Pediatric Group

9 Month Well Child Visit

Vaccines:  No vaccines are needed at nine months unless you need to catch up on missed vaccinations!

  FEEDING                                                      

·         Offer formula or breastmilk until 12 months

·         Work towards weaning off of the bottle

·         Offer small pieces of soft or mashed table foods

·         Encourage self-feeding even if messy

·         Always supervise eating

·         Avoid choking foods (nuts, popcorn, carrots, raisins, hard candy)

  GENERAL CARE / SAFETY                                                  

·         Use a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of the car until 20 lbs / 1 year old

·         Put baby to sleep on his back

·         Do not use soft bedding or soft toys in bed

·         Lower the crib mattress

·         Childproof your home

·         Brush baby’s teeth with a soft toothbrush and water

·         Do not use baby walkers

·         Keep poison center number handy (800) 222-1222

·         Never smoke around children

·         NEVER SHAKE A BABY!

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

                               PHYSICAL & MOTOR SKILLS

• Crawls, creeps, rolls, or scoots
• May cruise along furniture
• Sits independently
• Pulls to stand
• Grabs objects with finger and thumb
• Bangs, throws, drops objects
• Passes toy from one hand to the other
• Reaches for toys or desired object

                       SENSORY & COGNITIVE SKILLS

• Responds to his own name
• Understands a few words such as “no” & “bye-bye”
• Jabbers & imitates words and gestures
• Finds dropped objects & toys          
• May be scared of strangers
• Hates to be separated from parents
• May awaken more at night

                PLAY

You can encourage development through play

• Talk, sing, and read to baby
• Play games and music
• Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
• Use body movements and actions to teach language
• Start naming parts of the body and the environment
• Avoid using the word “NO”

Developmental Health Watch

Although babies develop at different rates, failure to reach certain milestones may signal a problem.  If you notice any of the following warning signs in your infant, discuss them with your pediatrician.

·         No fright of strangers by 12 months

·         Extremely fearful in all settings

·         Does not get upset when separated from parent

·         Unable to sit independently

·         Any loss of previously learned skills

Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s development

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