You will be amazed by your 9-12 month old child as they master their first words, begin crawling and walking, and become fascinated with cause-and-effect. You will have great fun watching as their little brains are really turning on at this age!
Here are some typical milestones you may see in your 9 - 12 month old:
Language & Cognitive Development
- Understands object categories like “cars” and “animals”
- Knows how to retrieve an object even when it is out of view (object permanence)
- Says first words like “dog” or “bottle”
- Picks up books to be read to and points at pictures
Physical & Motor Development
- Sits well and begins to stand alone
- Crawls and claps hands
- May take first steps without help
Social & Emotional Development
- Fusses when an unfamiliar adult approaches (stranger anxiety)
- Shows interest in pets and other family members
- “Shows off” when rewarded with smiles and attention
Remember your child is a wonderful, unique individual and may not exhibit every one of these milestones. A wide range of behaviors is considered normal and some children will demonstrate certain abilities earlier or later than this schedule. Should you have any concerns about your child’s progress, please ask your pediatrician or family physician.
