Your 9-Month-Old Baby’s Milestones and Development

For many parents, the 9-month mark seems like a monumental time. While your little one is still an infant, they are getting much closer to the toddler years. This can be both exhilarating and stressful as your baby's skills improve—and their sense of independence expands. At this age, your baby is becoming increasingly mobile, mastering solid foods, improving their language skills, and honing their fine motor skills like the pincer grasp.

As you prepare for your baby's 9-month well-visit with your pediatrician, you may be wondering if they're on track and meeting the appropriate milestones. Read on to discover what most babies might be accomplishing at this age as well as gather some useful tips on sleep, nutrition, care, and safety.

9-Month-Old Baby Physical Milestones

Your baby is actually closer to being a toddler than an infant at this point. This may feel hard to fathom, but it won't be long now until your baby takes those first few steps.

9-month-old baby's mobility

As your baby becomes more mobile, they also may start to test their standing and walking skills. This means they might cruise around furniture or enjoy walking and standing while you are holding their hands.

"By 9 months babies are usually trying to pull up to a standing position, picking up things with their fingers instead of raking as well as shaking their head or pointing while babbling," says Lyndsey Garbi, MD, board-certified in pediatrics and neonatology and chief pediatrician at Blueberry Pediatrics, a pediatric telehealth platform.

Additionally, babies at this age will be working on the pincer grasp, where they pick things up with the thumb and index finger, says Florencia Segura, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with Einstein Pediatrics near the Washington, DC area.

Will my baby be crawling at 9-months-old?

Some babies might be crawling by now. However, if your baby isn't crawling yet, don't fret. Each baby develops in their own time and at their own pace. In fact, your baby may find other ways to get around your house, or they simply are focusing on perfecting a different skill instead.

When to talk to your pediatrician

That said, there are some physical behaviors you'd want to be on the lookout for—and if you don't notice them, it would be wise to check in with a health care provider. "At this age, I would be concerned if they do not sit independently or if they drag one side of their body while crawling or slithering," Dr. Segura says. "I would want to make sure their motor and nervous system is working properly."

9-Month-Old Baby Cognitive Milestones

By now your baby's brain is continuing to develop, helping them understand their world through touch, play, and talking with their caregivers. Here's what else to know about your baby's cognitive milestones.

9-month-old baby language skills

In addition to movement, your baby's language skills are really taking off at this age. Many are continuing to babble but may also make a wide range of noises in order to communicate with you. They may even say simple words like "ma" and "da."

"They copy sounds, make noise to get your attention, and understand the word no," Dr. Garbi says.

9-Month-Old Baby Feeding Milestones

By now, your baby should be eating both solid food and drinking milk. Here's what else you need to know about baby feeding at 9 months old.

How much should a 9-month-old baby be eating?

During this month, your baby needs about 750 to 900 calories a day with about 400 to 500 of those calories coming from breastmilk or formula or a combination of both. But these numbers are just meant to be guidelines. They are not meant to be strict rules about how much food your baby should eat.

Instead, focus on providing nutritious foods and allowing your baby to decide how much they want to eat. "At 9 months, babies are eating three meals a day and may have decreased their nursing sessions or their formula to about 24 ounces a day," Dr. Segura says. "In terms of the food groups, the goal is that your baby is eating what the family is eating."

What nutrients does a 9-month-old baby need?

Ideally, babies are getting three to four fruits and vegetables a day and two to four ounces of protein a day, as well as some grains, starches, and snacks. Foods with iron are especially important at this age, says Dr. Segura. So, try to incorporate iron sources like beans, lentils, chicken, and beef into their daily meals.

To ensure your baby is getting enough iron, your child's pediatrician will likely check their hemoglobin level sometime between their 9-month check-up and their 12-month check-up. This test is a simple finger prick that allows them to determine your baby's iron levels.

Can a 9-month-old baby try baby-lead weaning?

Many parents like to use baby-lead weaning as a guide for how to feed their babies at this age. Generally, this involves allowing the baby to dictate how much food they want at a time. It also allows the baby some freedom on how much they want to reduce their nursing or bottle-feeding sessions.

