What to Expect at an Infant Well Check at 9 Months

At nine months, well-child visits for infants and toddlers become pivotal in monitoring your child’s progress. These checkups offer an in-depth evaluation of your child’s growth and development, including addressing parental concerns, taking measurements and getting immunization updates. Let’s understand more about this important time with an outline of the main stages of a visit to our Cumming office.

Main Guidelines for a Well-Child Visit at 9 Months Old

To get ready for a nine-month-old well check it’s worth reading about feeding habits and developmental milestones for infants of this age. Here are some essential guidelines and tips for parents before a pediatrician visit.

Feeding a 9-Month-Old Baby

• The baby should be comfortable with a variety of baby foods by now. There is not a “right” amount of solids that should be taken in. If the baby is satisfied and growing and developing normally, they are taking in the “right amount”.
• Start moving to 3 meals a day with 2 snacks in between. An example of a meal is cereal and fruit for breakfast or a vegetable and meat for dinner.
• Finger foods can be introduced into the diet as snacks (goldfish, cheerios, freeze-dried fruits and teething biscuits).
• It is important to remember that the amount of formula or breast milk taken will decrease as the percentage of solids in their diet increases.
• It is safe to introduce meats into their diet. The same rules as previous food introductions apply; start with small amounts and wait 5-7 days before each new introduction.
• Experiment with different textures of food in small amounts to slowly get the baby used to regular table foods. Make sure to avoid choking hazards like popcorn, hot dogs and peanuts.
• Start introducing the sippy cup for liquids, such as with a snack. They may not like their milk in a sippy cup right away but start with 4-6 ounces of water or diluted juice a day.

Your 9-Month-Old Baby’s General Care

• Since the baby is now mobile, shoes become more than really cute accessories. Shoes should be flexible, flat, well-ventilated and wide enough to accommodate the foot.
• The baby should still be taking 1-2 naps during the day. A consistent bedtime routine is pivotal to ensuring a good night’s sleep. Night wakening with a desire to be picked up is common at this age. It is usually best to allow them to self-soothe and learn to put themselves back to sleep. Make sure you are consistent with the way you handle night waking. Inconsistency will send mixed messages and aggravate the problem, so come up with a plan and stick to it!
• This is a great age to start playgroups or get the baby involved in group activities to stimulate socialization. Children at this age do not “play together” but are incredible observers of how other children and adults are interacting, so provide plenty of opportunities for observation and interaction.
• Discipline at this age will still mainly consist of distraction but consistent enforcement of absolute rules is necessary. For example, it is never ok to stick their fingers in the electrical sockets.

Keep up with vaccinations to protect your child’s long-term health. If your child has missed a vaccination, this visit is a good time to catch up. You can read our newborn baby frequently asked questions to learn more about immunizations for infants.

Developmental Milestones for a 9-Month-Old Child

• Babies at this age can understand their name, respond to simple words like “no” and say mama and dada non-specifically. Be sure to talk to the baby, sing simple songs and play games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake to increase vocabulary.
• Babies at this age are usually sitting independently, crawling, standing and possibly cruising holding furniture. Safe exploration of their environment should be encouraged.
• Stranger anxiety is very common at this age – continue to reinforce your presence as well as expose them to new faces and places.

Schedule a Well-Child Pediatric Visit in Cumming

Trust Vickery Pediatrics for pediatric services covering well-child visits, sick care appointments and newborn care. Our expert team works with all ages, from newborns to teenagers and into early adulthood. We have an extensive history working with families in Cumming, Buford, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Sugar Hill, Suwanee and Forsyth County. For more information, call (678) 990-2501 or request an appointment now.