You may notice a major shift in your baby in the months following their half-birthday. When each of my sons were between 7 and 9 months old , it felt like their little personalities suddenly came to life: The happy babbling, laughing, squealing, and smiling made engaging with them even more fun and rewarding.
And while every baby develops at their own pace, many infants are increasingly on the move as they approach 9 months. Your baby might be sitting up on their own, and possibly crawling , creeping, and even pulling up to stand .
"Babies are rapidly developing their physical abilities at this age," says Katherine Williamson , M.D., a pediatrician with the Children's Hospital of Orange County Primary Care Network. This can be a critical time to baby-proof your house , she adds, since many 7- to 9-month-olds are suddenly truly mobile for the first time.
But it's not all about movement — infants are also making new sounds, figuring out how to engage with objects in fresh ways, and demonstrating deeper emotional intelligence in the second half of their first year of life. You can help your 7- to 9-month-old master these and other skills through play.
Best activities to encourage babbling
It will probably be a few months before your baby starts saying their first true words , but the sounds they're making now (think "babababa") are their earliest form of communication. You can encourage more happy babbling with different activities.
1. Mirror play
What you'll need: a baby-safe mirror
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: They may not have flashing lights or exciting sounds, but mirrors are one of the most engaging toys for a baby at this age. Dr. Williamson recommends positioning one in front of your child so they can easily see themselves, then calling your little one by their name ("Hi, Emma!") while pointing to their reflection. (Use a baby-safe model that's not breakable.) Your baby may just start babbling to the cutie they see in front of them.
2. Chit-chat
What you'll need: nothing!
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: It's super simple, but one of the best ways to encourage your baby's budding vocalizations is to have little "conversations" with them. Next time your child is feeling chatty — making gurgling or "bababa" sounds while eating dinner, for example — respond to each noise as if they're speaking real words. ("Oh, is that right? Yes, I love sweet potatoes, too!")
When you're talking, "pause and wait for them to respond, just as when you're talking with an adult," says Dr. Williamson. Not only will your interest encourage your baby to make more of those delightful noises, but you'll help them understand that real conversations involve this back-and-forth dialogue.
3. Parent concert
What you'll need: music or your own voice
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Playing music for your baby is wonderful, but singing songs yourself — they won't know if your voice is terrible! — gives you an opportunity to praise their vocalizations.
While singing to your little one, focus on making a variety of sounds with your mouth and tone of voice, says Dr. Williamson. Then, if your child tries to repeat the lyrics, "repeat and expand the sounds your baby makes," she says, "such as 'ma-ma' when they say 'ma'."
4. Photo card story
What you'll need: photo cards or images you've printed
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Using photos of common objects or places (think a car, dog, ball, tree, house, crib), tell your baby an imaginary story (any story, really!) then show them the images to illustrate the major points, clearly saying each word.
You can buy sets of photo cards geared towards babies, but it's also easy to make your own by printing out images of things your little one will recognize. Plus, going the DIY route lets you include pictures of people your baby knows, like Grandma or big brother.
5. Storytime
What you'll need: books
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Reading to your child remains ever important, and at this age your little one may start paying closer attention to the images they see on the page.
"Familiar and loving faces are still your baby's favorite things to look at," says Dr. Williamson, "but they might also enjoy looking at pictures in books, especially familiar images." In addition to reading the words in each book, point out common objects you see pictured, like "bed" or "car."
You don't have to finish the entire story – just spending a few minutes engaging with the book, pointing out the pictures, and letting your baby explore the book still encourages pre-literacy, fine motor, and social skills
Best activities to fine-tune fine motor skills
Your 7- to 9-month-old is learning how to reach for objects and then manipulate them in new ways, such as by raking, banging or shaking things together, and transfering items from one hand to another, says Melitza Cobham-Browne M.D., pediatrician, UCI Health and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCI School of Medicine. These activities can help your baby fine-tune these fine skills while simultaneously exploring their surroundings.
