9 Month Old Baby Development: Fine Motor Skills
Instead of leisurely three-hour shopping trips that are punctuated by lunch and coffee, you're learning that shopping with a baby means dashing out immediately after naptime, arming yourself with snacks and running through the store with a cart full of toys you picked up to entertain the baby (but have no intention of buying). The upside? Free cookies from the bakery—"for the baby"—and rightful access to the best parking places. Besides, who needs a food court lunch when there are baby clothes to buy?!
What You're Thinking: "Please don't have a meltdown, please don't have a meltdown!"
Baby Milestones
- Let your baby explore his hands and what they can do. Give him lots of different things to hold and feel (and probably chew on), like a furry cloth, a hard block or a squeaky toy.
- Let your baby play with little toys that are too big to choke on but easy for him to hold in one hand, like brightly colored blocks or sorting shapes. He's getting better at passing them from one hand to the other as he practices his motor skills (as in dexterity, not "brum, brum," making the cars go—although an age-appropriate toy car could serve both purposes!).
- Your baby is starting to develop his recall memory. He may remember where his toys are or which room the dog food is in. He still won't remember experiences like vacations you took or the endless hours you spend with him at the park, so make sure you take lots of pictures to prove what a fabulous babyhood he had!
Mommy Milestones
- You look forward to your baby's well-baby visits; the office staff is part of your support system.
- You got rid of a toy that made too many annoying sounds (and your baby is too young to miss it; it'll be an entirely different story when he's 3!).
- You are no longer obsessed with your weight, but you know exactly what percentile the baby's in.
- You watch Run's House on MTV and realize they're really good parents.
- You know that picking up your baby throughout the day adds up to dozens of squats (and you're not ashamed to tell your friends that you did work out today!).
Home Front
Who knew that tiny new roommate of yours came with so much stuff? Don't let all that baby gear—along with all of your stuff—take over the house! Take control and tackle the kid clutter. We've got a plan to help you declutter the house, get things organized ... and keep it that way! Read more ...
Everything you ever wanted to know ... and were just about to ask ...
Do It:
Puddin' Paintin'
Let baby play with her food and give her brain a sensory workout!
Buy It: BabyBriefcase
Get organized now while you've only got nine months worth of baby-related paperwork!
Cook It: Sweet Apple Pumpkin Baby Food
So delish you might need to make a second batch for yourself.
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.
BACK: Baby Development: More Month 9 / NEXT: Special Edition: Me Time
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 abuseLet baby play with her food and give her brain a sensory workout!
Buy It: BabyBriefcase
Get organized now while you've only got nine months worth of baby-related paperwork!
Cook It: Sweet Apple Pumpkin Baby Food
So delish you might need to make a second batch for yourself.
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.
BACK: Baby Development: More Month 9 / NEXT: Special Edition: Me Time
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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