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What should a baby be able to do at 9 months?
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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What should a child be able to do at 9 months? By asking this question, parents will receive many answers. The child's development at this age is in full swing. His speech, motor skills, and emotional development are improving. Parents should be on the alert. So that in his attempts to explore the space, the child does not get hurt or knock something over. So, more about the development of a 9-month-old child.
Striving for independence
It occurs not only in teenagers, but also in children under one year old, whom we still consider dependent and too small for isolated actions. A 9-month-old child continues to make significant progress in development. A boy at this age always tries to walk and can be stubborn in such things as what to eat and when to go to bed.
Sometimes this turns into rebellion, so now is the time to start setting some limits and teaching your child to understand the word "no." In doing so, you need to gain confidence in yourself as a parent. But keep in mind that this information is not intended as a substitute for visits to your pediatrician. Never hesitate to ask your doctor about specific behavioral issues with your child.
Child upbringing and behavior
Watch for your 9-month-old baby's constant attempts to talk. Talk to your baby while dressing, bathing, feeding, playing, walking, and riding in the car - this stimulates speech development.
Encourage your child to play with age-appropriate toys. Children this age love to play. They even use household items such as plastic cups, large wooden spoons, pots, pans, and plastic containers to play with. A foam ball helps your child develop his fine motor skills.
Providing opportunities for safe exploration for the child
To discipline a child, you need to set limits on the use of the verbal "no", distract the child, remove the irritating object from the child's field of vision, or take the child away from the irritating or dangerous object. Never hit a child to maintain discipline. If you are angry with your child, put the child in his crib or playpen for one to two minutes. This will allow you to calm down, and your child will understand that he did something wrong. Discipline is undoubtedly very important.
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Shoes
Shoes are not needed at this age (except for going outside). Booties should only be used to protect feet from sharp stones and cold.
Child development at 9 months
- During this period, your baby will learn to crawl, walk and stand again. He can move very actively around the room. He already sits well on his own.
- A 9-month-old baby already responds to his own name. He understands a few words, such as "no-no" and "goodbye." He can even say "daddy" or "mommy," but not on purpose.
- Your baby is beginning to develop certain concepts - for example, your baby is already finding a toy after he sees that you put it under the blanket. Your baby likes to hit two toys together.
- Perhaps the most striking development achieved by a 9-month-old baby is the use of his fingers: he enjoys poking at things with his thumb and can grasp smaller and smaller objects in his hand.
- As for sleep, now a 9-month-old baby can sleep all night without waking up. And during the day he sleeps less.
- A 9-month-old baby can already boast of one front or two lower teeth.
Diseases of a child at 9 months
Nine months is the age when your baby becomes more susceptible to infections. This is likely due to the loss of maternal antibodies that your baby received while breastfeeding, and now that your baby is increasingly eating solid foods and formula. Don't be discouraged if your baby catches a cold or two between his first and second birthdays.
Feeding a 9 month old baby
Give your baby soft foods as recommended by your doctor to increase the texture and variety of foods in his diet. Let your baby use his newly acquired skill at gnawing on small objects by offering him small pieces of soft foods. You may need to wash your baby after each meal!
A 9-month-old baby is a great imitator. He may want what you are eating and take food from your plate, not his own.
Never give your 9-month-old baby any food that could cause a choking hazard. These foods include peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs or sausages, carrots or celery, whole grapes, raisins, corn, beans, hard candy, large pieces of raw vegetables or fruit, or tough meat.
Always supervise your child when he eats anything.
Continue teaching your child how to drink from a cup so that he or she begins to wean off the bottle throughout the first year.
For the first year of your baby's life, continue using breast milk or iron-fortified supplements.
Continue to provide supplemental vitamin D to your breastfed infant.
Baby sleep at 9 months
Encourage your child to soothe himself when you put him down to sleep.
Due to the emergence of such an emotion as anxiety, a 9-month-old child may resist both night and daytime sleep. Then you need to calm him down, tell him a story, give the baby a massage.
Some 9-month-olds may wake up for short periods of time during the night. If this happens, check on your baby, but only stay in the room for a short time, avoid stimulating your baby, and leave the room quickly once you feel your baby is okay. Don't give him extra bottles of food before bed. This will only reinforce the night waking and become a habit.
Sleep is also sometimes disrupted when a child sleeps with his or her parents and does not want to go back to his or her own bed.
Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle - this can disrupt the digestive process.
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Baby Safety at 9 Months
Remember that there is no such thing as "complete baby safety". Your beloved newborn is very mobile now, so it is imperative to monitor his safety when he tries to walk, crawl or pick up something. When you take your baby in the car, for his safety, continue to use the back seat with a car seat. Never carry your baby in the front seat in your arms.
- Do not leave your baby alone in a bathtub with water or on high places such as changing tables, beds, sofas and chairs. Always keep one hand on your baby's back or arm to catch him or her if necessary.
- Avoid using baby walkers. There is a significant risk of major and minor injuries and even death from using baby walkers.
- If you have gas appliances in your home, you definitely need a fan, the ability to open windows in that room, or gas leak detectors.
- Always remove empty buckets, tubs, or small tubs of water immediately after use. If you have a private home with a children's or adult pool in the yard, make sure the pool is enclosed with a four-sided fence with self-closing doors or self-locking. Pools are deadly for children this age.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure when taking your baby for a walk. The waterproof sunscreen you apply to your baby should contain more than 15 SPF. Avoid sunbathing hours for your baby between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is most dangerous.
- Do not leave heavy objects or containers with hot liquids on a table with a tablecloth that a child can pull down.
- Place plastic plugs into electrical outlets.
Keep all poisonous substances, medicines, detergents, cosmetics, paints and solvents in a safe place out of sight and reach of children. Never store poisonous substances in cans or water bottles.
A child at 9 months is very curious, he is ready to explore the whole world within his reach. Therefore, you need to very carefully monitor the child at this age.