1. Surprise box
What you'll need: a shoebox and variety of interesting items to place inside
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Ever wonder why your little one is fascinated by the remote? At this age, babies love objects with parts or pieces that move, Dr. Williamson explains, and "will spend lots of time staring at and manipulating these things, trying to figure out how they work."
Make the most of this obsession by gathering objects with knobs or buttons for your little one to explore (think different remotes, sets of jangly keys , or measuring spoons).
"I've made a few 'surprise' shoeboxes with various household items or toys in them," says BabyCenter user Cavan8 . "[My son] gets a good 10 minutes out of opening and closing the lid and taking the stuff in and out." Just be careful to remove any batteries, and always supervise your baby closely when they're interacting with these items.
2. Texture art
What you'll need: bubble wrap, butcher paper , paint , paint trays, resealable plastic bags, tape, scissors
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Tape butcher paper to the floor. Fill the plastic bags with different color paints, seal them shut tightly, then tape them to the butcher paper. Next, cut the bubble wrap into different shapes. Finally, lay out different paints. Encourage your baby to mix the paint, dip bubble wrap into the paint, and squish the plastic bags.
This activity helps your little one explore their sense of touch in a colorful way, says Donna Housman , Ed.D., a clinical psychologist and CEO of the Housman Institute in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. "Babies can practice using their fingers, hands, and grip to mix colors and make textured prints." Just supervise extra closely to make sure your little one doesn't put pieces of bubble wrap into their mouth.
3. Color baskets
What you'll need: baskets (each a different color) and various items that correspond to each color, like small toys or household objects
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Dr. Housman recommends this fun sorting activity to strengthen and engage your baby's cognitive skills, in addition to helping them manipulate small objects. Separate the items you've chosen by color and place them in each of the corresponding baskets.
Then, let your baby explore the items in each basket and narrate the things they interact with. "Include a variety of different sensory exploration opportunities to make the most out of this activity," says Dr. Housman, such as smooth (mixing cups, spoons), fuzzy (stuffed animals, felt dryer balls), and rough (plastic animals, toy cars).
4. Stacking and nesting
What you'll need: nesting cups or blocks
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: This age is a great time to introduce toys that can be stacked (like blocks) or nested into each other (such as nesting cups or cardboard boxes), says Dr. Williamson.
Give these toys to your baby, then demonstrate how they work — for example, show how you can continue adding blocks on top of each other to make a tall tower, nest each little cup into the others until they're hidden, or stack cups biggest to smallest.
5. Messy mealtime
What you'll need: foods that have different textures
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Mealtime may not feel like playtime, but you can still make feedings fun. Place foods that have different textures onto your baby's high chair, such as squished blueberries, cooked rice, and mashed avocado . Encourage your little one to touch, smear, and taste the different ingredients. This can help encourage their pincer grasp , which they'll likely perfect sometime between 9 and 12 months .
And keep offering foods with a variety of tastes and smells, even if your little one seems more interested in playing with than eating them, says Dr. Williamson. "Don't give up if they don't take to it right away," she says. "It can take over 10 times before a baby learns to try a new food."
Best activities to encourage gross motor skills
Most babies can get themselves into a sitting position by the 9-month mark, and your baby may also be exploring other movements that they'll eventually use to get from point A to B, such as scooting , crawling, pushing up on their hands and knees, or rocking back and forth. These activities can help them develop more strength and coordination as they prepare to become fully mobile (if they're not already!).
1. Roller derby
What you'll need: two empty 2-liter plastic bottles, tape, brightly colored plastic toys (such as dinosaurs and balls)
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: This activity may encourage your little one to get on the move. Cut off the tops of the beverage containers about a third of the way down, then place four or five small toys inside one container (an assortment of items that have different shapes, sizes, and colors). Next, wedge one container over the other to make a closed cylinder, and tape the container closed. You've made a fun roller for your baby ! While your little one is on their hands and knees, roll it in front of them to entice them to move forward and chase it across the floor.
2. Choo-choo training
What you'll need: nothing!
