what can a 9 month-old do?

[stopcopyingme]

hi, im after a bit of advice please, Im concerned about my DD2, she donesn't seem to be doing what others in her age group are doing
we met up with some 6 month olds yesterday and most of them are over taking her on development and size.

she has been siting since 7 1/2months, has only just started babbling. doesn't roll over or even atempt to. she wont give much eye contact, she refuses most foods. she doesn't really play with toys or have any interest in them.

I've just had one of those emails through listing things your 9 month old can do now, saying things like crawling up stairs, nearly walking etc and it all has made me realise how little she does.

my dd1 was very advance so I can't really compare her development. My HV isn't very good, so i can't ask her.

please could someone let me know if I should be worried about her development, the email has really upset me.

thanks for reading ( sorry if its abit jumbled)

In the first year, milestones are pretty much useless except for the gross motor (like sitting up, holding head up, etc.)

Your DD has been sitting from 7.5m, sounds perfectly on track to me!

at 9-month-olds 'nearly walking' - I'm a nanny and this has never been the case with me. I know a very select advanced group do, but IME the average age to walk is about 14-15months.

She should, however, be bearing weight on her legs when you hold her by her hands standing up, balancing on your knees, etc.

Get her a door bouncer or something similar that she can use to strengthen her legs if you're worried about this.

If she's perfectly content to not roll/crawl/shuffle then she won't, if you see what I mean. In time she'll realise that if she really wants that toy, she will have to make some attempt to move to get it, and she will figure something out on her own.

I wouldn't worry at all. The food thing isn't worrisome either. She will get there. Just keep offering variety of both finger foods and spoon-fed meals (if you're doing BLW obviously last bit doesn't apply) and enough milk that she needs and she'll be fine. HTH.

I have an 8 month old - everything starberries says sounds realistic to me, the only other thing she should be doing is 'mouthing' toys at this stage. You say she doesn't really play with toys but if she is putting them (and some food) to her mouth then she is exploring them and playing in her own way.

fwiw I know a baby born same week as ds who is crawling and pulling himself up, ds not fussed at all and looks backward compared to him but he's not just developing at diff rates.