Well-baby visit: 6-9 months

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Article Summary

This visit will probably take place when your baby is between 6 and 9 months old. Babies at this stage are still growing rapidly. By 6 months, a baby is sitting up, or getting ready to sit up and their back is straightening out. At 9 months your baby is on the move - exploring, investigating and experimenting.

But depending on your baby's age and development this visit could be quite exhausting. A 9-month-old may take one look at your health professional and scream. Don't be embarrassed - it's what we expect them to do.

The more time you allow your baby to take things in from the safety of your lap, the less upset they're likely to get. However, your baby's personality will come out in how they respond to this visit. Some can be coaxed into a smile and play; others will cling to mum or dad the whole time.

At this visit, your health professional will probably:

Weigh and often measure your baby .

Provide insights into your baby's development, temperament and behaviour. .

Help you teach your baby to form a good sleep pattern.

Review safety, as your growing baby can get into more things every day now.

Other things that may be discussed:
Has your baby seen a GP since the last visit? If so, why? What was the     outcome of that visit, and was any medication or treatment prescribed?
Does your baby have any teeth yet?
Does your baby 'talk'? Describe any babbling, laughing, squealing, imitating or     coughing' they do.
How does your baby play with things? Do they put things in their mouth, drop     them or throw them? Can your baby pass something from hand to hand? Can     they use their index finger to poke things?
What games does your baby know (peekaboo, pat-a-cake, wave bye-bye,     etc.)? What are their favourite toys and how does they play with them? Does     your baby shake them, bang them, drop them or throw them?
Can your baby sit up with support? Can they roll over both ways?
Or can your baby sit fairly well without support? Can they twist and turn from a     stable sitting position? Can they get into a sitting position easily?
Does your baby turn their head towards you when you enter a room, even     before you say anything?
Is your baby crawling or starting to crawl? Creeping, sliding and shuffling     along are all legitimate forms of movement.
Can they pull themselves up to standing?
Can they use a pincer grasp to pick up small objects?


Exactly what you chat about from the list above will depend on your baby's age and development stage.



Talk it over

Your baby may be ready or getting ready to start eating solid foods. Tell your health professional about any food allergies, asthma or eczema that run in your family.

Talk over any sleeping problems your baby may be having. Your health professional will be able to help.

If someone in your household or family has had tuberculosis, or any other serious contagious disease, your health professional will want to check your baby regularly to be sure they haven't been infected.

Remind your health professional about any special issues identified at your child's birth. They may need to be checked again, through a hearing test or blood test, for example.

Tell your health professional if you're too anxious to let your baby play on the floor, or in a playpen, or if you don't know how to play with your baby.

Vitamins and/or iron supplements. Discuss vitamins with your health professional before you give them to your baby. If you're a vegetarian, take some extra time to talk about your baby's diet. B vitamins, iron and other minerals will be especially important to a baby if they're not eating meat. Discuss any special dietary issues in your family.

Safety. This is the time you need to look closely at how safe your household is. Discuss what you've done to childproof your house so far and find out where to go in your local area in case of accidental ingestion or emergencies.

Discipline. It's best to get advice now, before your baby turns into a toddler with opinions of their own. Discuss limit-setting now.



Speak up!

Remember that this is your chance to talk over any concerns you may have. Things to raise may include:

your baby tends to use only one hand, favours one leg or seems to tilt to one     side when they sit or move. Does your baby move in any way that concerns     you?
that your baby fails to turn to sounds or doesn't seem to hear well
they cross their eyes or doesn't seem to see well
they fail to make any sounds or make fewer sounds than before
they gag on food, always choke on liquids in a cup or can't keep food in their     mouth
they fail to demonstrate a special relationship with you or other family     members, or show no awareness or wariness of strangers
your baby appears pale
that they fail to show interest in toys and objects
they don't roll over - but remember that not all babies do things at exactly the     same age.





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