Nine Month Old

Just about everything your nine month old comes into contact with, goes into the mouth.  Your baby is crawling, or about to crawl, and pulling herself up into a sitting position without help.  Your baby now has access to much more, so be sure her environment is safe.  Your baby may have a tooth or two coming through and this can cause quite a bit of discomfort.  Excessive drooling, irritability, and loss of appetite are all signs your baby is teething.  To help soothe the pain and inflammation, try a cold teething ring or a frozen wash cloth.  Some over the counter medicines may work as well.  Check with your doctor first, and never give a baby aspirin.   Once a tooth does appear, it's your responsibility to brush it and keep the area clean.

Your baby loves to babble and play the gravity game.  Watching objects fall, or throwing them, is a favorite pastime.   Your baby should respond to his or her name, and understands who "Mommy" and "Daddy" are.  There may be the beginning of separation anxiety at this time.  Soon, you may be witnessing full-fledged temper tantrums.  If distraction doesn't work, try putting baby in a safe place and walking away.  Your baby will soon make the connection between the behavior and loss of attention.

You may notice your baby's appetite has increased again.   Food and milk consumption will both increase in the next few months.  Finger foods and even table foods are appropriate in very small pieces.  Babies often choke and usually clear their food on their own.  However, if you haven't taken a infant CPR course, now is a great time to do so.