anger, or resentment. If he laughs, then sincerely and loudly, if he cries - from the heart, with all his might.
    Knows how to draw attention to himself, then point with his finger at what he is specifically interested in. The attentiveness inherent in a baby who is thirsty for new experiences allows you to remember that a beautiful orange was hidden in the refrigerator, and a pimply comb in the closet. The baby will persistently point to the door, demanding to get the item that was previously played.
    Some children understand and respond to requests: “give”, “on”, try to shake their heads: “no”, “yes”. They begin to understand the meaning of the phrases: “Come here”, “You can’t go there”, “Look here”, etc. In a word, child development 9months allows him to actively interact with adults.

    Optimal conditions for the development of a child of 9 months

    It is not for nothing that so much attention is paid to the concept of regime all over the world. What does the regimen give the child: “dosed” alternation of wakefulness and rest? It is difficult for the body to control previously unknown loads: physical, psycho-emotional, flows of noise and incoming information. Understanding that now there will be a meal, now a dream, and now an active walk, gives him the opportunity, as it were, to tune in to the right wave.

    Thus, the digestive system begins to produce enzymes during and before meals; before going to bed, the central nervous system gradually suppresses impulses of excitation, and during a walk, the baby concentrates attention and concentration as much as possible. If all the usual activities are done at different times, the body will not be ready for them, and all the necessary processes will require a lot of effort and energy.

    Also, in addition to the regime, the actual conditions in which the child lives are important. From them depends on his comfort, and, accordingly, the capabilities of the body. No matter how hard caring mom and dad try, some aspects sometimes remain missed. Once again, let's put the emphasis on the important.

    Feeding
    In addition to habitual breastfeeding, the regimen includes 2-3 "adult" feedings. If it is still difficult for a child to accept such changes, you should not rush. Any innovations in the diet must be introduced gradually, “fixing” them with several days of repetitions.
    For the intensive development of a child at 9 months, milk alone is no longer enough, therefore, the introduction of foods appropriate for age needs is mandatory. Breast/formula feeds remain for the afternoon.
    Rest
    A nine-month-old baby sleeps two times for one and a half to two hours during the day. Night sleep is approximately 10 hours. According to the previous regime, he wakes up for feeding at night, although no longer from a feeling of hunger, but because of the need for tactile contact.
    The body must fully recover after an eventful day. For this, certain conditions must be created:
    o silence;
    dim light;
    o temperature within 20-22°C;
    o comfort clothing;
    o Optimum air humidity (not lower than 50%).
    Before going to bed, it is necessary to ventilate the room for half an hour to an hour. It is important to ensure that there are no drafts in the room.
    If you do not provide your baby with quality sleep, he will wake up upset and moody. The coming day will not be interesting and informative for him, as is the case with productive rest.
    Walking and prevention of infectious diseases
    Walking should take one and a half to four hours a day. If conditions allow, you can walk longer. The only thing is that you should not radically change the baby's daily routine due to unscheduled walks. Just a couple of departures from the usual routine moments and the baby will fully switch to freer, time-free conditions.
    Those very unscheduled walks are appropriate if the baby's well-being suffers, then fresh air serves as a kind of attention switching, a soothing pill.
    The park area or the courtyard of a private house is an ideal area for walking with a child. The shade of trees delays direct sunlight, which at this age is most welcome. If there are no such conditions, we hide the child from direct sunlight with a hanging stroller, we avoid crowded places.
    Conditional isolation during walks is the prevention of infectious diseases. An additional measure that prevents the activity of pathogenic flora is daily wiping / moisturizing the nasal passages with a special saline solution (especially in the cold season), and controlling the humidity in the children's room. The optimal level is 50-70%. If it is not possible to purchase a humidifier, you can put a wet towel on the battery at night - a useful little trick.
    Educational games and massage
    A developing baby of 9 months continues to explore the world actively. Through the game, information is mastered faster, easier and more fun.
    The baby often uses non-standard approaches, trying to get what he wants. For example, throwing a toy in a doorway to call for mom. Or trying to stand on a large toy in order to reach the desired object. The fact that the ball will not lie on another ball, and the cube will roll, learns by experience. By hitting the toy against other toys, he understands that the sound will be different. It is these seemingly insignificant features that help to understand what games and new toys are appropriate for the further rational development of the child.
    The kid still tries everything "by the tooth", so the items that are given to the baby must be clean and safe (exclude the presence of toxic dyes, traumatic elements). If the toys cannot be doused with boiling water, they must be thoroughly washed under running water.
    The child begins to play for a long time without the participation of adults. A small pyramid, cubes, tumblers and rattles of different sizes, shapes and sounds are the best assortment for this age. The developing rug also remains relevant: now the baby more consciously examines, touches the components of the rug, studies the pictures on it.
    Simple exercises for the eyes and ears will be great helpers for developing analyzers. If this is not the implementation of specific recommendations of specialists, it is enough just to train the baby's ability to respond to different sounds, to follow a moving object.
    In order to have an incentive to crawl, it is enough to put a bright toy at a distance of a meter and a half. Following the goal, the baby will be able to crawl much further (parents can quietly move the object away).
    Gentle massage stimulates circulation and muscle relaxation. Stroking, rubbing, pinching the upper, lower extremities and back - that's it. For the tummy, we use soft circular movements with the edge of the palm. Direction is clockwise.

    What should alert the parents of a 9-month-old baby?

    Of course, all children have their own characteristics, and there is no universal plate for each baby of such and such age . But, there are deviations from the usual indicators that should alert parents. Perhaps the concern will turn out to be false, but let the pediatrician voice it.

    Parents should contact their pediatrician if their child is nine months old:
    Poor balance when sitting;
    cannot crawl forward;
    does not try to hold the cup by himself;
    Does not pull cap off head;
    Not interested in playing;
    shows very poor emotions;
    reacts equally to relatives and strangers.

    It is likely that each of these indicators will return to normal in a few weeks. Simple exercises and activities that you just need to learn about in a timely manner can help your child. Simple manipulations can prevent serious deviations in development in the near and distant future.

    Surely every mother at least once thought about why the lion's share of attention, in all sorts of training courses "for mothers" is given to the first year of a child's life. It's simple - this is the most important period. This is the start, the first "hundred-meter race", on the results of which further successes on the upcoming, unbeaten road depend. Of course, every year the baby will "go" more and more slowly, because now he understands that his success does not depend on haste!

    It is very important for parents to find an experienced and good pediatrician. From the first day of his birth, a baby needs supervision and support from specialists.

    Learn more