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9 Month Online Milestone Checklist

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9 month old girl

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age. Check the milestones your child has reached by the end of 9 months by completing the checklist below. Share it with your child’s doctor, teacher, and other providers, and be sure to talk about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.

If your child was born more than 3 weeks prematurely, use his/her corrected ageexternal iconexternal icon. If your child’s age falls between 2 checklist ages, use the checklist for the younger age.

Checking children’s development regularly is important. CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app is also available to complete the checklists, with reminders and helpful tips on the go!  Available on the AppStoreexternal iconexternal icon and GooglePlayexternal iconexternal icon.

Your Baby at 9 Months

Milestones matter! Check the milestones your baby has reached by 9 months by completing the checklist below.

*These fields are required.


CDC does not collect or share any personal information that can be used to identify you or your child.
Click the photos and videos below for examples of the milestones.
What Most Babies Do by this Age:
Social/Emotional

Begins to smile at people




Can briefly calm herself




Tries to look at parent




Language/Communication

Understands “no”




Turns head toward sounds




Copies sounds and gestures of others




Pays attention to faces




Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Watches the path of something as it falls




Looks for things she sees you hide




Plays peek-a-boo




Puts things in his mouth




Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other




Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger




Movement/Physical Development

Stands, holding on




Can get into sitting position




Sits without support




Pulls to stand




Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy




Selected “not sure”?  Watch for these milestones over the next week or two.  Try some things with your child that gives him/her the chance to show the milestone.  If you’re still not seeing the milestone, see the steps below. 

Selected “not yet” or have other concerns or questions about your child’s development?  Talk with your child’s doctor, teacher and/or another trusted provider. Share the checklist and any questions or concerns you might have. Ask about developmental screening. It’s recommended for all children. If you, the doctor, teacher, or other provider is still concerned after screening, ask to be connected with (1) a specialist who can learn more about your child AND (2) with services and other supports that may help.  Visit www.cdc.gov/Concerned for more information.


– Share the checklist with your child’s healthcare provider, early educator, WIC Clinic, or other care providers by FORWARDING the email you receive.
– Be sure to add your child’s name and birthdate (if needed) when forwarding the checklist so your provider can identify it as your child’s.


Page last reviewed: September 30, 2021
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention