Milestones at 9 Months

Your baby is about to become a little chatterbox, and to get more and more mobile. As your little one starts to eat independently, you can introduce foods that are easy to pick up and mash with the gums. Here’s a look at what a baby typically does at 9 months:

Social / Emotional Milestones

Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
Looks when you call his or her name
Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language / Communication Milestones

Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his or her spoon or toy)
Bangs two things together

Movement / Physical Milestones

Gets to a sitting position independently
Moves things from one hand to other hand
Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself or herself
Sits without support

Concerned About Your Child’s Development?

All babies are different and develop at their own pace. If your infant has not yet reached some of these milestones, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.

Still, you know your child best. And developmental delays or disorders are most successfully treated when caught early.

If you have concerns, don’t wait.

Talk with the healthcare provider if you think your child...

Is not meeting milestones for his or her age
Has lost skills he or she once had, or is not doing something you’d expect him or her to be doing

Or if you have concerns about...

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts or moves
Other things your child does

SOURCE: These developmental milestones, established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, provide a general idea of what most children (75% or more) do by certain ages.