Milestones at 9 months
The 9-month list has the most social items of the first year: stranger wariness, reacting when you leave, looking when called by name and enjoying peek-a-boo. Babbling with repeated syllables appears in the language section. Sitting without support, getting into a sitting position alone and moving objects from hand to hand are the movement milestones. AAP recommends a developmental screening at this visit.
CDC's 9-month checklist lists 13 milestones: 5 social and emotional, 2 language and communication, 2 cognitive and 4 movement and physical development. The largest group at this age is social and emotional, with 5 items. Each one is something most children (75% or more) can do by 9 months, so many children do it earlier.
AAP recommends general developmental screening with a standardized, validated tool at the 9-month visit, so this is a good checkup to bring the checklist to. The checkpoint before this one is 6 months, with 12 milestones. The next is 12 months, with 10. For a baby born before 37 weeks, compare with the checklist for the corrected age until 2.
AAP recommends general developmental screening with a standardized, validated tool at the 9-month well-child visit. Next checkpoint: 12 months.
Screening ages: AAP, via CDCSocial and emotional5 items
“Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Looks when you call her name”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Language and communication2 items
“Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa””
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Lifts arms up to be picked up”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)2 items
“Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Bangs two things together”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Movement and physical development4 items
“Gets to a sitting position by herself”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Moves things from one hand to her other hand”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Sits without support”
Most children (75%+) by 9 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Checklist items quoted from CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” milestones for 9 months (Source: CDC). “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.
If something is “not yet”
“You know your child best. Don’t wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.”
Source: CDC, milestone checklist for 9 months
- Write down the items you answered “Not yet” or “Not sure”, with an example of what you see at home.
- Bring the list to your child’s doctor and ask whether a developmental screening is a good next step.
- Under 3? Call your state’s early intervention program and ask for a free evaluation. You don’t need a referral.
- 3 or older? Call your local public elementary school and ask for a preschool special education evaluation.