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6-9 Month Developmental Milestones

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4-6 Month Developmental Milestones
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9-12 Month Developmental Milestones

Movement and physical development

Normal development

  • Stands, holding on
  • Can get into sitting position
  • Sits without support
  • Pulls to stand
  • Crawls
  • Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less chance to learn physical skills due to procedures and treatment
  • Hospital equipment and lack of space can keep baby from moving and exploring normally
  • Slower to learn movements such as rolling over and controlling head and upper body while sitting
  • Slower to learn small movements (especially hand/eye coordination and holding things with thumb and finger)

Ways to help

  • Go to hospital infant playtime to help baby learn physical skills.
  • Ask for floor mat for tummy time and movement.
  • Put toys just out of reach to encourage rolling over.
  • Give toys with texture to get baby interested in grabbing and moving objects.
 

Language and communication

Normal development

  • Responds to “no” most of the time
  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
  • Shouts to gain attention
  • Attends to pictures

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less interest in being social and fewer chances to communicate because of feeling sick and tired
  • Might be slow to respond and develop language

Ways to help

  • Watch for times baby is awake and alert to smile at baby and sing, read, and talk to your baby
  • Talk about what is happening in the room
  • Mimic the sounds your baby is making

Social and emotional

Normal development

  • May be afraid of strangers
  • May be clingy with familiar adults
  • Has favorite toys

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less interest in playing due to feeling sick and tired. Might go through painful procedures.
  • More fussy, irritable, clingy, and anxious than normal

Ways to help

  • Watch for times when baby is awake and alert, and play as much as baby can handle
  • Caregivers should prepare for procedures and learn how to help comfort baby
  • Caregivers should take care of themselves and remain calm; babies rely on their caregivers to help them regulate their own strong emotions
 

Thinking and learning

Normal development

  • Watches the path of something as it falls
  • Looks for things he or she sees you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Puts things in his mouth
  • Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less chance to physically explore their environment
  • Mouth exploration is often limited for infection control reasons
  • Mucositis (mouth sores) may also limit oral exploration

Ways to help

  • Continue offering cause-and-effect toys like a jack in the box.
  • Offer a variety of toys.
  • Play peek-a-boo and similar interactive games.
  • Watch your baby’s play and respond with similar play.
  • Talk about the events that are occurring—for example, say “you dropped the rattle and watched it fall”
Previous
4-6 Month Developmental Milestones
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9-12 Month Developmental Milestones

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