What are 7 month old milestones

Developmental Milestones: 7 Months - HealthyChildren.org

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What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by seven months of age?

From age four to seven months, the most important changes take place within your child. This is the period when he’ll learn to coordinate his emerging perceptive abilities (the use of senses like vision, touch, and hearing) and his increasing motor abilities to develop skills like grasping, rolling over, sitting up, and possibly even crawling.

Here are some other milestones to look for.

Movement Milestones

Rolls both ways (front to back, back to front)
Sits with, and then without, support of her hands
Supports her whole weight on her legs
Reaches with one hand
Transfers object from hand to hand
Uses raking grasp (not pincer)

Visual Milestones

Develops full color vision
Distance vision matures
Ability to track moving objects improves

Language Milestones

Responds to own name
Begins to respond to “no”
Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice
Responds to sound by making sounds
Uses voice to express joy and displeasure
Babbles chains of consonants

Cognitive Milestones

Finds partially hidden object
Explores with hands and mouth
Struggles to get objects that are out of reach

Social and Emotional Milestones

Enjoys social play
Interested in mirror images
Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion and appears joyful often

Developmental Health Watch

Because each baby develops in his own particular manner, it’s impossible to tell exactly when or how your child will perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones listed in this book will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect, but don’t be alarmed if your own baby’s development takes a slightly different course. Alert your pediatrician, however, if your baby displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range.

Seems very stiff, with tight muscles
Seems very floppy, like a rag doll
Head still flops back when body is pulled up to a sitting position
Reaches with one hand only
Refuses to cuddle
Shows no affection for the person who cares for him
Doesn’t seem to enjoy being around people
One or both eyes consistently turn in or out
Persistent tearing, eye drainage, or sensitivity to light
Does not respond to sounds around him
Has difficulty getting objects to his mouth
Does not turn his head to locate sounds by four months
Doesn’t roll over in either direction (front to back or back to front) by five months
Seems inconsolable at night after five months
Doesn’t smile spontaneously by five months
Cannot sit with help by six months
Does not laugh or make squealing sounds by six months
Does not actively reach for objects by six to seven months
Doesn’t follow objects with both eyes at near (1 foot) [30 cm] and far (6 feet) [180 cm] ranges by seven months
Does not bear some weight on legs by seven months
Does not try to attract attention through actions by seven months
Does not babble by eight months
Shows no interest in games of peekaboo by eight months

Last Updated: 6/7/2009

Source: Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

7-9 Month Old Baby Development & Milestones

Babies at this age have a new understanding of the world. They learn that just because they can’t see mom or dad at a certain time doesn’t mean they don’t exist. So now, your baby may begin to miss you when you’re gone. This can lead to separation anxiety — distress at your departure.

While this might seem like a bad thing, it’s actually very good — and marks an important leap in thinking. Comfort and reassure your baby to help him or her feel loved and secure.

Developmental Milestones

Doctors use certain milestones to tell if a baby is developing as expected. There’s a wide range of what’s considered normal, so some babies gain skills earlier or later than others. Babies who were born prematurely reach milestones later. Always talk with your doctor about your baby’s progress.

How much will my 7- to 9-month-old baby grow?

While all babies may grow at a different rate, the following indicates the average for boys and girls 7 to 9 months of age:

Weight: average gain of 0.5-1 pound each month; two times the birthweight by 4 to 5 months and three times the birthweight by 1 year
Height: average growth of about ½ inch each month
Head size: average growth of about ¼ inch each month

Babies’ growth begins to slow as the first birthday approaches. Your doctor has measured your baby’s weight, length, and head size (circumference) since birth and put them on a growth chart. This is where to look first if you have questions about your baby’s growth.

When you look at the growth chart with the doctor, compare your baby’s growth with his or her own growth pattern, not with the growth of other babies. As long as your baby’s growth is steady, there’s usually no reason to worry.

