Developmental Milestones Record – 9 Months
Typical 9-month-old infants are expected to develop certain physical and mental skills. These skills are called developmental milestones.
All children develop a little differently. If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk to your child’s health care provider.
A 9-month-old has most often reached the following milestones:
- Gains weight at a slower rate, about 15 grams (half an ounce) per day or 1 pound (450 grams) per month
- Increases in length by 1.5 centimeters (a little over one-half inch) per month
- Bowel and bladder become more regular
- Puts hands forward when the head is pointed to the ground (parachute reflex) to protect self from falling
- Is able to crawl
- Sits for long periods
- Pulls self to standing position
- Reaches for objects while sitting
- Bangs objects together
- Can grasp objects between the tip of the thumb and index finger
- Feeds self with fingers
- Throws or shakes objects
The 9-month-old typically:
- Babbles
- Has separation anxiety and may cling to parents
- Is developing depth perception
- Understands that objects continue to exist, even when they are not seen (object constancy)
- Responds to simple commands
- Responds to name
- Understands the meaning of “no”
- Imitates speech sounds
- May be afraid of being left alone
- Plays interactive games, such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
- Waves goodbye
To help the 9-month-old develop:
- Provide picture books.
- Provide different stimuli by going to the mall to see people, or to the zoo to see animals.
- Build vocabulary by reading and naming people and objects in the environment.
- Teach hot and cold through play.
- Provide large toys that can be pushed to encourage walking.
- Sing songs together.
- Avoid television time until age 2 years.
- Try using a transition object to help decrease separation anxiety.
Growth milestones for children – 9 months; Childhood growth milestones – 9 months; Normal childhood growth milestones – 9 months; Well child – 9 months.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Practice & Ambulatory Medicine. 2024 Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care: Policy statement. Pediatrics. 2024;154(1):e2024067201. PMID: 38910527 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38910527/.
Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Normal development. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 7.
Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.
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