What to Expect: Nine Months
At nine months, your baby is rapidly developing new skills and independence. This guide provides essential tips on feeding, play, discipline, and safety to support your baby's growth and ensure a secure environment during this important stage.
FAMILY CHECK-IN
Stay connected with friends and family while also taking time for yourself.
Invite friends over or join a parent group.
Take time for yourself.
Spend time with your family and friends.
FEEDING
Encourage self-feeding and introduce a variety of textures, while continuing to breastfeed or provide formula.
Give your child the opportunity to learn to feed themselves without help.
Know that messy eating is expected at this stage.
Offer healthy foods in 3 meals each day plus snacks.
Reduce the amounts of purees offered and replace them with more table foods. Avoid raw honey and large or hard pieces of food that can cause choking.
Introduce a variety of textures (lumpy, thick, etc.).
No soft drinks, tea, coffee, and flavored drinks
Avoid overfeeding. Allow your child to choose which foods to eat and how much.
Help your baby learn to use a cup.
Keep trying if your baby seems to dislike a particular food. It takes 10-15 tries for many children to adjust to a new food.
Continue to breastfeed your baby as long as you can and your baby wishes. Then, talk with your healthcare provider about weaning.
Continue to offer breast milk or iron-fortified formula until 1 year of age. Don’t switch to cow’s milk until then.
PLAYING
Support exploration and learning through safe play, daily routines, and interaction.
Follow daily routines.
Allow exploration, but keep close by your baby to ensure safe play.
Separation anxiety is expected at this stage. Stay calm, and don’t worry if your baby cries when they see you preparing to leave.
Support learning with balls, blocks, and enriching toys.
Talk, sing and read daily.
TV, computers, tablets, and smartphones are not appropriate at this age
Consider creating a family media plan to set prescribed screen time maximums based on age.
DISCIPLINE
Use distraction and positive reinforcement to guide your baby’s behavior.
Tell your baby what to do (“time for a bath”) instead of what not to do.
Distraction works best at this age. Out of sight, out of mind.
Model appropriate behavior.
Use “No!” only when your baby might get hurt or hurt others.
SAFETY CHECK-IN
Ensure safety at home, in the car, and around water, sun, and chemicals.
Safety In The Car and On the Road
Always buckle your baby in a rear-facing-only car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
Never put a baby in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.
Keep your baby rear-facing in an approved convertible or 3-in-1 car seat until maximum height or weight restrictions indicate a need to switch to forward-facing.
Be there for your baby! Always wear your seatbelt. Never drive after drinking or using drugs. Never text and drive.
Never leave your baby alone in the car. Instead, create habits to prevent this, like leaving your cell phone in the back seat.
Safety Around Water, Sun, and Chemicals
Keep poisons, medicines, and cleaning products locked out of your baby’s reach.
Program poison control numbers into all phones. Call your healthcare provider if you are worried your baby has swallowed something.
Keep your child within arm's reach when they are near or in water.
Empty buckets, pools, and tubs when you are finished using them.
Never leave your infant unattended in the bathtub, even with a bath seat or ring.
Safety in the Home and Emergency Planning
If you must keep a gun in the house, store it unloaded and locked with the ammunition locked separately.
Place gates at tops and bottoms of stairs.
Do not leave heavy or hot things on any tablecloth that your baby could pull on.
Cover outlets and place barriers around heaters.
Install operable window guards for second-story and higher windows. Operable, meaning an adult can open the window in an emergency.
Keep furniture away from windows.
Keep your baby in a high chair or playpen while in the kitchen.
Conclusion
As your baby reaches nine months, they are on the cusp of major developmental milestones, making it an exciting yet challenging time for both of you. By encouraging self-feeding, fostering safe exploration, and implementing gentle discipline, you can support your baby's growth and independence. Safety remains a top priority, ensuring that your home, car, and play areas are secure. Embrace this stage with patience and adaptability, knowing that the foundation you build now will greatly influence your baby's confidence and curiosity as they continue to grow.
