Your Baby's 9 Month Visit

NUTRITION

It is important that you continue to feed your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula for the entire first year of life.  By now she should be eating solid food 3 times a day, and soft but not pureed table foods should already be getting offered, such as but not limited to tuna, cooked veggies, pasta, and fruits.

Other feeding tips:

  • Meal time should be family time. Although your baby may need snacks between meals, discourage “grazing” behaviors by having set mealtimes with the whole family if possible.

  • Still no honey until after 12 months old

  • Avoid round, hard foods like peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs that could get caught in the baby’s airway.

  • Encourage use of a regular, sippy, or straw cup for water and possibly for breast milk and formula if your baby will accept it. It is still acceptable for her to be drinking breast milk or formula from the bottle, but no other fluids should be from the bottle. Juice is not nutritionally necessary, and should only be used to treat constipation. If offered, it should only be from the cup.

DENTAL CARE

As the teeth erupt, you should start getting the baby used to a toothbrush.  Toothpaste is not necessary at this age, but if you do use it, we recommend a sesame seed-sized dot of fluoridated toothpaste.  Consider starting regular dental care about 6 months after the first teeth erupt.


PLAYTIME/SLEEPTIME       

By now, your baby is likely getting around a little by rolling, crawling or scooting.  Some may even be pulling to stand.  Make sure you provide a safe environment for exploration. Set clear limits and be consistent about enforcing them. Offer age appropriate toys. Play music, and play and read to your baby.

Make sure you are continuing to provide an established bedtime routine for your baby.  Help your baby to learn to put himself to sleep by laying him in his crib while still awake.  This will allow him to return to sleep without your presence should he awaken in the middle of the night.

Most babies still need 2-3 naps during the day that total at least 2 hrs. Nighttime sleep should be for at least 10-12 hours, depending on how long your baby is napping during the daytime; your baby may get up once for a feeding but then should go right back to sleep.

SAFETY

Accidents kill more infants in the first year of life than any other cause.  Keep your baby safe by following a few recommendations:


Childproofing

  • Refer to the 6 month visit page regarding childproofing

  • Test water temperature (with inside of wrist or elbow) before placing infant in tub.

  • Review emergency procedures for home

  • Learn first aid and CPR if you haven’t already

Car Safety

You may be thinking your infant is outgrowing his infant car seat.  Check the manufacturer’s recommendation on weight and length.  If your baby is on the large size, you may want to look at purchasing a convertible car seat.  Make sure you purchase one that is approved for rear-facing for this age and forward facing after age two.  *Remember, the infant should be placed in the back seat with the car seat rear-facing until your child is 2 years of age.

Sunburns:   

*Make sure baby is wearing protective clothing when outdoors and exposed to sun

*Cover head with hat

*It is safe to use one of the infant sunblocks for protection. Look for those with only mineral sunscreens as the active ingredients
(Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide)

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

  • Responds to own name

  • Understands a few words

  • Babbles, imitates vocalizations

  • Crawls, creeps or scoots

  • Shakes, bangs, throws and drops objects

  • Feeds self with fingers

  • Sleeps through the night

  • Starts to drink from a cup