If you’re concerned about your baby’s weight or growth, talk with your doctor, who might ask:

Has your baby been sick? A couple days of not eating, especially if combined with vomiting or diarrhea, can lead to weight loss. The weight will come back when your little one feels better.
Is your baby on the move? Crawling, cruising, and walking will burn calories, so weight gain might be less with this new mobility.
Is your baby more interested in playing peek-a-boo or dropping the spoon on the floor than eating? The world is a fascinating place, and your baby is learning new things every day. Try not to distract your baby during mealtime. Also watch for signs that your little one has eaten enough.
Are you introducing the right kinds of foods? As your baby gets better at eating, pay more attention to the texture and types of foods you serve. If your child isn’t interested in puréed baby foods, try soft table foods and finger foods that are safe and fun.
Is your baby drinking enough breastmilk or formula still? Liquid volumes decrease as solid food volumes increase. However, it is important your baby continues to drink 20-28 ounces of breastmilk or formula a day to have enough calories to grow.

Can babies gain too much weight?

A few babies and toddlers are overweight. In those cases, advice from the baby’s doctor can help, such as:

Never skip feedings. Watch for signs from your baby that he or she is full. Make sure your baby’s calories come from nutritious sources — like fruits, vegetables and fortified cereals. Breast milk or formula should still be the main source of nourishment in the first year of life.
Play with your baby and encourage physical activity. Make sure that your little one has a safe space to move around in. Limit the time spent in car seats, strollers and playpens.
One of the best things you can do for your baby is to eat well and be physically active yourself. Your baby has a better chance of growing up fit if good health habits are part of the family’s way of life. You’ll be a good role model — and have the energy to keep up with your little one.

What can my 7- to 9-month-old baby do at this age?

Babies are rapidly developing their physical abilities at this age. They become mobile for the first time and safety in the home becomes an important issue. While babies may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones your baby may reach in this age group:

Rolls over easily from front to back and back to front
Sits leaning forward on hands at first, then unsupported
Bounces when supported to stand
Gets on hands and feet and rocks back and forth
May creep, scoot, crawl – backward first, then forward (some babies skip crawling!)
Begins to pull up to stand
Reaches for and grasps objects using their whole hand
Bangs toy on table
Can hold an object in each hand
May hold a bottle
Plays peek-a-boo
Grasps object with thumb and finger by 8 to 9 months
Begins teething, usually starting with the two center front teeth in the lower jaw, then the two center front teeth in the upper jaw
Learns to drink from cup
Puts everything into mouth
Naps are usually twice, sometimes three times a day, for one to two hours each (on average)
May begin to awaken during the night and cry

Why is touch important for development at 7- to 9-months?

Your baby is getting around more independently as he or she learns to scoot, crawl, or walk. This means your baby can go and touch the things he or she wants to touch. Let your baby explore the textures and surfaces of your home and yard. Babies explore with their hands first and then their mouths. Make sure there are no hot, sharp, or other dangerous things that can hurt your baby.

How long should my 7- to 9-month-old baby sleep?

Most babies this age should sleep 12-14 hours per day, including a stretch of 9-12 hours at night. However, sleep problems are common in the second half of a baby’s first year. Some babies may experience separation anxiety and cry when being put to sleep or when they wake up in the middle of the night. Sleep regressions are common with leaps in development. Sleep regression is when babies who have been sleeping well have difficulty going to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or not napping.

Check out our 9-month sleep regression guide for more info.

How can I help increase my 7- to 9-month-old baby’s development and emotional security?

Consider the following as ways to foster the emotional security of your baby:

Give your baby safe toys that make noises when shaken or hit.
Play in front of a mirror, calling your baby by name and pointing to your baby’s reflection in the mirror.
When talking to your baby, pause and wait for him or her to respond just as when talking with an adult.
Play pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo.
Clap and wave your hands.
Name common objects when shown to your baby.
Make a variety of sounds with your mouth and tone of voice. Sing songs.
Repeat and expand the sounds your baby makes, such as “ma-ma” when he or she says “ma.”
Show picture books and read stories to your baby every day.
Give your baby toys with objects or knobs to push, poke or turn.
Give your baby toys that stack or nest and show him or her how they work.
Build a tower with your baby and show him or her how to knock it down.
Establish a routine for bath and bedtime.

