The ninth month
Move the DVDs from the bottom shelf and tell your dog that it isn’t safe to lie in the lounge room anymore - your baby is on the move! By the end of this month your baby will be making tracks - commando crawling, bum shuffling, crawling, cruising the furniture or maybe even taking his first steps!
You might have a little comedian on your hands too! He’ll do anything for a laugh and is quite a good mimic – he is probably starting to copy gestures like waving, clapping or coughing.
Your baby’s depth perception is developing too, which means he might start to become scared of heights. By nine months he can see a drop and he’ll understand that it is scary. The desire to move will sometime override this fear, however, so you’ll need to watch him like a hawk – especially when he is up high – on the couch, change table or bed.
You won’t stop every fall though – especially as your little one starts pulling himself up to standing. There will be more than one head bump as he masters the art of cruising furniture and eventually walking.
Feeding
At nine months you can start offering your baby some chopped food or finger food, for example, raw vegetables, ripe fruit, small sandwiches, macaroni-size pasta, crackers and toast. You can also introduce cow’s milk in the preparation of meals as well as cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, custard and yoghurt.
Play
You might have recently noticed that your baby loves playtime with dad. The way a father plays with his kids is exciting and it can also be important for their development.
Dads will engage in playful, physical activity with their children and will focus on independence and achievement – while a mother’s protective instincts might stop her doing the same. For example, a father might encourage his son to stand alone and take some small steps towards him – but a mother will have a small heart attack if she walks while this is happening!!
More useful links:
Read 7 Top Tips For Dads
Read our article on Being an active fathers
Read about the effects of TV on your baby
Please note: All babies are different, these are generic guides and aren’t a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your health care provider.
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