Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

What to expect at your baby’s 9-month checkup

Scott Harris
By

A happy baby gets a doc checkupYour baby’s 9-month doctor’s checkup is a pivotal marker in a baby’s development. That’s in large part because of the important developmental milestones occurring during their age.

Pediatricians cover a lot of ground in a baby’s 9-month checkup, analyzing behavior patterns, developmental progress, and of course physical health. This includes several questions for you — so take a look at this list and make sure you have the right information at the ready.

Recommended Videos

Keep in mind that this list covers a “well-baby” checkup, as opposed to one where a baby may have acute or uncommon health issues. And in news that’s music to any parent’s ears, there are usually no shots at the 9-month checkup.

Related

(Immunization schedules and other specific components of a checkup can vary, so check with your doctor’s office beforehand for more information.)

A doctor and baby at a checkup

Full physical checkup

A physical workup is central to most any doctor visit, and that goes for adults as well as babies. Some common physical components of a 9-month baby appointment can include:

  • Using a stethoscope to check heart rate and breathing
  • Checking eyes and ears for various conditions and potential infection
  • Looking in the mouth for teeth and signs of infection
  • Inspecting the top of your baby’s head for soft spots (“fontanels”)
  • Checking reflexes and examining skin for rashes and discoloration
  • Feeling the abdomen for a hernia or enlarged organs
  • Inspecting the diaper area for signs of infection
  • Moving your baby’s legs to look for joint problems

Be ready to answer questions

Pediatricians will undoubtedly want to talk with the baby’s parents or guardian. Before you head to the appointment, confirm that you have as much information prepared as possible. If this means doing a bit of research beforehand to better track or remember the specifics of your baby’s habits, so much the better.

Some common questions to prepare for at the 9-month checkup include:

  • How’s your baby sleeping? There’s a good chance your 9-month-old is not yet sleeping through the night. Log your baby’s sleeping patterns (time and duration are plenty) if you want to give your doctor the best information possible.
  • Have you babyproofed your home? If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to childproof much of the house against little hands and feet that are about to become a lot more mobile. This includes stairs and electrical outlets, unsafe areas of the house like the kitchen, and cabinets containing any potentially hazardous items. Also, always make sure car seats are properly installed.
  • Has your baby starting crawling? Little by little, most babies have started crawling, slithering, or otherwise transporting themselves around the house at this stage. Some might even be pulling themselves up on furniture.
  • Is your baby talking? Your baby’s babbling is slowly turning into actual words. If your baby is talking, tell the doctor which words your baby can say, as well as those that they understand, such as their name.
  • How are your baby’s motor skills? The pediatrician will likely want to know more about your baby’s gross and fine motor skills. For gross motor skills, think larger movements — one example for a baby at 9 months is the ability to get into a sitting position with no help. An example of fine motor skills at this age would be a more detailed task, like picking up a small object between the thumb and forefinger.

Developmental milestones

All those skills your baby has been perfecting? The doctor will want to see them, too, if possible. Some 9-month milestones include:

  • Getting into a sitting position, sitting unassisted
  • Crawling
  • Pulling up to stand
  • Working to get something that’s out of reach
  • Objecting to the absence or removal of a favorite item
  • Understanding his or her name
  • Laughing
  • Mimicking sounds and gestures
  • Pointing and using other nonverbal communication
  • Babbling, or perhaps saying “Dada” or “Mama”

With so much going on in your baby’s life, there’s plenty for your pediatrician to check at 9 months. With the first birthday on the horizon, this is an exciting time in a baby’s developmental timeline.

As always, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to baby development. If you have any concerns, ask the doctor.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Scott Harris
Scott Harris
Contributor
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
What it means if you lose weight during pregnancy – and when to worry
What causes a pregnant woman to lose weight?
A pregnant woman holding her belly in a bathroom

Weight gain is a very real, very normal, and very expected part of pregnancy. Most people are prepared to see the scale going up as their pregnancy progresses, but sometimes they may notice it going down, which can cause some anxiety. Pregnancy requires extra calories and extra nutrition to feed a growing baby, which is why it can be very concerning when a pregnant person notices they are losing weight.

Weight loss during pregnancy may be more common than you think. It isn't necessarily cause for alarm unless it's a consistent pattern throughout the pregnancy and not just a short-lived dip on the scale. Many factors can cause a pregnant person to lose weight, but that doesn't mean it can't be concerning when it happens. You should always consult your doctor if you're concerned about your weight gain or loss during pregnancy, but if you've found yourself asking, "Why am I losing weight while pregnant?" here are a few possible explanations.
It's not uncommon

Read more
When do babies sleep through the night (and what the answer means for your child)?
This is the first question new parents want to know
A mother watching her baby sleep in their crib.

Every parent of a newborn has the same question after their first night with their precious new bundle of joy. When do babies sleep through the night? All it takes is those first sleepless 24 hours to wonder if you are ever going to sleep again. After a few days, you don't even remember when the last time you slept more than a few hours in one stretch was. We get it. Here's when babies sleep through the night, so you know when you will be done stumbling around in a zombie-like sleepless fog.
A baby's sleep schedule
Every baby is different, so if your babe isn't getting the exact amount of sleep by a certain age, it's not something to worry about. But there is a little guide to refer to.

Newborns up to 2 months old
Newborns do spend a decent amount of time sleeping. Unfortunately for the parents, it's not all at night. While babies less than 2 months old snooze up to 18 hours a day, with up to 10 of those hours being prime nighttime sleep hours, it isn't all at once.

Read more
The top cowboy and Western baby names that are riding high
Here’s some inspiration when naming baby if you’re a fan of all things Western
Baby boy wearing a blue knitted cap

There's so much to be excited about when it comes to having a baby, but parents-to-be often spend quite a bit of time agonizing over the perfect name. There is a lot of pressure to choose the ideal name for your little one, which may be why Western baby names are riding back to the forefront.

Namerology creator Lauren Wattenberg is all about names and predicts cowboy baby names will definitely be something to climb in the saddle for in the coming years. Wattenberg feels shows like the popular Western drama Yellowstone have brought cowboy names in from the range. Of course, Western baby names have never really ridden into the sunset. Dakota is a gender-neutral Western baby name that became prevalent in the 90s.

Read more