The Developing Stages of a Child

He or she imitates people whom he or she doesn’t see and their

behavior.

He or she doesn’t like restrictions.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

The baby remembers past events.

The baby examines objects as a separate three-dimensional reality.

The baby connects types of familiar behavior with new actions.

He or she deliberately says “mum” and “dad”.

Your baby is 9 months old

According to what your eighth-month baby has already achieved, this

month he or she can have a little break in his or her achievements. The

baby needs time to consolidate and work through his or her skills.

Most likely, your baby can sit down independently. He or she is awake

several hours in a row, creeping and exploring surroundings. By this time

many children already begin walking near support. As a rule, it starts

as traveling along a sofa or around a coffee table and soon grows into

something significant.

Growing curiosity and liveliness of a baby make parents think about

his or her safety. At this age children have a passion to climb everywhere.

It’s quite easy to climb, but to come down is much harder and can

end not very well. Plants also may be dangerous.

Your child begins to understand connections between objects. He or she

can put a smaller thing into a bigger one, make a tower with two bricks,

or even bring together objects necessary for building. Besides, you baby

begins to realize that things and people exist separately when he or she

doesn’t see them. He or she already understood that you don’t

disappear when leaving the room – he or she just doesn’t see

you. Even though your baby likes to be independent, he or she wants you

to be nearby, and from time to time he or she needs to make sure that

everything is alright.

One more manifestation of your baby’s independence is his or her

readiness to reject breast or mixture. But before you cure your baby of

breast or bottle, consult with your pediatrician. If you breastfeed, your

baby can be less interested in the feeding process itself but the feeling

of intimacy connected with it is still necessary. If he or she no longer

likes a bottle, offer a drinking bowl. Still, it’s not advisable

to stop using a bottle too soon. Your baby will let you know when it’s

time to do it.

If your baby often repeats some syllables, these are probably his or

her first attempts to speak. In two or three months he or she will pronounce

the first real words, but he or she can say no word until 18 months (or

even two years). Although your baby doesn’t speak yet, he or she

understands everything perfectly. Talk to him or her as often as possible,

say what you are doing, name known objects, and soon he or she will manage

to carry out simple requests -- for instance, “wave your hand”

or “stop doing it”.

Baby’s physical development this month

The baby claps his or her hands and bangs with things.

He or she lifts and plays with two objects simultaneously.

The baby takes small objects by the fingers, and big ones with both

hands.

The baby stands up and stands near support.

The baby can turn around when creeping.

He or she climbs up.

Baby’s social development this month

He or she likes to play near parents.

He or she deliberately chooses a toy.

The baby reacts on other children’s behavior; he or she can start

crying if they cry.

He or she can learn to defend himself/herself and his or her toys.

The baby evaluates people’s moods.

He or she starts a game.

The baby imitates different sounds.

The baby likes an audience and repeats an action if somebody praises

him or her.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

He or she finds the toy that was hidden before his or her eyes.

He or she is bored by one and the same game.

The baby can remember which game he or she played the day before.

He or she carries out simple requests.

He or she learns what vertical space means.

Your baby is 10 months old

Certainly, each child develops in his or her own way, but there are

some stages that by this moment are passed by all children. By the ninth

month, almost all kids creep and many can stand without support. Some

children walk along the furniture, some can already make one or two steps,

but only a few can walk. Your baby sits, turns over, bends, changes his

or her position, and lies down from a sitting position. If he or she is

risky enough, he or she can try to climb low objects.

A delighted attitude because of new skills prevents them from sleeping

well. Your baby may wake up, even at night, to stay a little in his or

her bed. A very active child may sleep only 11 hours at night and one

hour in the daytime. If your baby has problems with falling asleep, hold

him or her in your arms for some time; lull a little while he or she drinks

the evening drink or while you show a book with pictures to him or her.

By this time your baby has already invented his or her “hide-and-seek”.

Your baby hides under a blanket and waits for you to call him or her.

If you don’t do it, he or she calls you so that you seek him or

her. Some children prefer to close the face with the palms, but not to

cover their heads with a blanket or a towel. If he or she doesn’t

see you, you don’t see him or her either –- this is how he

or she thinks.

Your baby likes to examine pictures and listens to you reading although

he or she doesn’t understand everything. When he or she is asked

to show something, he or she does it. Your baby understands the word “no”

perfectly well and can even repeat it and shake his or her head. Nevertheless,

it doesn’t stop your baby. Patience and calmness together with persistence

–- all this will help you to accustom him or her to self-control.

A child’s passion to discover surroundings can lead a baby to

a prohibited area, and he or she will be in despair when you punish him

or her for this. However, if your house is safe enough, you can allow

him or her to explore it. Take away dangling table-cloths and poisonous

substances.

Make sure that the door to the bathroom is always closed because there

is nothing more tempting for a child than a toilet. You probably have

already noticed that your baby learns to do what he or she likes with

pleasure, and at the same time becomes very obstinate when he or she has

to do something boring. The baby can’t bear it and will certainly

inform you.

Baby’s physical development this month

He or she can stand up near support.

He or she walks while holding you with both hands.

He or she climbs and comes down from a sofa.

He or she sits down from a standing position.

He or she can have problems with sleep because of high amounts of energy.

He or she dances to music: rocks himself/herself to and fro, goes around,

stamps his or her feet, and “sings”.

He or she can carry two small objects in one hand.

He or she begins to prefer one hand and side of the body.

Baby’s social development this month

He or she adores playing with water.

He or she treats himself/herself as a personality and waits for other

people’s approval.

He or she expects attention and cooperation.

He or she imitates gestures, expressions, and sounds.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

He or she likes to copy other people’s actions: chews a tooth-brush