Development Summary 6 - 9 Months
Social-emotional
A baby at this stage usually:
Knows familiar people, starts to withdraw from strangers
Begins to turn around when her name is called
Starts to become anxious if her main caregiver is out of sight
Stretches up her arms to be picked up
Initiates gestures such as cough, poking out tongue
There may be a problem if a baby:
Does not show pleasure when she sees familiar people
Is not making eye contact
Cannot be reassured by mother or close carer
Motor skills
A baby at this stage usually:
Sits without support by 8 -9 months
Starts to move around by 8 months (rolling, creeping)
Takes objects to mouth by 6 months
There may be a problem if a baby:
Is not sitting by 9 months
Holds her body stiff and cannot be put in a sitting position
Is not interested in, and reaching for, objects by 8 months
Daily activity
A baby at this stage usually:
Can hold a bottle to drink
Can start to drink from a cup, which is held by an adult, by 6-8 months
Holds a spoon – but cannot use it, by 7 months
Begins to try some ‘solid’ foods
Understanding
A baby at this stage usually:
Looks for a fallen object by 7 months
Plays ‘peek-a-boo’ games
Cannot understand ‘no’ or ‘danger’
There may be a problem if a baby:
Does not recognise mother
Does not show interest in surroundings
Speech and language
A baby at this stage usually:
Babbles by 6-7 months making one and two syllable sounds, e.g. ‘dada’
Listens to a person speaking, then ‘answers’ in babbling sounds
There may be a problem if a baby:
Does not babble, imitate or make other sounds when someone talks to him.
If you are concerned about your baby's development contact your Doctor or Paediatrician.