How Your Baby Develops:
7-9 Months
7 months old
This next period of your baby’s development sees vast changes in his
mobility, and also sees the onset of stranger, or separation, anxiety.
Understanding what this is and when, and why, it occurs makes it easier to cope
with. By ten to twelve months this stage will have passed, and your smiling,
sociable baby will be back again! Let’s look at the four main areas of
development in turn…
Mobility (Gross Motor Skills)
At 7 months old:
Your baby will most likely be sitting unsupported, and be able to reach out with
his hands when seated to grab for toys. He may be also be able to push himself
up to sitting from lying on his tummy.
At 8 months old:
Now he will probably be crawling or ‘bottom shuffling’, pulling himself up by
holding onto furniture, and falling down and having the odd bump! Make sure your
house is ‘baby-safe’ before you get to this stage.
At 9 months old:
Your baby will now most likely be standing upright holding onto furniture or the
sides of his play-pen for support, and possibly ‘cruising’ around the room from
prop to prop.
At 9 months - baby "cruising" around the room using furniture for support
Holding Objects (Fine Motor Skills)
At 7 months old:
Your baby will be passing objects from one hand to the other and banging toys
together. He could certainly be holding a two-handled cup (with assistance), and
getting frustrated when toys are out of reach.
At 8 months old:
He will be dropping objects and pointing at them (expecting you to pick them up,
of course), picking up objects more deliberately with a ‘pincer-like’ grip,
throwing and rolling toys, and trying to feed himself finger food.
At 9 months old:
Your baby can now play with more sophisticated toys, such as trucks with wheels,
and will enjoy rolling a ball to you and having you roll it back.
Communication
At 7 months old:
Your baby may begin to test your authority around now (and this will continue
for a LONG time!) He isn’t being naughty – just learning. Distraction is the
best approach. Stranger anxiety can make your baby seem unhappy to see people he
is usually okay with. It doesn’t apply only to strangers – even grandparents can
be greeted with a cry rather than the usual smile. Don’t worry, this is a normal
stage of development and will pass.
At 8 months old:
He starts to show empathy, and may cry if he sees you cry. He also enjoys
performing ‘tricks’ such as clapping or waving when encouraged. Stranger anxiety
is more pronounced now, but when you go out and come back this teaches him
security, so don’t avoid leaving him for short periods even if he is distressed.
8 months old
At 9 months old:
Separation anxiety reaches its peak around now. This important stage of
development can cause upset for all care-givers. Your baby may start to suck his
thumb or want a pacifier around now to soothe himself.
Social-time and Play
At 7 months old:
Predictable games become a favorite, as do particular toys. Now you may have
difficulty removing his favorite stuffed animal out of his vice-like grip!
At 8 months old:
Your baby starts to understand objects and know what they are for. He learns
that lids fit pots, bricks go on top of one another, and that when he throws
something to the floor, you pick it up again. He still loves to put everything
in his mouth, but will find more creative ways of exploring his world as well.
At 9 months old:
Passing, sorting and stacking games are all great for babies of this age. Play
with them and allow them to initiate most of the play – great for building their
confidence.
More Baby Stages
You might also be interested in:
Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes
home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is
perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly.
Diary Of A New Mum
More about Newborn Babies
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