9 months baby already increasingly able to understand the words spoken by the people around him, and will try to respondswith words also. In addition, the 9-month-old baby's social skills are also increasing.
9-month-old baby boys generally weigh around 7.2–10.9 kg, with a length of 67.7–76.2 cm. Meanwhile, baby girls aged 9 months usually weigh around 6.6–10.4 kg, with a length of 65.6–74.7 cm.
9 Months Baby's Motor Ability
In general, a 9 month old baby needs a room that is spacious and safe to move around, such as crawling, standing, and exploring the surroundings. This is because he is already able to do various things, such as:
- Takes things out of their toy boxes and enjoys moving toys from one place to another
- Pointing at objects with his index finger, and trying to reach various objects and paying attention to how they work, for example a cell phone that makes a sound
- Lifts something with the thumb and forefinger, and moves objects from one hand to the other with ease
- Putting things in your mouth
- Bend your knees to sit from a standing position. This can usually be done since he was 8 months old
- Crawls very actively, even being able to hold a toy with one hand while crawling on both knees and the other hand
- Change positions quickly, starting from a sitting position, crawling, then turning to pick up toys
- Explore the room on foot slowly while holding on to a sofa, table, or other furniture
Considering that your little one is becoming more and more active, you should keep away from various objects that pose a risk to his safety, such as medicines, sharp objects, cleaning fluids, electric plugs, and pointed ends of furniture.
In addition, if your little one uses socks while playing, make sure to choose socks with a rubber base, yes, Bun, to avoid the risk of your little one falling because it is slippery.
9 Months Baby Communicating Ability
As mentioned earlier, a 9 month old baby is getting better at understanding words and will try to respond with words as well.
For example, when Mother asked, "What sound is that?", he could point to a ringing phone. Likewise, when Mother asked, "Inmwhere's the ball?" He could already point in the direction of the object in question.
On the other hand, a 9 month old baby can also understand prohibitions and words 'no', although sometimes he still violates it.
Even though you are only 9 months old, you can already apply simple rules to your little one, such as 'don't slam the toy' or 'Wash hands before eating' to get used to distinguishing between good and bad.
A 9 month old baby can already say longer words, such as 'papa-papa' or 'baba-baba', or pronounce a word correctly. He is also able to imitate the sounds and movements of people around him, and has begun to be able to convey his desire to drink milk or eat solid food.
9 Months Baby's Social Ability
As his consciousness develops, at 9 months of age, you will see your little one react to certain situations that were previously not a problem for him, such as being afraid when the room lights are turned off or crying when you go to work.
At this age, babies are at the peak of feeling uncomfortable when they are not with their parents or closest people. However, the good news is that a 9-month-old baby generally won't fuss or cry for a long time, as his attention can be easily distracted.
So, if you are going to take your little one out of the house, you should prepare a picture book, hand puppet, or a toy that can make sounds to distract him when he is feeling uncomfortable.
However, there are also 9-month-old babies who enjoy being the center of attention and making people around them laugh. He can make sounds or movements that can attract attention and invite laughter.
When eating, maybe he will be happy to give his food to others. If so, accept the gift with a smile, because it will make him happy.
Other Things to Pay Attention to
In addition to their well-developed motor and social skills, generally 9-month-old babies are also able to:
- Remembering specifics, such as where toys are stored
- Mimicking things he saw, even if they happened the week before, is like remembering how to play with an object. This shows that his short term memory has started working
- Knowing the things that belong to him, so that he will react when someone takes his things
Mothers also need to remember that at the age of 9 months, the neural network in the baby's brain will be connected rapidly. Mothers can support the development of the Little One by providing good stimulation, so that he can learn faster and know more.
Stimulation does not need to be done with expensive objects or activities. Daily activities, such as singing, dancing, reading fairy tales, and inviting him to interact with other people have become sufficient stimulation to support his development.
When does a 9-month-old baby need to be consulted by a doctor?
Every child's development is different. However, Mother is advised to consult a doctor, if your little one who is 9 months old shows some of the following:
- Unable to sit with assistance
- Does not respond when his name is called or when there is a loud noise
- Unable to stand and support own body weight while holding on or without assistance
- Can't chatter
- Does not recognize family members or people who are with him every day
- Not paying attention to the direction pointed
- Unable to move objects from one hand to another
- Can't play with other people
Also keep in mind that babies born prematurely generally develop more slowly than children their age. So, if your little one was born prematurely or has certain medical conditions, you should also ask your doctor about the ideal growth and development benchmark for your little one.