Important Milestones at Nine Months

Can you believe your child is already nine months old? Here are the things that most children can do by nine months. Be sure to keep track of your child’s milestones and discuss any questions or concerns you have with your child’s doctor.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL MILESTONES

  • Shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers

  • Displays several facial expressions like happy, sad, and angry

  • Looks when you call their name

  • Reacts when you leave (looks for you, reaches for you, cries, etc.)

  • Smiles or laughs during a game of peak-a-boo

LANGUAGE/COMMUNICATION MILESTONES

  • Makes many different sounds, like “mamamama” and “babababa”

  • Lifts their arms when they want to be picked up

COGNITIVE MILESTONES (LEARNING, THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING)

  • Looks for objects when they drop out of sight (like a spoon or a toy)

  • Bangs two things together

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

  • Gets to sitting position without help

  • Moves things from one hand to the other

  • Uses fingers to “rake” food toward themselves

  • Sits up without support

Remember, you know your child best. Talk with your child’s doctor about any of your concerns and ask about developmental screening.

Looking for tips and activities to do with your child to assist in their learning and development? Visit the CDC’s milestones pages here. 

BabiesMatt Whitman