What to expect - 6 to 9 months

What should my baby be learning?

Gross motor skills: Big body movements

By 6 to 8 months:

• Pull up to sitting when hands are held.
• Push up onto straight arms when lying on tummy. 
• Reach for a toy with one hand when lying on their tummy.
• Move to a sitting position from their back.
• Sit while leaning on hands.
• Bear weight and bounce on legs when held by an adult. 
• Stand at a sturdy object or crib rail for a brief period of time.
• Spend time on hands and knees.

By 9 months:

• Sit without support and use both hands to play.
• Pull up to stand at the crib rail.
• Crawl forward for short distances.

Fine motor skills: Play and self help

• Reach for small objects that are near.
• Hold an object in each hand and bang them together.
• Move toys from one hand to the other. 
• Drop objects on purpose and then play with them.
• Use fingers to “rake” objects.
• Pinch and hold objects with thumb and forefinger.
• Use fingers to feed themselves.
• Hold a bottle.

Language and social skills

• Respond to their name.
• Beware of new people. This is called stranger anxiety.
• Know you by sight and lift arms to be picked up.
• Have a range of sounds, gestures and facial expressions.
• Play with a toy up to 2 to 3 minutes.
• Follow fast-moving objects with their eyes.
• Start looking for partly hidden objects.

Sensory Processing: Understanding sights, sounds, tastes, touch, smell and movement

• Use vision, touch and taste to explore toys and other objects.
• Put out a hand to protect self from a fall
• Enjoy bouncing, swinging and other movements.
• Aware of and interested in new people and places.

How can I help my baby?

Gross motor skills

• Baby sit-ups.  Have your baby lie on their back, facing you.  Gently hold the baby’s hands and help pull the baby into sitting position.  Slowly lower back down again.
• Give baby lots of tummy time. Urge your baby to:
• Push up on arms and reach for toys
• Turn around on tummy to change directions
• Try crawling by placing toys just out of reach
• Hold or put toys just out of reach. Have your baby reach for the toys while sitting.
• Stand your baby up at edge of a low table. Stay close for safety.
• Sit on the floor. Hold your baby around the hips in standing position while facing you. Have your baby to dance or bounce.

Fine motor skills

• Have baby search for hidden objects that are covered. Make it a game.
• Play with your baby while they sit.
• Have your baby play by filling and dumping a bowl of safe, small objects.
• Have baby bang 2 objects together.
• Help your baby practice picking up small pieces of finger food.
• Have your baby use a bowl and spoon.
• Use lots of tummy time to build strength in the hands, arms and trunk.

Language and social skills

• Play simple games, like “peek-a-boo” or “Itsy, bitsy spider.”
• Read and sing to your baby. Try to get your baby to make the sounds you make.
• Let your baby look in a mirror and smile at, talk to and touch the “baby in the mirror.”
• Talk to your baby and name what you are doing. 
• Point out common objects and name them.
• Look at your baby’s face as you react to sounds your baby makes.

Sensory skills

• Sing songs to your baby.  Offer musical toys with gentle sounds.
• Let your baby bring large, clean and safe objects with different textures to their mouth to explore.
• Give your baby different kinds of movements. Include bouncing, swinging, wagon or stroller rides.
• Safely and securely tip your baby’s body in different directions. Go forward, back, and sideways.
• Massage your baby with warm lotion.