Communication and Sensory Milestones

What can a 7- to 9-month-old baby say?

It is very exciting for parents to watch their babies become social beings that can interact with others. While every baby develops speech at his or her own rate, the following are some of the common milestones in this age group:

Makes two syllable sounds (ma-ma, da-da)
Makes several different vowel sounds, especially “o” and “u”
Repeats tones or sounds made by others

What can a 7- to 9-month-old baby understand?

A baby’s awareness of people and surroundings increases during this time. While babies may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones in this age group:

Responds to own name and “no”
Pays attention to conversation
Appears to understand some words (such as “eat”)
Prefers mother over others
Enjoys seeing self in mirror
Responds to changes in emotions of others
Is afraid of strangers
Shows interest in and dislike of foods
Makes attention-getting sounds, such as a cough or snort
Begins to understand object permanence and can uncover a toy after seeing it covered or watch a spoon as it falls off their high chair
May follow one-step commands with a sign to demonstrate (such as, “get the ball” while parent points to ball)
Can start to learn basic sign language to communicate

What can a 7- to 9-month-old baby see?

Your baby’s eyesight has been maturing for many months, and he or she is able to see quite well near and far and even focus on quickly moving objects. Your baby’s motor skills are now working together with eyesight (hand–eye coordination), and it’s likely that he or she can spot a toy across the room, focus on it, move to it, pick it up, and explore it in lots of ways.

Familiar and loving faces are still your baby’s favorite things to look at, but he or she also may enjoy looking at pictures in books, especially familiar images. Your baby may love objects with parts or pieces that move and will spend lots of time staring at and manipulating these things, trying to figure out how or why they work. Take your baby with you to see new and interesting places. Point out the sights and label them by name.

What can a 7- to 9-month-old baby hear?

As your baby is grows, their hearing develops, and they can begin to listen and understand more. They can begin turning to the direction where sounds came from. Babies at this age can also start to recognize words for common items.

What can a 7- to 9-month-old baby taste and smell?

By this age, your baby is developing food preferences. Keep offering foods with a variety of tastes and smells. Don’t give up if he or she doesn’t take to it right away. It can take over ten times before a baby learns to try a new food.

Explore the sense of smell with your baby, too. Use scents to help your baby understand the world further. A trip outside can provide a wide variety, from the sweet scent of flowers to the distinctive smell of just-cut grass.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

Every baby develops at his or her own pace, but if you notice anything that concerns you — however small — share it with your doctor. Talk to your doctor if your baby:

Shows no reaction when you leave the room
Cannot roll onto the belly
Hasn’t lost newborn reflexes, such as the startle reflex
Cannot sit upright without support
Does not respond to their name
If you notice that your baby has lost skills he or she once had or shows weakness on one side of the body

Reviewed by Dr. Lydia Villa, Clinica CHOC Para Niños, CHOC Primary Care – May 2021

Baby milestones: 7-12 months

What to expect from your baby between 7 and 12 months.

BABY DEVELOPMENT: The 9 month mark is especially important for a child's development.

Your 6 month old baby is an active bundle of joy with complete head control. Your child will probably be able to express likes and dislikes for certain foods and may even be able to form certain syllables.

In the next 6 months, you can expect your child to continue to develop rapidly from month to month.

