Your Child's Checkup: 9 Months

Related Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP is committed to the health and well-being of infants, adolescents, and young adults. The website offers news articles and tips on health for families.

American Academy of Family Physicians This site, operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), provides information on family physicians and health care, a directory of family physicians, and resources on health conditions.

Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents You might think of babies and toddlers when you hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," but unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 years old and under.

The Senses and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old Here's how you can stimulate your baby's senses and provide a safe environment for exploration.

Feeding Your 8- to 12-Month-Old At about 8 months old, babies start to explore table foods.

Movement, Coordination, and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old From scooting to crawling to cruising, during these months, babies are learning how to get around.

Finger Foods for Babies When they're around 9 months old, babies can begin feeding themselves. Find out which foods are safe, healthy options and which should not be served to little ones.

Reading Books to Babies Reading aloud to your baby stimulates developing senses, and builds listening and memory skills that can help your baby grow up to be a reader.

How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor Building a relationship with your child's doctor requires communication and reasonable expectations.

Learning, Play, and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old Your baby is learning more about the world through play and is beginning to use words. Keep those toys and games coming!

Communication and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old Babies this age might be about to say their first words, and communicate using body language. Read more about communicating with your baby.

Separation Anxiety Teary and tantrum-filled goodbyes are common with separation anxiety, which is a perfectly normal part of childhood development.

Growth and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old Your baby is continuing to grow at a rapid rate and may even be walking! All this activity and the foods your baby is eating affect growth and weight.

Sleep and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old Certain sleep problems may crop up as your child approaches the first birthday, often due to his or her increased awareness of "separateness" from you.

Medical Care and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old As your baby becomes more independent, you may have questions about how to prevent bumps and bruises. Here are some other topics you'll cover with your doctor.