7-9 Months Milestones

Key Milestones

• Sits without support
• Sits and reaches for toys without falling
• Moves from tummy or back into sitting
• Starts to move with alternate leg and arm movement e.g. creeping, crawling
• Picks up head and pushes through elbows during Tummy Time
• Turns head to visually track objects while sitting
• Shows more control while rolling and sitting
• Picks up small objects with thumbs and fingers
• In simple play imitates others

Key Milestones

• Enjoys a variety of movements – bouncing up and down, rocking back and forth
• Explores and examines an object using both hands and mouth
• Turns several pages of a chunky (board) book at once
• Experiments with the amount of force needed to pick up different objects
• Focuses on objects near and far
• Investigates shapes, sizes, and textures of toys and surroundings
• Observes environment from a variety of positions – while lying on back or tummy, sitting, crawling, and standing with assistance

Key Milestones

• Uses increased variety of sounds and syllable combinations in babbling
• Looks at familiar objects and people when named
• Recognizes sound of name
• Participates in two-way communication
• Follows some routine commands when paired with gestures
• Shows recognition of commonly used words
• Uses simple gestures, e.g. shaking head for “no”
• Imitates sounds

Key Milestones

• In a high chair, holds and drinks from a bottle
• Begins to eat thicker pureed and mashed table foods
• Enjoys teethers that can massage sore and swollen gums during teething
• Stays full longer after eating
• Starts to look and reach for objects, such as food that is nearby
• Shows strong reaction to new smells and tastes

At 7-9 months baby can sit up without touching their hands to the ground. During this time, they might try more variety in the texture and types of food they eat.

Key Abilities

• Is interested in interacting with others, e.g. peek a boo
• Enjoys playing with toys of varied textures
• Enjoys playing with musical toys
• Is interested in playing with colorful objects
• Raises hands towards adult to be picked up
• Maintains eye contact with people during playful interaction
• Enjoys moving to explore the environment when placed on floor
• Enjoys various types of movement, such as being gently swung in the air by parents

Key Abilities

• Is able to put weight through feet when supported in standing
• Is able to pick up head and push through elbows during Tummy Time
• Keeps head forward when being pulled to sitting from lying on back
• Is able to play on tummy
• Moves on floor to get desirable toy
• Moves in and out of various positions, e.g. sitting, tummy, and hands and knees
• Is able to turn head to visually follow moving toys and people
• Maintains balance while sitting and using two hands together to explore toys
• Uses both hands equally to play with toys

Key Abilities

• Is able to latch on while nursing or bottle feeding
• Enjoys bath time
• Is able to self calm in car rides when not tired or hungry
• Usually tolerates diaper changes without crying
• Is not fearful of tipping head back when moving from sitting to lying down for activities, such as diaper changing
• Is able to transition from milk or formula to infant cereal

Key Abilities

• Is able to be comforted by cuddling or a parent’s touch
• Is generally happy when not hungry or tired
• Is able to calm with experiences, such as rocking, touch, and soothing sounds
• Is not fearful of everyday sounds
• Has an established and reliable sleeping schedule