At the 9th month, you will see that your baby has grown a lot. It is also the time for your baby’s 9 month checkup with the pediatrician. During this visit, the doctor will do a regular physical and milestone checkup. You may also clarify any questions you may have about your baby since your baby is growing quickly now and learning new things every day
You can notice many new achievements and improvements in your baby’s motor and cognitive skills. Your baby will be able to sit properly without help or support. Some babies can even try to stand by grabbing support. The most beautiful thing about this time is that your baby will be able to utter words that you have longed to hear such as “mama”, and “dada”. By this time one or two teeth can appear, and your baby becomes a pro at crawling. And this is the time for the next well-baby checkup with the doctor. Here is what you can expect during the 9th-month baby checkup.
In This Article
- What Can You Expect From a Baby’s 9 Month Physical Checkup?
- Developmental Milestones Expected From a Nine Month Old Baby
- List of Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in Ninth Month Checkup
- List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What Can You Expect From a Baby’s 9 Month Physical Checkup?
The physical checkup during the ninth month visit will be more of a formal one in comparison with the previous checkups. The doctor will ask you direct questions to know about your baby’s growth and behaviors. The doctor can even tell you to play with your baby to notice the development of the baby’s senses.
The questions that the doctor can ask during the 9th month baby checkup include
- Does your baby wave?
- Can your baby sit up without support?
- Does the baby respond when you call by his/her name?
- Does the baby utter words like “dada” or “mama”?
- Does your baby try to stand?
Developmental Milestones Expected From a Nine Month Old Baby
You can see a lot of developments in your baby by this time. The developmental milestones your baby may achieve by this time will include
- Looking at you when you call your baby by name
- Becoming shy and fearful amidst strangers
- Showing separation anxiety
- Lifting arms to be picked up by you
- Searching for you or any object when it is moved out of sight
- Banging two objects to get a sound
- Showing facial expressions of happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger
- Making sounds on repeat like “ma-ma-ma” or “ba-ba-ba”
- Copying your sounds and gestures
- Laughing when you play peek-a-boo or make funny faces
- Crawling forward or even backwards
- Reaching and grabbing food
- Sitting without support
This is the time when you have to take extra care in removing harmful objects from your baby’s reach. Make sure the furniture and TV of your house are stable and secure to the wall. Also, you need to keep a safe distance between your baby and electric wires, plug points, and machines like electric iron.
Different babies reach their milestones at different periods although the data mentioned above is agreed to be the standard pattern. If you worry that your baby is not reaching a milestone on time, do not worry. Some babies take more time while others can be quicker. When in doubt, your pediatrician is always there for you. You can check with them to make sure that your baby is doing fine.
[Read : When Do Babies Recognize Their Name?]
List of Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in Ninth Month Checkup
During this visit, you will have relatively less number of vaccines. In case of any missed immunizations for your baby, your doctor may advise you to finish those vaccinations during this visit.
Here are the vaccinations your baby may receive during this visit.
1. MMR Vaccine
Most doctors suggest giving this vaccination to your baby during the 9 month checkup, though you have an option of getting this for your baby during their 12 month checkup also. This is a compulsory vaccine.
2. Vitamin A Shot
This is one injection that has gained prominence in recent years as a part of the National Prophylaxis Programme Against Nutritional Blindness. The first dose of this injection is given in the 9th month along with the MMR vaccine.
[Read : MMR Vaccine for Babies: A Complete Guide]
List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
The questions you can ask the doctor during the 9-month baby checkup are
- How to handle the separation anxiety of my baby?
- How to ease the teething pain in my baby?
- What are the safe toys I can offer to my baby this time?
- Why is my baby waking up several times at night again (sleep regression)?
- Why is my baby getting clingy around strangers?
- How to take care of my baby’s teeth? How to brush baby teeth?
- Which finger foods are safe for my baby?
- How to help my baby to stand or walk?
- Should I use a walker?
Apart from these questions feel free to ask any of your queries related to your baby’s health and development. The next baby well visit is going to be once after your baby celebrates their first birthday. You can also take the dates of the doctor for the 12-month baby checkup this time.
