Well-Baby Checkup: 9 Months
At the 9-month checkup, the healthcare provider will examine the baby and ask how things are going at home. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
By 9 months, most of your baby’s meals will be made up of “finger foods.”
Development and Milestones
The healthcare provider will ask questions about your baby. And he or she will observe the baby to get an idea of the infant’s development. By this visit, your baby is likely doing some of the following:
Sitting up without support
Trying to feed himself or herself
Moving items from one hand to the other
Looking around for a toy after dropping it
Turning his or her head upon hearing a parent’s voice
Beginning to creep or crawl
Waving and clapping his or her hands
Starting to move around while holding on to the couch or other furniture (known as “cruising”)
Getting upset when separated from a parent, or becoming anxious around strangers
Feeding Tips
By 9 months, your baby’s feedings can include “finger foods” as well as rice cereal and soft foods (see box below). Growth may slow and the baby may begin to look thinner and leaner. This is normal and does not mean the baby isn’t getting enough to eat. Also, the baby may start to get teeth. If you have questions about teething, ask the healthcare provider. To help your baby eat well:
Don’t force the baby to eat when he or she is full. During a feeding, you can tell the baby is full if he or she eats more slowly or bats the spoon away.
The baby should eat solids 3 times each day and have breast milk or formula 4-5 times per day. As the baby eats more solids, he or she will need less breast milk or formula. By 12 months, most of the baby’s nutrition will come from solid foods.
Start giving water in a sippy cup (a baby cup with handles and a lid). A cup won’t yet replace a bottle, but this is a good age to introduce it.
Don’t give your baby cow’s milk to drink yet. Other dairy foods are okay, such as yogurt and cheese. These should be full-fat products (not low-fat or nonfat).
Be aware that some foods should not be fed to babies younger than 12 months old. These may include fish, shellfish, nuts, peanut butter, strawberries, raspberries, and egg whites (yolks are okay). Talk to the healthcare provider if you have questions.
Do not give honey to a child younger than 12 months of age.
Ask the healthcare provider if your baby needs fluoride supplements.
Hygiene Tips
If you notice sudden changes in your baby’s stool or his or her pooping or peeing habits, tell the healthcare provider.
Ask the healthcare provider when your baby should have his or her first dental visit.
Sleeping Tips
At 9 months, your baby will be awake for most of the day. He or she will likely nap once or twice a day, for a total of around 1-3 hours each day. The baby should sleep about 8-10 hours at night. If your baby sleeps more or less than this but seems healthy, it is not a concern. To help your baby sleep:
Get the child used to doing the same things each night before bed. Having a bedtime routine helps your baby learn when it’s time to go to sleep. For example, your routine could be a bath, followed by a feeding, followed by being put down to sleep. Pick a bedtime and try to stick to it each night.
Do not put your child to bed with any drink other than water.
Be aware that even good sleepers may begin to have trouble sleeping at this age. It’s okay to put the baby down awake and to let the baby cry him- or herself to sleep in the crib. Ask the healthcare provider for other tips.
Safety Tips
As your baby becomes more mobile, active supervision is crucial. Always be aware of what your baby is doing. An accident can happen in a split second. To keep your baby safe:
Childproof the house, if you haven’t already. If your baby is pulling up on furniture or cruising (moving around while holding on to objects), be sure that big pieces such as cabinets and TVs are tied down. Otherwise they may be pulled on top of the child. Move any items that might hurt the child out of his or her reach. Be aware of items like tablecloths or cords that the baby might pull on. Do a safety check of any area your baby spends time in.
Don’t let your baby get hold of anything small enough to choke on. This includes toys, solid foods, and items on the floor that the baby may find while crawling. As a rule, an item small enough to fit inside a toilet paper tube can cause a child to choke.
Don’t leave the baby on a high surface such as a table, bed, or couch. Your baby could fall off and get hurt. This is even more likely once the baby knows how to roll or crawl.
In the car, the baby should still face backward in the car seat. This should be secured in the back seat according to the car seat’s directions. (Note: Many infant car seats are designed for babies shorter than 28 inches. If your baby has outgrown the car seat, switch to a larger, convertible car seat.)
Keep this Poison Control phone number in an easy-to-see place, such as on the refrigerator: 800-222-1222.
Vaccinations
Based on recommendations from the American Association of Pediatrics, at this visit your baby may receive the following vaccinations:
Hepatitis B
Influenza (flu)
Make a Meal out of Finger Foods
Your 9-month-old has likely been eating solids for a few months. If you haven’t already, now is the time to start serving finger foods. These are foods the baby can pick up and eat without your help. (You should always supervise!) Almost any food can be turned into a finger food, as long as it’s cut into small pieces. Here are some tips:
Try pieces of soft, fresh fruits and vegetables such as banana, peach, or avocado.
Give the baby a handful of unsweetened cereal or a few pieces of cooked pasta.
Cut cheese or soft bread into small cubes.
Cook crunchy vegetables, such as carrots, to make them soft.
Avoid foods a baby might choke on. This is common with foods about the size and shape of the child’s throat. They include sections of hot dogs and sausages, hard candies, nuts, raw vegetables, and whole grapes. Ask the healthcare provider about other foods to avoid.
Make a regular place for the baby to eat with the rest of the family, in his or her high chair. This could be a corner of the kitchen or a space at the dinner table. Offer cut-up pieces of the same food the rest of the family is eating (as appropriate).
If you have questions about the types of foods to serve or how small the pieces need to be, talk to the healthcare provider.
Next checkup at: _______________________________
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