Child Development at Nine Months

 

Posture & Large Movements

• Sits alone for 10–15 minutes on floor.
• Can turn body to look sideways while stretching out to grasp dangling toy or to pick up toy from floor.
• Arms and legs very active in cot, pram and bath.
• Progresses on floor by rolling or squirming.
• Attempts to crawl on all fours.
• Pulls self to stand with support.
• Can stand holding on to support for a few moments, but cannot lower himself.
• Held standing, steps purposefully on alternate feet.

Vision & Fine Movements

• Very observant.
• Stretches out, one hand leading, to grasp small objects immediately on catching sight of them.
• Manipulates objects with lively interest, passing from hand to hand, turning over, etc.
• Pokes at small sweet with index finger.
• Grasps sweets, string, etc., between finger and thumb in scissor fashion.
• Can release toy by pressing against firm surface, but cannot yet put down precisely.
• Searches in correct place for toys dropped within reach of hands.
• Looks after toys falling over edge of pram or table.
• Watches activities of adults, children and animals within 10–12 feet with eager interest for several seconds at a time.
• Watches rolling balls 21/8 inches at 10 feet.

Hearing & Speach

• Vocalises deliberately as means of interpersonal communication.
• Shouts to attract attention, listens, then shouts again.
• Babbles tunefully, repeating syllables in long strings (mam-man, bab-bab, dad-dad, etc.)
• Understands ‘No-No’ and ‘Bye-Bye’.
• Tries to imitate adults’ playful vocal sounds, eg. smacking lips, cough, brr, etc.
• Immediate localising response to baby hearing tests at 3 feet from ear and above and below ear level.

Social Behaviour & Play

• Holds, bites and chews biscuits.
• Puts hands round bottle or cup when feeding.
• Tries to grasp spoon when being fed.
• Throws body back and stiffens in annoyance or resistance.
• Clearly distinguishes strangers from familiars, and requires reassurance before accepting their advances.
• Clings to known adult and hides face.
• Still takes everything to mouth.
• Seizes bell in one hand, imitates ringing action, waving or banging it on table, pokes clapper or ‘drinks’ from bowl.
• Plays peek-a-boo.
• Holds out toy held in hand to adult, but cannot yet give.
• Finds partially hidden toy.
• May find toy hidden under cup.
• Mother supports at lower spine when dressing.

Source: Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects No 102. HMSO 1960, revised 1975.