9 Month Old Baby Development: Gross Motor Skills
Your baby may not be saying the word "no," but he may already be shaking his head from side to side in protest throughout the day (when you put him down for a nap, feed him broccoli, change his diaper ... you get the idea). Hold your ground and consider it a prelude to the proverbial toddler "what's that?" and the notorious preschooler "but why?"
What You're Thinking: "I think this kid's got more will power than I do. I'm in trouble!"
Baby Milestones
- Your baby can bang things together now! ... Hooray? Give him things that make different sounds and let him explore. Try pots and pans with a wooden spoon and a metal spoon. He'll love testing out the different noises he can make ... for as long as you can stand it.
- Explore other noises your baby can make—with her mouth! Try making some funny sounds and letting your baby copy you. Roll your lips and say, "Brrr," blow a few raspberries or continue repeating "mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama ..." in the hopes that he'll repeat it.
- Baby is probably learning to clap his hands, now, so it's time to try to remember all the words to "Patty-Cake" and clapping games like "Miss Mary Mack" and "Say, Say My Playmate," so you can put his new clapping skills to good use. (You can save the rest of your summer camp skills—like hair braiding and marshmallow roasting—for a later date.)
- Even though baby's still not quite into playdates (and won't be until he's about 3 years old, actually), they're great for getting you out of the house and socializing!
Mommy Milestones
- You put that sippy cup back together with the three-part straw and five other random parts ... all without a degree in engineering. (Turns out those diagrams actually make it more confusing!).
- You are praying that somehow your child will never stop taking naps (OK, maybe when she's 18).
- You can replenish an empty diaper bag in less than five minutes.
- You've let a video of twirling toys and classical music buy you 10 extra minutes of sleep.
- You no longer think the eyelash curler is the greatest invention known to woman—disposable diapers have rocketed to first place.
Home Front
Can you believe your little pumpkin head fit into that teeny-tiny onesie just a few short months ago? Or those itty-bitty socks? As hard as it can be to believe, he's gotten so big already, it can be just as hard to get rid of outgrown baby clothes. Not sure what to keep and what to toss? Our tips will help you be efficient in your sorting (and saving) of baby clothes. Read more...
Everything you ever wanted to know ... and were just about to ask ...
Do It:
Upsy Daisy
Entertain baby and work your tush all at once!
Buy It: Urine-Erase Stain and Odor Remover
Take the "P.U." out of pee stains with this nifty spray.
Cook It: Day-Care Fibber
One Mom tells a white lie to maintain her SAH status!
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All babies grow and develop at different rates. So please don't compare your kid with so-and-so's baby from across the street—you'll just drive yourself nuts. If you have any concerns, bring them up with your pediatrician at your baby's next checkup.
report abuseEntertain baby and work your tush all at once!
Buy It: Urine-Erase Stain and Odor Remover
Take the "P.U." out of pee stains with this nifty spray.
Cook It: Day-Care Fibber
One Mom tells a white lie to maintain her SAH status!
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.
BACK: Baby Development: Month 8 / NEXT: Baby Development: More month 9
All babies grow and develop at different rates. So please don't compare your kid with so-and-so's baby from across the street—you'll just drive yourself nuts. If you have any concerns, bring them up with your pediatrician at your baby's next checkup.
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