what should she be doing?/ how to teach her more?

[charleyturtle]

My dd is 9 months old and as she is my first and only baby I don't really know what's normal and where she should be at.

My worry is that she seems to have stopped learning since I've gone back to work. this is probably my fault because i'm out of the house 4 days a week so I can't teach her (or try to at least) in quite the same way I used to.

She can now crawl (very quickly, nightmare!), pull herself up on furniture and stand on her own (but only for about 2 seconds then she just sits down) wave, point to what/ who she wants. She recognises her own name and hand signals for "come here" or "look over there". she can say mama, daddy, duck, quack, ta, up and no. But she learned those words all within about a month and now can't do any more.

I would just like some help from other parents who have done this bit. do babies go through learning phases? or have I cocked up and need to try harder to get her to keep up the pace? also any tips on how to help her learn rather than just my tell her what every thing is/ show her how to do something about a million times until she copies method, would be very welcome.

Google 'wonder weeks' or download the ap of you are of the iPhone persuasion. It explains all about the learning leaps. That much language at 9 months is great so I don't wonder she's pausing to catch her breath!

I don't remember mine doing much at all at 9. They were def not walking or talking at all

You don't teach them anything. You just love them, feed them, talk to them and they develop by themselves.

Thanks guys. I will get dp to download the app he has an iphone (I have an old black and white nokia brick) I just worry that I will neglect to show her things and she will fall behind once she starts nursery and school (I know its a long way off but I wanted to start as I meant to go on so it wasn't a shock once she needed to know reading and writing). I did ask a health visitor the other day but she just said she will learn what she needs to in her own time" while that was reassuring it wasn't particularly helpful.

I don't have any friends with babies and there are no babies at the group I go to only toddlers so I can't compare there development really. I think the only reason she knows so many words is because I was so lonely when I was on mat leave I just talked to her all the time to stop me going mad.

Your HV is right though!

Your DD saying some words isn't because you talked to her all the time - some children are early talkers and some aren't.

So long as you are providing a good environment she will develop in her own time.

I went back to work at 9 months too, it's emotionally and physically exhausting so try to remain chilled and don't put pressure on yourself or DD. The wonder weeks thing is great, and your DD sounds very advanced so you don't need to worry. Things often regress a little following a major change like mum disappearing for half the week.

Also, my DD is now 2.5, and I constantly look back on my maternity leave and wish I hadn't been so worried and stressed about teaching her stuff. If I had my time again, I'd just get on the train and go places that I liked. They learn most by taking in the world around them.

Children don't learn to walk because they are taught: they are hardwired to do it and will do it unless they have some disability that prevents them. And by the time she goes to school there will be absolutely no difference between her and some child who only learnt to stand walk at 18 months.

Children's development doesn't all hang together: being an early walker has no impact on whether you will be an early reader. And being an early reader doesn't actually decide whether you will do well in your GCSE's 10 or 11 years later.