9-Month Well Child Check
Safety
- Keep all firearms locked in a secure place. The key location should be hidden from the child and the ammunition should be locked separately from the firearm.
- Many ordinary things in your house can be poisonous to your child. Be sure to keep all cleaners, chemicals and medications out of sight and out of reach. Keep cabinets locked or latched to prevent exploration injuries. If your baby does eat or drink something that could be poisonous call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 if he is conscious. It is important not to make your baby vomit.
- Babies like to explore their environment which usually involves putting things in their mouths. Your baby is getting very good at grabbing at toys and objects that he could choke on. You can help him by making sure all toys are too big to swallow and other small objects are out of reach. Learning CPR can help you save your baby if he chokes.
- Some babies may be pulling to stand or walking as early as 9 months, so there is now another level that they can reach. Make sure your house is baby-proofed at least as tall as your child can reach. Be aware of stairways and other rooms in which your baby might get hurt. They may also be able to get to other objects that can cause burns, such as stovetops and hot liquids.
- Even though your baby is very sturdy while sitting, he always needs an adult within arm’s reach when in or near water of any kind. A child can drown in any amount of water. Pools should be completely surrounded by a fence that separates it from the house and has a self-locking gate.
- To prevent a sunburn, you should keep him out of direct sunlight and dress him in clothes that cover the body. You should also use children’s sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.
- Continue to put your baby in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until he is 1 year old AND weighs 20 pounds. You should use the car seat every time he rides in the car. Never leave your child alone in a closed car.
Feeding & Nutrition
- Continue breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Your baby probably should take about 6-8 ounces 4-6 times a day. This is a perfect opportunity to transition your child from a bottle to a cup, so he no longer uses the bottle by his birthday.
- Mealtimes are a great social interaction time for the family. Meals with infants and toddlers can be lots of fun, but also frustrating. Since they’re learning to feed themselves at this stage, babies are messy eaters, so be patient. They may also start to indicate wants and dislikes. You should be offering them 3 healthy meals and 2 snacks a day. They can eat a large variety of foods including finely-chopped meats now.
- You may give your baby some extra water (4-8 ounces) throughout the day; however he doesn’t need any juice or sweeteners (honey or corn syrup). Other foods to avoid are foods he can choke on (hard foods, hot dogs, grapes, popcorn, raisins, etc.) and foods that have high allergy potential (egg whites, milk, nuts, strawberries, peanut butter).
Health
- Any smoke in the house is dangerous to a baby. We encourage all parents never to smoke around their baby, and to not to smoke at all for their own health.
- Your baby’s sleeping patterns should be regular at this point. He should sleep between 8 and 12 hours through the night along with 2-3 naps during the day. A regular sleep schedule and bedtime routine will encourage healthy sleep patterns.
- Your baby may have between zero and 8 teeth by now. You should brush them twice a day with a brush and infant toothpaste (no fluoride). You can prevent cavities by never putting them to bed with a bottle or cup.
Development
- Your baby is learning a tremendous amount of information and listens to everything now. He will be able to respond to his name, point to his parents and play social games. He will start to understand a few words, say “mama” and “dada” specifically and maybe say his first word. Your baby will often point or lead you to something he wants. You can play social games and help him learn his body parts.
- Talking with and reading to your baby will help his language development. Books can be a part of every activity throughout the day. It’s ok to read for very short periods of time, any time. Choose books that have large, bright colored pictures with familiar objects and other babies. Describe what you see in the book, not just the words.
- This is a time of rapid motor development. Your baby has probably learned to crawl and pull to stand and will soon be cruising and walking. Help him accomplish these milestones by providing a loving and safe environment.
- Your baby is learning how to use his hands well now. He can feed himself, bang things together, pick up small objects with his fingers and play games.
Discipline & Behavior
- This is the peak age of separation anxiety, and stranger anxiety starts to develop also. Short separations are helpful to demonstrate that the parent will come back. Familiar toys or animals will also help them cope.
- With added mobility comes added danger to an older infant. Redirection from dangerous activities is usually more effective than punishment. It’s easier to change a child’s environment than the behavior. Rewarding good behavior reinforces it.
- Added mobility can increase sibling rivalry since the baby can now get into his sibling’s toys.
Next Visit – at 12 months of age
