1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months Birth 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months 10 Months 11 Months 12 Months 13 thru 18 Months 19 thru 24 Months

Baby Steps: Growth & Development

At nine months, your baby is combining syllables to make sounds that almost sound like words. He/she can stand while holding onto something, and may be using her thumb and finger to pick things up. Some babies are on the move now, using furniture and other objects to slide along or "cruise." If your baby's more advanced, he/she may be able to play pat-a-cake and say "mama" and "dada" to the right parent.19

Your baby may start making more correct associations, such as looking at the right picture when an image is named, and imitating other people's gestures. He/she may also smile at and kiss his/her own image in the mirror. They like to make sure you're close by when he/she's playing, and they may be more sensitive to other children being around.7

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Doing Everything Right: Tips for new moms

  • It's a delight to watch your baby's language skills develop and his/her personality start to take shape. He/she's taking in everything they hear, so talk to him/her the same way you talk to other people and avoid baby talk. This will help him/her learn to pronounce words correctly.24
  • You may be wondering if it's time to buy shoes for your baby since he/she's doing a lot more standing, cruising and even walking. Most pediatricians think it's better to let him/her go barefoot until he/she's walking outside regularly. Going barefoot lets them feel what he/she's walking on so they can balance better, and it also helps strengthen his/her arches and leg muscles.25
  • Excessive thirst, dry mouth, headache, fatigue and little or no urination can be signs of dehydration. To prevent it, try to drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses a day; more when you're extra thirsty.15

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7 “Month-by-Month Guide to Baby's Emotional Development” www.americanbaby.com

15 “Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?” www.cnn.com

19 “Milestone Charts: What to Expect from Your 7-to-12-Month-Old” www.babycenter.com

24 “Your 9-Month-Old” www.babycenter.com

25 “Your 9-Month-Old's Development” www.babycenter.com

The information on this Web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child's health.

Consult your physician or dental professional if using another fluoridated product.

Helpful Tips
for Parents

Ponder the Pacifier

Whether or not to use pacifiers is an age-old debate, but the American Academy of Pediatrics gives it the thumbs up through the first year of life. Sucking is comforting, familiar and calming to babies and a pacifier can be the ideal way to provide contentment between feedings.
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Drive Time

You’re always careful to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays with sunscreen, clothing and a hat when he’s outdoors. But did you know he also needs protection when he rides in the car for an extended period? The glass in car windows blocks some but not all ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn, so if possible, move his car seat out of direct sunlight and apply broad spectrum children’s sunscreen to his exposed skin.

Hand in Hand

Are you wondering whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed? Be patient; it may be months or years before you know for sure. Most babies start showing a preference for reaching for things with their right hands between six and nine months, but it’s not until they’re 18 months or older that they start using their preferred hand more consistently. By age three or four, their handedness should be fairly evident. If it’s not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Source: “How Handedness Develops in Infants,” by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P., www.drspock.com, June 10, 2001