Highlights in the second half of the baby's first year

7 months:
At this age, babies may roll over and sit with their arms outstretched forward for balance for a while. They will love it if you make them stand up. At this stage in a child's development, they are likely to demonstrate remarkable hand skills such as transferring objects from one hand to the other, tearing paper, and banging objects on a table. They will attempt to put objects in their mouths and will also be able to eat cookies and drink from a cup on their own. Infants may make polysyllabic murmurs such as "dadadada, babababa" and respond to their own name.
8 months:
Infants can sit without support for a while and readily stand up with support. At this stage of a child's development, they will be able to combine syllables to make sounds like "dada" and "baba".
9 months:
This is an important moment for babies. They will be able to stand holding onto furniture, roll on the floor and crawl. Babies will be able to pick up small items. They can become visibly aroused at the sight of certain foods.
10 months:
At this stage of development, babies will be able to sit and stand independently. They will also be able to change their position from sitting to lying and from lying to sitting. They will be able to sit steadily without falling and can also crawl on their tummy on the floor. You will be delighted to hear your baby make sounds like "mom" and "dad" and even wave goodbye to you. Your child may even respond if you ask simple questions such as "Where's Mom?" or "Where's daddy?" When you are dressing a child, he may surprise you by extending his arm or leg.
11 months:
At this age, babies transition to crawling on all fours as they can walk on the floor with their belly off the ground. They can also say their first correct word with meaning.
12 months:
Your baby will be able to balance while sitting and is more likely to walk if you hold him by one hand. Babies can also walk on their own by holding on to furniture. They become interested when they are shown pictures and can understand the meaning of simple sentences like "Where's your book?" or "Where's your toy"? By this age, your child's vocabulary will most likely have expanded to a couple of words. You will find that your child can make you laugh and even kiss you if you ask for it.

What to do if your child's developmental milestones are delayed

If your child's development seems to be slow and worries you, you should consult your pediatrician or GP.

Developmental milestones are only a rough guideline for a child's development and should not be interpreted by parents on their own.

A child's development is affected by various prenatal and postnatal factors such as maternal health and illness, childbearing at birth, complications during childbirth, illness in the early years, and genetic and environmental factors.

We must not forget about the influence of the personality of parents, upbringing and attitude towards the baby. A child who grows up in a healthy, loving environment will do better than a child in a dysfunctional environment.

Promoting Child Development: Tips for Parents

It is important that your child's development begins in the womb, with proper antenatal care and screening to monitor the well-being of the fetus.

After birth, the most important thing parents can do for their baby's development is to start breastfeeding early and keep it going for at least six months. This will provide the best possible nutrition and other benefits that have been proven to extend into adulthood.

Such benefits include a lower risk of lung infection, diarrhea, constipation, allergic disorders, and obesity. Scientific studies have shown that the IQ of breastfed babies is higher than that of formula fed babies.

Child Development Calendar from the Health of the Nation

The Child Development Calendar from the Health of the Nation medical center is a convenient system that tells parents by months how the baby is developing.

Child development by months

Newborn

How does the baby behave in the first weeks of life? Should I be worried if he sleeps 18 hours a day? What you need to know about the features of feeding the crumbs, and what recommendations for care should be followed?

1 month

What happens to a child at the age of one month, how his behavior changes. Features of development and the emergence of new actions. What you need to know about nutrition, daily care. Planned visits to doctors and testing.

2 months

What happens in the life of a child at the age of 2 months? What behaviors should be taken into account? The appearance of the first emotions of the baby, the development of the vocal apparatus.

3 months

What discoveries do parents expect when a child turns 3 months old? The emergence of new skills, the first conscious manifestation of emotions and desires. What you need to know about the features of feeding?

4 months

What happens to a 4 month old baby? The first serious games and interaction with the outside world. What you need to know about the features of feeding, and what recommendations for care should be followed?

5 months

Transition period from horizontal position. What you need to know about the features of feeding crumbs? What should parents of a five-month-old baby be prepared for?

6 months

What did the baby learn at 6 months of age? How critical is the discrepancy with accepted norms? What you need to know about the features of feeding crumbs, how to introduce the first complementary foods?

7-9 months

What happens to a child aged 7-9 months? The baby begins to sit, crawl or even take the first steps.

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