Tell me about your 9 month old!

[Drmum83]

Ok, I seem to be surrounded by babies who are far more advanced than my baby. Need a range of feedback from other mums. She's my first so not sure what's normal and what isn't! Would really appreciate your feedback!
My DD is 9 mo next week.

• She's breast fed as won't take a bottle
  
• mixed spoon and finger foods but increasingly more niggly on high chair, looking around, dropping stuff off the tray, not happy to be there
  
• not great with sippy cup - offered every meal, prob takes two sips per day
  
• not crawling, sitting independently but not getting into sitting position herself. She'll pivot around but never got up on knees
  
• standing holding on to me/furniture but not pulling to stand
  
• possibly starting to wave in the last week
  
• plays with toys - passes one hand to other, doesn't do back and forth play though like rolling a ball back, happy to sit in one spot playing and gives up quickly if she can't reach a toy
  
• enjoys peek a boo when I initiate it
  
• babbling and squealing a lot
  

-laughs a lot when we play silly games like me burying my head in her tummy or fake chasing her when my DH is holding her

• twirls hands and feet when sat in high hair
  
• not keen on strangers - does warm eventually if they work hard!
  
• quiet in groups like baby classes/NCT - observes rather than participates
  
• eye contact good but not affectionate, seems she constantly wants to be looking around/grabbing stuff
  

-have read at 9 months babies 'play like a clown' to get laughs- never seen this with my DD.
-doesn't like hands being touched particularly, although will let me tickle palms during 'round the garden'

Think I'm just being paranoid and I know everything likely fine but would really appreciate any feedback about your LOs!!
Thanks

[bigfam]

She sounds perfect when was she born? My little one will be 9 months at the end of the month.
It's true they all develop and master things at their own pace. My lo is currently trying to climb up anything within reach to my horror but hasn't mastered clapping or waving yet.

[Drmum83]

Thanks- she was born Jan 11th.
When was your LO born?
I know that as soon as she starts moving, I'll be horrified like you ! But it's hard not to compare as much as the sane section of my brain tells me not to, can't help wondering she's behind or I'm not doing something I should!

[Peaceloveandjammydodgers]

My 9mo is one of the eldest in his peer group (17th Dec) but the least developed. He sounds exactly like yours tbh, which makes me feel better! He does try to crawl, but just ends up on his tummy and flaps his arms and legs and squeals. Sigh I know they'll all develop at their own pace and will be more or less the same soon enough, but argh, it's frustrating.

[Drmum83]

peacelove - I agree, very frustrating! My DD does the flapping on tummy thing, it's like she's willing herself to propel forward by the power of thought!

[ffffffedup]

My ds is a month younger he's not sitting up unaided, only in the last week or so been rolling 2 or 3 rolls a time, no attempt to crawl, no where near strong enough to stand holding on to furniture, also only takes the odd sip of water from a sippy cup.

[MummaGiles]

My DS was born 21 Jan so 10 days younger.

He eats a mix of spoon and finger food and drops a lot on the floor.
He is formula fed (from birth) so takes a bottle but can easily e distracted from it.
He was drinking water well from a sippy cup but has recently decided it's the most evil thing in the world.
He can sit but can't sit himself up. He isn't pulling himself to stand up but is strong in a standing position.
He has started commando crawling in the last week.
He plays peekaboo with a muslin.
He doesn't play with us, such as rolling a ball back and forth, just plays with toys himself. He'll knock over a tower of blocks if you build one for him.
He has recently learned to clap and we think he waves at other people but not us.
He is quiet in large groups and nervous of loud noises or particularly shrieky babies.

Your LO sounds completely normal to me.

[bigfam]

My lo one was born 28th jan. She's been really determined to move so has been crawling and pulling herself up for a nearly a couple of months. She does have three older siblings though so i think that's part of the reason she's learnt to move about quite early.

[Peaceloveandjammydodgers]

Yes I certainly agree that younger siblings seem to develop more rapidly because they have others to look up to and copy. My sister (youngest of five) practically potty-trained herself!

[omama]

Op she sounds like she is coming along just fine
My dd is 10.5 months but was born 3.5 weeks early so a few weeks older than yours. She has been able to clap & wave for a month or so & in the last week learned to say 'bye' & 'ta'.

However she still hasn't mastered crawling. Up until 2 weeks ago she was rolling to get around, and 'swimming' on her belly. Now she is getting on all fours & rocking, going backwards and can sit herself up from laying down. She still can't pull herself up to standing.

Back & forth play (rolling a ball & pushing a toy car) - started just this week. She's also started to initiate peekaboo by covering her face then popping out - again only in the last week or 2.

She is also wary of strangers / being left - completely normal at this age & shows a secure attachment to mum!

Guess what I'm trying to say is don't be concerned, she sounds like she's doing great. They all develop at different rates & master different skills first. Plus there is huge developmental leap between 9-10 months (see wonder weeks) & I'm pretty sure you'll notice your dd is suddenly doing lots of new things, just as I have found with mine. Hth.x

[Minion]

9.2 month old here.
Been sitting unaided since 6 months followed by pulling to stand shortly after.
Can cruise, wave and clap.
Shrieks and shouts and makes it very known when she's displeased.
Very distracted when f f, so getting milk into her is a constant battle.
Has mixture of finger food and spoon fed.
No words except mama, dadadadadada and no
Doesn't like being left alone and has only this past fortnight slept through

She's the most physically advanced out of her pals but the least when it comes to play.
She doesn't enjoy toys that don't help her be physical and just these past few days handed us a toy
Doesn't initiate games and doesn't want to be pinned down be in high chair, car seat, pram or getting bum changed.
Very headstrong and wilful but sometimes shy with strangers
A real character

[Drmum83]

Thanks everyone- feel really reassured now!