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Standing with your legs a little wider than your shoulders, tell your baby they're the train and encourage them to crawl, scoot, or creep through your legs, the "tunnel." You can illustrate the point with train sounds ("chuga-chuga-choo-choo!") as they make their way through. If your baby can easily pass through your legs, add to the fun by gently squeezing them, encouraging them to go faster.
3. Tunnel time
What you'll need: a play tunnel or couch cushions and a blanket
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Once your baby has mastered the art of creeping, crawling, or scooting, encourage them to keep going by setting up a tunnel for them to navigate through.
"We broke out the crawling tunnel today and [my 9-month-old] was all about it," says BabyCenter user KRC62219 . "He was playing peek-a-boo in the little mesh windows." You can buy a fabric play tunnel designed for babies, or make your own by propping up couch cushions and blankets. (As always, supervise your little one closely.)
4. Tug-a-lug
What you'll need: a dish towel
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds: Help build your little one's developing strength by letting your baby grab hold of a dish towel (you can also use another soft toy, such as a cloth-covered rattle or stuffed animal) while you hold the other end and pull gently.
This will test their strength, and as they get used to it, you can pull just hard enough to gently lift them up slightly , allowing their arms to support their own weight.
5. Nature play
What you'll need: a blanket
Why it's good for 7- to 9-month-olds : If you often play inside on a rug, give your baby a change of scenery by moving playtime outdoors. Place a few objects from nature on a blanket or towel (think flowers, rocks, leaves and twigs) and let your baby move around as they explore the items and activate their senses of sight, touch, and smell.
"A trip outside can provide a wide variety, from the sweet scent of flowers to the distinctive smell of just-cut grass," says Dr. Williamson.
Skills your child is developing at 7 to 9 months old
Babies are making more and more sounds by the time they're 9 months old. "Between 7 to 9 months, infants should be able to babble, respond to their own name , and understand a few words," says Dr. Cobham-Browne. They're using these fun sounds to connect with you in new ways — smiling, laughing, squealing, and delighting in games like peek-a-boo.
You might notice that your baby has more anxiety around unfamiliar people right about now, Dr. Housman notes, which is often referred to as the "stranger danger" phase. That's because your child is developing an attachment relationship to you and other caregivers, she explains, "a pivotal event in a person's emotional development."
Your little one may be on the move these days, too. You're likely to notice them sitting up without support, crawling and creeping, grabbing for toes when they're lying down, and turning and rolling over . Some 9-month-olds can pull themselves up to stand and cruise along furniture , though this happens closer to the 12-month mark for others.
Every baby develops at their own pace, but most children will reach these developmental milestones by 9 months , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have any concerns about your child's development, bring them up to your pediatrician at the 9-month checkup .
How much playtime does a 7- to 9-month-old need?
Playtime makes up an ever-growing piece of your baby's day. "There isn't a set amount of time for your child to play," says Dr. Cobham-Browne. In other words, your little one will likely be playing anytime they're not sleeping or eating.
At this age, playtime will be a mix of interactions with an adult as well as independent play. (This helps teach your almost-toddler to self-soothe, Dr. Cobham-Browne says.)
Sample daily schedule for a 7- to 9-month-old
Kids between 7 and 9 months old need 12 to 16 hours of sleep a day, including naps, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Whenever your child isn't eating, sleeping, or otherwise being cared for by you, they can be exploring the world around them through play.
Here's an example of what your baby's day might look like at this age. But it's important to remember that every child is different: For example, this schedule assumes your little one naps twice a day, but some babies might take a short third nap at this age as well. Your little one might nap for shorter or longer periods from day to day, too.
7 a.m.: wake up
7:30 a.m.: breakfast
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: playtime and snack
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: nap
11:30 a.m. to noon: playtime
Noon: lunch
12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: playtime and snack
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: nap
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: playtime
5 p.m.: dinner
6 p.m.: bathtime
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: playtime
7:30 p.m.: bedtime stories
8 p.m.: bedtime
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