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What To Expect From A 7 To 9 Month Old Baby In Terms Of Developmental Milestones

By Rodelyn Pelaiz


An infant between the ages of 7 and nine months is beginning to become more interested in the world in which he or she lives. Exploring "everything" becomes part of a baby's daily agenda, which means Mommy and Daddy need to keep a very close eye on him or her. Personality traits start to emerge, and the child may demonstrate definite likes and dislikes. Find out what to expect from a 7 to 9-month old baby in this informative guide.

At this age, most babies are starting to enjoy a varied diet of solid foods and are slowly being weaned from the bottle or breast. The baby must get an adequate supply of essential vitamins and minerals for healthy development.

As a rule, introducing one new table food each week is a good way to help the child practice chewing, and it also makes mealtime more enjoyable. The baby may be interested in self-feeding as well, which can be encouraged by providing an infant spoon and a sippy cup. The increasing discovery of how useful their fingers are can be further developed by giving them a variety of finger foods, which also helps strengthen eye/hand coordination.

Babies in this stage of development can pick up objects using a pincer grasp, throw them, bang them together, and pass them from one hand to the next. The concept of object permanence becomes apparent as the infant realizes that if a toy is dropped or tossed it is still there. They enjoy playing peek-a-boo and can wave goodbye. Fear of strangers may manifest in some children at this age too.

Babies become much more ambulatory during this time; they can sit without support and start crawling. Many will also pull themselves up to a standing position by grabbing onto furniture, and may even walk a few steps while doing so; this is called "cruising". Parents now need to eliminate any potential hazards in the home with their newly mobile baby.

Playing and reading with the infant becomes more important than ever before. They enjoy when an adult caregiver gets down on the floor and plays blocks or toys with them, reads aloud to them, and teaches them clapping games such as "pattycake". Bouncing games on one's knee or in a bouncer seat are also great fun for babies.

Separation anxiety may also become apparent; the child gets upset when the parent is not in sight, even for a short while. They may be a bit clingy and want to be picked up to ensure they don't lose sight of Mom or Dad. Playing peek-a-boo with a face or toy, can help them learn that just because something can't see doesn't mean it gone.

The earliest forms of speech start to appear at this age, in the form of "babbling" where the baby begin to speak random syllables. But may be able to say "mama" and "dada," although not always remember who the name refers. They also communicate with non-verbal sounds and pointing to people and objects. Many will understand the word "No", but they will not always obey it.




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