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Infant development: What happens from 7 to 9 months?
Your baby may surprise you with new skills and abilities every day. Infant development milestones for a 7- to 9-month-old include sitting, standing and laughing.
By Mayo Clinic staffWould you be shocked to find your baby climbing up the stairs or standing in the crib? Prepare yourself. You may be facing these surprises sooner than you think. As your baby becomes more mobile and inquisitive, infant development takes off. It may seem that your baby learns something new every day.
What to expect
Your baby will continue to grow and develop at his or her own unique pace. In general, you can expect your baby to reach these infant development milestones between ages 7 months and 9 months.
- Motor skills advance. By this age, most babies can roll over in both directions — even in their sleep. Some babies can sit on their own, while others need a little support. You may notice your baby beginning to scoot, rock back and forth, or even crawl across the room. Some babies this age can pull themselves to a standing position. Soon your baby may cruise along the edge of the couch or coffee table.
- Hand-eye coordination improves. Most babies this age transfer objects from one hand to another or directly to their mouths. Pulling objects closer with a raking motion of the hands will give way to more refined movements, such as picking up objects with just the thumb and forefinger. This improving dexterity will help your baby handle a spoon and soft finger foods.
- Communication evolves. Your baby will communicate with you through sounds, gestures and facial expressions. You'll probably hear plenty of laughing and squealing. Your baby may even respond to his or her own name. Babies this age can distinguish emotions by tone of voice. They may repeat the sounds they hear — or give it their best shot. Your baby's babbling is likely to include chains of sounds, such as "ba-ba-ba." You may even pick out an occasional "mama" or "dada."
- Stranger anxiety appears. Many babies this age become wary of strangers. Your baby may resist staying with anyone other than you, shunning even grandparents or familiar baby sitters. If your baby fusses when you leave — or melts down entirely — resist the temptation to sneak away. Say goodbye with a hug and kiss and a reminder that you'll be back soon. Chances are, your baby will stop crying as soon as you're out of sight and something else grabs his or her attention. You might even plan ahead of time how the caregiver will distract your baby.
- Teething begins. If your baby still has a toothless grin, you can expect the first tooth — likely one of the middle teeth in the lower jaw (a lower central incisor) — to break through anytime. You may notice your baby drooling more than usual and chewing on just about anything. Offer a cool, wet washcloth or teething ring. If you haven't done so already, get in the habit of cleaning your baby's teeth and gums at least once a day. Use plain water and a soft cloth or baby toothbrush.
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References
- Development through your child's eyes: Birth to 8 months. Zero to Three. http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_childdevt_devt08&AddInterest=1153. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- Everyday ways to support your baby's and toddler's early learning. Zero to Three. http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/early_learning_handout.pdf?docID=3081&AddInterest=1153. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- A child becomes a reader: Proven ideas from research for parents. National Institute for Literacy. http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/pdf/low_res_child_reader_B-K.pdf. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- Child development: Infants (0-1 year old). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/infants.htm. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- Parenting corner Q&A: Developmental milestones. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_DevMile_7Mos.htm. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books; 2004:231.
- Teething. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/teething.asp. Accessed March 5, 2009.
- Tooth eruption charts. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/tooth_eruption.asp. Accessed March 5, 2009.
