Developmental Milestones for 9 Months

Knows familiar people

Social/Emotional

Likes to look at self in a mirror

Social/Emotional

Laughs

Social/Emotional

Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers

Social/Emotional

Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised

Social/Emotional

Looks when you call their name

Social/Emotional

Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)

Social/Emotional

Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Social/Emotional

Takes turns making sounds with you

Language/Communication

Blows 'raspberries' (sticks tongue out and blows)

Language/Communication

Makes squealing noises

Language/Communication

Makes different sounds like 'mamamama' and 'babababa'

Language/Communication

Lifts arms up to be picked up

Language/Communication

Puts things in their mouth to explore them

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Reaches to grab a toy they want

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Closes lips to show they don't want more food

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Looks for objects when dropped out of sight, like a spoon or toy

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Bangs two things together

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Rolls from tummy to back

Movement/Physical Development

Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy

Movement/Physical Development

Leans on hands to support self when sitting

Movement/Physical Development

Gets to a sitting position by self

Movement/Physical Development

Moves things from one hand to the other hand

Movement/Physical Development

Uses fingers to 'rake' food toward self

Movement/Physical Development

Sits without support

Movement/Physical Development

Babbles with consonant sounds (ba, da, ga)

Communication

Responds to own name by looking toward you

Communication

Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back

Gross Motor

Sits without support for one minute

Gross Motor

Pulls to standing using furniture

Gross Motor

Crawls on hands and knees

Gross Motor

Passes objects from one hand to the other

Fine Motor

Uses thumb and finger to pick up small objects (pincer grasp)

Fine Motor

Looks for a toy that has fallen out of sight

Problem Solving

Drops and picks up toys on purpose

Problem Solving

Tries to get a toy that is out of reach

Personal-Social

Plays social games like peekaboo or pat-a-cake

Personal-Social

Sitting without support — child sits up with head steady, without using arms or hands for balance

Gross Motor Milestones

Standing with assistance — child stands upright while holding on to a stable object with both hands

Gross Motor Milestones

Hands-and-knees crawling — child moves forward on hands and knees (creeping pattern)

Gross Motor Milestones

Walking with assistance — child walks upright while holding on to a stable object with one or both hands

Gross Motor Milestones

Standing alone — child stands for at least 10 seconds without holding on to anything or anyone

Gross Motor Milestones

Walking alone — child takes at least 5 independent steps without holding on to anything or anyone

Gross Motor Milestones

Shows distress when routine changes — indicates awareness of sequence and order in daily life

Order

Absorbs sounds and rhythms of language — the unconscious absorption of the 'mother tongue'

Language

Babbling and first words — spoken language emerges from immersion in a language-rich environment

Language

Explores objects with mouth and hands — using senses to learn about the physical world

Sensory Refinement

Developing gross motor control — rolling, crawling, pulling up, driven to move the whole body

Movement

Shows interest in what other children are doing — watches, approaches, or reaches toward peers during activities

Social Collaboration & Community

Shows sustained attention to an object or phenomenon — gazes at, reaches for, or manipulates something with focused interest

Investigation & Inquiry

Explores a space independently — moves through the environment, touching, looking at, and interacting with available materials

Environment as Third Teacher