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6-9 Month Developmental Milestones

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4-6 Month Developmental Milestones
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9-12 Month Developmental Milestones

Movement and physical development

Normal development

  • Stands, holding on
  • Can get into sitting position
  • Sits without support
  • Pulls to stand
  • Crawls
  • Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less chance to learn physical skills due to procedures and treatment
  • Hospital equipment and lack of space can keep baby from moving and exploring normally
  • Slower to learn movements such as rolling over and controlling head and upper body while sitting
  • Slower to learn small movements (especially hand/eye coordination and holding things with thumb and finger)

Ways to help

  • Go to hospital infant playtime to help baby learn physical skills.
  • Ask for floor mat for tummy time and movement.
  • Put toys just out of reach to encourage rolling over.
  • Give toys with texture to get baby interested in grabbing and moving objects.
As part of normal development, your child may be able to get into a sitting position and sit without support.

As part of normal physical development, your child may be able to get into a sitting position and sit without support.

 

Language and communication

Normal development

  • Responds to “no” most of the time
  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
  • Shouts to gain attention
  • Attends to pictures

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less interest in being social and fewer chances to communicate because of feeling sick and tired
  • Might be slow to respond and develop language

Ways to help

  • Watch for times baby is awake and alert to smile at baby and sing, read, and talk to your baby
  • Talk about what is happening in the room
  • Mimic the sounds your baby is making
Watch for times baby is awake and alert to smile at baby and sing, read, and talk to your baby.

Watch for times baby is awake and alert to smile at baby and sing, read, and talk to your baby.

Social and emotional

Normal development

  • May be afraid of strangers
  • May be clingy with familiar adults
  • Has favorite toys

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less interest in playing due to feeling sick and tired. Might go through painful procedures.
  • More fussy, irritable, clingy, and anxious than normal

Ways to help

  • Watch for times when baby is awake and alert, and play as much as baby can handle
  • Caregivers should prepare for procedures and learn how to help comfort baby
  • Caregivers should take care of themselves and remain calm; babies rely on their caregivers to help them regulate their own strong emotions
Watch for times when your baby is awake and alert, and play as much as he can handle.

Watch for times when your baby is awake and alert, and play as much as he can handle.

 

Thinking and learning

Normal development

  • Watches the path of something as it falls
  • Looks for things he or she sees you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Puts things in his mouth
  • Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other

Possible challenges from treatment

  • Less chance to physically explore their environment
  • Mouth exploration is often limited for infection control reasons
  • Mucositis (mouth sores) may also limit oral exploration

Ways to help

  • Continue offering cause-and-effect toys like a jack in the box.
  • Offer a variety of toys.
  • Play peek-a-boo and similar interactive games.
  • Watch your baby’s play and respond with similar play.
  • Talk about the events that are occurring—for example, say “you dropped the rattle and watched it fall”
As part of normal learning development, your child may be able to watch the path of something as it falls.

As part of normal learning development, your child may be able to watch the path of something as it falls.

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4-6 Month Developmental Milestones
Next
9-12 Month Developmental Milestones

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