9 to 12 Months
Please note: all babies develop at their own pace, this information should just be used as a general guide.

Physical: Your baby is getting more active everyday, wants to explore, and needs to be watched carefully! She is reaching for and grabbing anything in her reach. She enjoys switching toys from one hand to the other and is able to hold objects using her thumb and finger. She is creeping on her hands and knees and may even be pulling herself up to stand, trying to stand by herself, and walking along low furniture while holding on. She likes putting objects in and out of containers. Language: He is making many different types of babbling sounds, trying to imitate sounds he hears, and can make one-syllable words like Ma and Da. He understands many more words than he can say, and may look towards an object or person when it is named. He may shake his head when he means "no".

Cognitive: She tries to make things that she enjoys happen again, such as repeating a particular game, by bouncing and making sounds. She understands when a toy is hidden and likes to play peek-a-boo games with toys and people. She likes to imitate physical actions like blowing kisses and waving bye-bye.

Social/Emotional: He is showing a range of emotions such as pleasure, happiness, anger, or fear. Although very interested in the world around him, he is anxious around strangers and is very affectionate and clingy with familiar people. He will try to feed himself and hold his cup and bottle but also knows that other people can help do things for him.

Playing with Your Baby: Your baby is on the go, so make sure she has a safe place to move independently. Talk to her and tell her the names of things in the environment. Show her photographs of favorite people, pets, foods, and toys, name them, and tell her stories about them. She likes dolls and other cuddly toys, music, music makers, songs, finger plays, and games that involve her body parts. Give her toys and play things that she can rattle, put in and out of containers, pull along behind her, stack, and sort.

Reading to Your Baby: Your baby understands many words yet may not be able to say them. Books with repeated lines in stories and rhymes will let your baby hear familiar words. Read interactive books such as pop-up books or books that have flaps that hide pictures. The thick pages of chunky board books or books with cloth or vinyl pages are fun for your baby to touch and easy to turn. Books with real photographs of babies and people are especially appealing.