9 months milestones
by 9 months, most babies are crawling or finding ways to move, pulling to stand, and developing a pincer grasp. separation anxiety is common at this stage.
physical milestones
•crawls (or finds another way to move — bottom shuffling, commando crawling)
•pulls to stand holding furniture
•sits well without support
•uses pincer grasp (thumb and index finger) to pick up small objects
•points at objects
cognitive milestones
•looks for hidden objects (developing object permanence)
•plays peek-a-boo
•puts objects in and out of containers
•explores objects in different ways (shaking, banging, throwing)
social & emotional milestones
•may be clingy with familiar adults (separation anxiety)
•has favourite toys
•understands 'no' (but may not always listen)
•copies sounds and gestures of others
language & communication
•understands 'no'
•babbles with different sounds and syllables
•copies sounds and gestures
•uses fingers to point at things
red flags to watch for
talk to your GP or child health nurse if your child:
- •doesn't bear weight on legs when supported to stand
- •doesn't sit with help
- •doesn't babble (mama, baba, dada)
- •doesn't play games like peekaboo
- •doesn't respond to own name
- •doesn't seem to recognise familiar people
tips for this age
- •baby-proof your home — crawlers get into everything
- •offer finger foods to practise the pincer grasp
- •name objects and describe what you're doing throughout the day
- •be patient with separation anxiety — it's a normal developmental stage
view all age milestones
from 3 months to 5 years
this information is based on general developmental guidelines from the CDC and Raising Children Network. every child develops differently — these are guides, not checklists. if you have concerns, consult your GP or child health professional.