9-12 Month Developmental Milestones

Movement and physical development

Fewer chances to explore and have new experiences due to procedures and treatment. Tubes, drains, and lack of space can keep baby from moving and exploring normally.
Slower to learn large body movements, such as controlling head and upper body while sitting, crawling, and standing without help.
Slower to learn small movements, especially hand/eye coordination and holding things with thumb and finger.

If available, go to hospital infant playtime to help baby learn physical skills.
Ask for floor mat for movement and exploring.
Give toys with texture or musical toys to get baby interested in grabbing and moving objects.
Show baby “hide and seek” and other interactive games.

Fewer chances to be social and communicate due to feeling sick, tired, and sometimes mouth sores.
Might be slow to develop language or say first words.
Certain medications might impact hearing, which in turn can impact communication.

Less interest in playing due to feeling sick and tired
Might go through painful procedures
Senses stress and anxiety in caregivers
Might be separated from parents in hospital or during procedures and be stressed by having different caregivers
More fussy, irritable, clingy, and anxious than normal
Bonding might be harder than usual because sickness and hospital surroundings make baby less trusting

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
Parents and caregivers should take good care of themselves to reduce stress
Have the same caregiver as much as possible
Hold baby when meeting new staff to reduce anxiety
Encourage playfulness

Less chance to physically explore their environment
Might feel less like playing, particularly when “counts” are low or after procedures
Fewer opportunities to observe others engaged in play
Certain medications can impact hearing, which in turn can impact learning
Certain medications may affect baby’s sense of touch, which in turn can affect baby’s physical exploration of materials

Provide your baby with toys that can be easily placed in and taken out of containers
Hide objects under blankets and encourage your baby to find the missing toys
Talk about what your baby does in play (e.g., “You are putting the block in the bucket, ‘plop!’ It made a noise when it hit the bottom, now you are taking it back out of the bucket”
Talk about what you are doing when playing with your baby or when engaged in daily tasks (e.g., “Daddy is hanging his coat up. Now I am going to wash my hands.”
Follow directions for proper hearing aid use if prescribed.
Read to your baby often; point to pictures within the book and name the items
Encourage your baby to point to pictures within the book—when they do so, name the items for them
When your baby follows simple commands, enthusiastically praise him or her for doing so