Well baby visit - nine months

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Article Summary

This visit will be livelier than the past ones.

Your 9-month-old is a child on the move - exploring, investigating and experimenting. Hiding things and peekaboo games are endlessly interesting to him because he can now picture things that aren't in front of him. As you might imagine, this curiosity and thinking ability makes him more fun to play with - and more challenging as well. This visit will be livelier than the past ones.

 At the 9-month visit, your GP will focus on your child's nutrition, sleep and development. It's also catch-up time for any vaccinations you might have missed.
 A 9-month-old may take one look at his doctor and scream. Don't be embarrassed - it's what we expect him to do. The more time you allow him to take things in from the safety of your lap, the less upset he's likely to get. However, your baby's personality will come out in how he responds 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 GP will probably:

 Weigh and measure your baby. Click here to see our growth chart.

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

 Help you develop a plan to teach your baby to sleep soundly at night, if he's not already doing so. This is the age he's likely to start waking up again.

Your GP will want to know:

 Has your baby seen another general practitioner since the last visit? If so, why? What was the outcome of that visit, and was any medication or treatment prescribed?
 Can your baby sit fairly well without support? Can he twist and turn from a stable sitting position? Can he get into a sitting position easily?
 Is he crawling or starting to crawl? Creeping, sliding and shuffling along are all legitimate forms of movement.
 Can he pull himself up to standing?
 Can he use the pincer grasp to pick up small objects?
 Can he feed himself with his fingers?
 Does he poke at things with his index finger?
 Is he anxious around strangers?
 Does he say "Mama" or "Dada" yet?
 What games does he know (peekaboo, pat-a-cake, wave bye-bye, etc.)? What are his favourite toys and how does he play with them? Does he shake them, bang them, drop them or throw them?
 Does he have his first teeth? Babies this age may have their top and bottom incisors.
 Does he respond to his own name?
 Does he recognise a few words?

Talk It Over

Here are some other issues you and your GP may want to discuss at this visit:

 Nutrition. What foods is your baby eating? Describe your baby's general daily meal plan. Is he feeding himself finger food? Can he drink from a cup? Report what milk he's on - it should be breast milk or formula at this age.

 Vitamins and/or iron supplements. Discuss vitamins with your GP 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 him if he's not eating meat. Discuss any special dietary issues in your family.

 Follow-up tests. If your baby had a hearing test or eye examination because of some special concern, remind your doctor now. It may be a good time for follow-up tests. If your child has had a lot of ear infections, ask your GP whether he needs a hearing test now.

 Contagious diseases. If someone in your household or someone in close contact with the baby has a serious infectious disease such as tuberculosis, hepatitis or meningitis, bring it up now. Your baby may need to be tested.

 Recent illnesses, medications or emergencies. If your child is taking any medication or has visited casualty for any reason since the last visit, let your GP know. Take the records and medicine with you.

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

 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.

 Lead. If you live in a house built before 1972, your child may be at risk from lead poisoning. Ask about getting the test if your child hasn't had it yet.

 Sleep issues. Sleep problems are common at this age, but your GP can help. Keep a record of your baby's sleep patterns over three days and take it to your visit.

 Family issues. If there's been a big change in your family - like a new job or redundancy, a death, a divorce or anything that could be causing stress in the family - let your GP know. This will affect your baby, and you'll want to find out ways to help him cope.

 Anxiety. If you're too worried about letting your baby play on the floor or in a playpen, bring it up with your GP now.

 Childcare changes or issues. If you have changed your childminder or nursery, or will soon, let the doctor know. He or she can suggest ways to make it less stressful for your child.

Speak Up!

Your GP should definitely know if your baby:

 Isn't making sounds or if his sounds have decreased.
 Doesn't turn to familiar words, especially his own name.
 Chokes or has trouble with solid foods or with drinking from a cup.
 Is off-balance when he moves his arms or legs, or uses one side more than the other.
 Isn't moving around in some manner.
 Doesn't turn his head towards sounds.
 Doesn't demonstrate his special relationship with you or other family members, or shows no awareness or wariness of strangers.
 Doesn't bear his weight when he's held in a standing position.
 Can't get up on his hands when placed on his tummy.

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Development

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Health

Article Tags:

milestones

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checkup

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paediatrician

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immunizations

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weight