These milestones in your baby’s development were taken from the Pathway’s web site.

6-9 Month Milestones

Motor

• Sits and reaches for toys without falling
• Moves from tummy or back into sitting
• Creeps on hands and knees with alternate leg movement
• Uses both hands to explore toys
• Picks up head and pushes through elbows during Tummy Time
• Turns head to visually track objects
• Shows more control while rolling, sitting, and scooting
• Starts to crawl and pull to a stand
• Enjoys a variety of movements – bouncing up and down, rocking back and forth
• Picks up small objects with thumbs and fingers
• Tries to lean towards, reach for, and throw toys
• In simple play imitates others

Sensory

• 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

Communication

• Uses increased variety of sounds and syllable combinations in babbling
• Looks at familiar objects and people when named
• Recognizes sound of their name
• Participates in two-way communication
• Begins using hand movements to communicate wants and needs, e.g. reaches to be picked up
• Follows some routine commands when paired with gestures
• Distinguishes between familiar and unfamiliar voices
• Shows recognition of commonly used words
• Mimics facial expressions and gestures
• Shows interest when looking or pointing
• Responds to name

Feeding

• Holds  and drinks from a bottle
• Places pacifier in mouth
• Begins transition from milk or formula to infant cereal
• Begins to eat junior and mashed table foods
• Enjoys chew toys that can massage sore and swollen gums during teething
• Feels full longer after eating more solid foods
• Starts to look and reach for food that is nearby
• Shows strong reaction to new smells and tastes
• Begins to form associations with familiar smells and tastes

10-12 Month Milestones

Motor

• Pulls to stand and cruises along furniture
• Stands alone and takes several steps with independent steps
• May start to walk independently
• Moves in and out of various positions to explore environment and get desired toys
• Sits unsupported and is able to turn head to look at objects without losing balance
• Maintains balance when throwing objects
• Claps hands
• Looks around while body is in motion
• Cranes neck to see around a corner or other obstacle
• Releases objects into a container with a large opening
• Uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objects

Sensory

• Enjoys listening to songs
• Enjoys different textures from food, blankets, mud, paint etc.
• Explores toys with fingers and mouth
• Crawls to or away from sounds coming from a distance
• Crawls to or away from objects baby sees in the distance

Communication

• Meaningfully uses “mama” or “dada”
• Responds to simple directions, e.g. “Come here”
• Produces long strings of gibberish (called jargoning) in social communication
• Says one or two words
• Imitates speech sounds
• Babbling has sounds and rhythms of speech
• Understands up to 50 words
• Pays attention to where you are looking and pointing
• Cries and notices when hurt

Feeding

• Finger feeds self
• Eating an increasing variety of food
• Ready to try soft-cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and finger foods (teething biscuits, cooked pasta)
• Might be ready to start self-spoon feeding
• Enjoys a greater variety of smells and tastes
• Is developing more teeth and better control of tongue and lips
• Begins to use an open

Baby Power Forever Kids caters to the physical and mental development of children in four month segments. Our gym Baby Power teaches that a baby 6 months to 9 months will tap on a piece of equipment if they like it. Tapping is the signal of “OK , let’s try”. We encourage the parents NOT

To pick up the baby and place him on a piece of apparatus. Our method of “if they cannot get on it themselves, they do not belong on it” is the way to handle a young child. You can aid your child but do not force or pick up and put on. It may look like fun for you, but it is fearful for the child.

We teach a spotting technique called the “Cat Hold”. While the child is on his hands and knees in a crawling position place one hand on his chest and the other hand holding his shirt on his back. Both of your hand give support. If the baby does not move forward, or begin to climb just tighten your on his shirt. Once he feels comfortable, he will move forward or upward.

Remember, if you hold is hands, he will not be able to grasp and climb.

Always encourage by saying “You are doing a good job”. Do not concentrate on what you child does not do but on what they do do.