9-Month-Old Baby Sleep Milestones

Every baby is different, but most 9-month-olds will sleep through the night and take naps. Here are is a more in-depth look at what a healthy sleep routine looks like for a 9-month-old baby.

How much does a 9-month-old baby sleep?

By 9 months, most babies are sleeping through the night and taking two—sometimes three—naps during the day that last about one to two hours each, says Dr. Garbi. "They also are sleeping anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day with about nine to 12 of those hours coming at night," she adds.

Although the amount of sleep a baby needs at this age varies, the typical schedule is a day that starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. with two naps in the middle, Dr. Segura adds.

What sleep disruptions happen at 9 months old?

"Teething may be starting or continuing around this time period, too, so a lot of parents talk about sleep regression," says Dr. Segura. "Other times babies will experience a disruption in their sleep schedule due to a developmental leap where they are mastering a new skill."

Even if your little one is doing well sleeping through the night, other factors such as illnesses and growth spurts may cause temporary disruptions in sleep. Try not to get too discouraged when this happens because these sleep issues are usually temporary.

"Separation anxiety intensifies also at this age," Dr. Segura says. "Babies may resist going to bed or wake up looking for their parent(s). This is the time to hone in on your baby's sleep routine and make sure they can go to sleep on their own."

9-Month-Old Health and Safety Milestones

Now that your baby is more mobile, and still growing fast, you need to make sure your baby is staying safe. Your doctor can help make sure that your baby is health and developing well. And there are also some changes you can make to your home to make it safe for your baby.

What happens at a 9-month-old check-up?

At 9 months old, your baby is due for their 9-month well-child check-up this month. Along with checking their weight and head circumference, your child's doctor will check your baby's development and determine which milestones they have reached. They may even do some screenings like checking for anemia and the risk of lead poisoning.

"The 9-month check-up is really important," says Dr. Garbi. "In addition to checking their growth and development, they may have some vaccines due, so parents need to make sure they [make those visits a priority]."

Baby-proofing your home for a 9-month-old baby

As for health and safety at home, you may want to consider your environment from your child's point of view by getting down on their level and looking around. Even the best child-proofing plans can miss something, so you want to be sure your home is as safe as possible.

"What really starts to happen around 9 months is a lot more movement," says Dr. Segura. "This increased movement brings additional dangers, so a baby this age must be constantly monitored. They cannot be left unsupervised."

And because your baby is now pulling up to a standing position, you may want to consider what risks are now within their reach. For instance, can your baby now reach things on the table or couch or even in the kitchen? If so, these things need to be moved out of the baby's reach.

"At this age, it is also important to lower the crib mattress if you have not done so already so that they cannot climb out of their crib," Dr. Garbi says. "You also should make sure all electrical outlets are covered."

And, if your baby has moved to the adult bathtub, it is important to never leave them unaccompanied even if they can sit on their own, she adds.

Other Things to Consider About Your 9-Month-Old Baby

Your baby's health is of course paramount, but don't forget that there are other changes happening with your baby in terms of their emotions, their love of play, and their ability to communicate that you should also make a priority. Here are other factors that are important in a 9-month-old baby's development.

Emotional and personality changes

As your baby hits the 9-month mark, they are likely displaying all types of emotions and personality traits. From perseverance and determination to stubbornness and joy, you are likely to get a glimpse of who your baby is.

Prioritize play

Your baby is also learning about the world around them through exploration, so give them plenty of opportunities to play and experiment—with your supervision, of course. You can encourage exploration by rotating their toys, or by putting their toys around the room so that they are encouraged to move and "discover" them.

Keep talking to your baby

Be sure you are regularly interacting with your baby as you go about your day. Tell them what you are doing, name objects for them, and engage them in conversation. These types of activities help promote language and communication development as well as strengthen your bond with your baby.

Keep in mind that your baby also probably understands the word "no" at this age. So, don't be afraid to say no when your baby is about to "discover" something dangerous or off-limits. Even if they do not fully grasp the meaning of the word yet, they will pick up on your facial expression and tone of voice and realize that they should stop what they are doing.

Talking to your baby and explaining things—even if they cannot fully understand what you are saying—is so important. Not only is it a loving and respectful way to interact with your little one, but it also helps them build important language and communication skills.