Parenting/Month 9
Does your baby hold most foods while eating? Drink from a cup with a little help? Hold and lick the spoon after it is dipped into food? These are the first steps in learning how to eat by one's self. If baby always grabs for the spoon, you can make meals easier by using two spoons - one for you and one for him. While baby practices, you can feed him a few spoonfuls.
First, prevent situations where baby might do something you don't like. Move that canning jar to a higher shelf. Put a gate on the stairwell. If baby does something wrong, think of ways you could keep it from happening again. Create a trouble-free environment!
Researchers who have studied young children report that curiosity is important for success in school. A child interested in the world around her and given freedom to explore, will observe and learn.
Talking to your baby makes a difference. Research shows that when you imitate and respond to your baby's sounds, it helps him understand language.
Researchers find that men and women play differently with babies. Men are more likely to play rough. Some women would say that men are too wild!
Researchers find that babies who hear, "No," and, "Don't," all the time seem to be less intelligent than other babies. Babies and children need to explore and experiment to learn.
Many babies begin crawling during the 9th month. It's exciting for babies to move around on their own, but it is scary, too!
