Baby at 9 months
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Skills most babies can do at 9 months
Social and emotional
- Your baby may feel scared when meeting strangers
- Your baby often likes to play with and cling to familiar adults such as parents and grandparents
- Your baby has favourite toys
Language and communication
- Your baby can understand which actions are not allowed when you say “No”
- Your baby can make lots of different sounds like “bababa” and “mamama” – incredibly adorable
- Your baby loves copying other people's sounds, words and gestures
- Your baby uses their fingers and points at things
Cognitive (learning, thinking and problem-solving)
- Your baby watches the path and movement of something as it falls
- Your baby looks for things they saw you or others hide. Your baby is starting to play hide-and-find games.
- Your baby loves playing peekaboo
- Your baby puts things in their mouth to explore them
- Your baby can pass things from one hand to the other very skilfully
- Your baby can use their thumb and index finger to pick up things like cereal. Take care to stop your baby swallowing small objects.
Movement / Physical development
- Your baby can stand firmly on both legs and hold their body steady with support from you or nearby objects such as a chair
- Your baby can get into a sitting position by themselves (from lying, from crawling or from standing)
- Your baby can sit steadily without any support
- Your baby can hold on to or lean against something such as a chair, the side of the cot, a wall or your body to pull up to standing
- Your baby can crawl, shuffle and explore everything in the space around them. Every day your adorable little scientist has so much to discover
If your baby shows any of the signs below, take them to see a doctor soon
- Your baby can't bear weight on their legs even with support
- Your baby doesn't sit even with help
- Your baby doesn't make sounds like (“mama”, “baba”, “dada”)
- Your baby doesn't play any back-and-forth games
- Your baby doesn't respond when called by name
- Your baby doesn't seem to recognise familiar people
- Your baby doesn't look where you point
- Your baby can't pass toys from one hand to the other
Things you can do for your 9-month-old
- Pay attention to how your baby reacts to new situations and strangers; try to keep doing the things that make your baby happy and comfortable.
- As your baby moves around more, stay close so your baby knows you're still there.
- Keep up your baby's daily routines; schedules and routines are especially important at this stage.
- Play “my turn, your turn” with your baby
- You can tell your baby how you think they're feeling. For example, say “You're upset again – let's play this game”
- Try describing what your baby is looking at; for example, “the round red ball”.
- Guess what your baby wants when they point at something.
- Copying your baby's sounds and words is great fun too
- Try telling your baby what you want them to do. For example, instead of saying “don't stand”, say “let's sit down”.
- You can teach your baby about cause and effect by rolling a ball back and forth, pushing toy cars or lorries, and putting blocks into a container and taking them out.
- Play peekaboo and hide-and-seek together as a family.
- Read books and talk with your baby
- Make plenty of space for your baby to move and explore in safe areas
- Place your baby near things they can safely hold on to and pull up to stand.
Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Bluish skin around the lips, hands and feet, or the whole body
A bluish colour around the lips, on the hands and feet, or over the whole body is a sign the baby is short of oxygen. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once.
Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, chest indrawing
Breathing faster than 60 breaths a minute, chest indrawing, flaring nostrils or pauses in breathing are signs of breathing difficulty in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now. If the baby stops breathing or turns blue, call 115.
Convulsions (fits) in a baby
A convulsion in a young baby is a danger sign. Call 115 or take your baby to the nearest hospital at once; lay the baby on their side and do not put anything in the mouth.
Signs of dehydration
No wet diaper for 6 hours, a dry mouth and lips, and few or no tears when crying are signs of dehydration. Sunken eyes, a sunken soft spot, cold hands and feet and excessive sleepiness are signs of severe dehydration and an emergency. Please take your baby to the nearest emergency department now or call 115.
Source: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
Fever of 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs to be seen by a doctor, even if the baby seems otherwise well. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Jaundice spreading to the belly, arms and legs, or appearing early
Jaundice that spreads to the belly, arms, legs, palms or soles, appears within the first 24 hours after birth, or lasts more than 2 weeks needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby in now, especially if the baby is feeding poorly or very sleepy.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
Poor feeding, lethargy, hard to wake
Feeding problems, clearly reduced activity, or a baby who feels cold are danger signs in a newborn. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please take your baby to the nearest health facility now.
Fever after birth
A temperature of 38°C or higher after giving birth can be a sign of infection. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Heavy bleeding after birth
Soaking through one or more pads in an hour, or passing large clots, is a sign that needs emergency care. Call 115 or have someone take you to the nearest hospital now.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
You are not alone, and these thoughts need a doctor's support soon. Please tell someone you trust right away and go to the nearest health facility today. If you feel unsafe right now, call 115.
Source: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- Vinmec – Từ 4-12 tháng: Trẻ phát triển thế nào? | Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Checkup Checklist: 9 Months Old - HealthyChildren.org (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- CDC – Milestones by 9 Months | Learn the Signs. Act Early. | CDC (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Triệu chứng suy hô hấp ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: WHO – Newborn mortality (fact sheet)
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Mất nước ở trẻ sơ sinh
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Vinmec – Trẻ bị sốt, khi nào cần đưa đi khám?
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Cách chăm sóc trẻ sơ sinh bị vàng da
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: CDC – Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.