At around 6 months she may

• grasp and hold rattle in one hands
• transfer rattle to other hand
• raise rattle to mouth
• sit with support for a short time
• roll over and back
• bear weight and bounce when held in standing position
• hold on to cup handles and attempt to drink
• make lots of new noises, click her tongue, blow raspberries.
• imitate a cough
• copy poked tongue
• laugh or squeal in annoyance
• use double syllable sounds (adah, ahgoo)
• turn to direction of mothers voice

You can encourage development by

• playing interactive games – peek a boo
• offering more floor play with large, brightly coloured balls. Soft washable ones are best
• introducing toys such as a teddy bear or rag doll, squeaky animals (without removable parts), floating bath toys.
• giving her empty plastic containers, with lids to put on and off
• reading to her from brightly coloured, large books

By around 9 months she may

• sit unsupported
• bottom shuffle or crawl
• clap hands together
• poke at objects to make them move
• pick up tiny bits of fluff or small objects with a “pincer grip”, using finger and thumb
• pull to standing position in her cot or with chair support
• react to familiar faces, and act warily to new ones
• blow kisses
• look for dropped toys
• babble tunefully

You can encourage development by

• playing with building blocks, and interlocking toys, first books, activity centres
• giving her saucepans, lids and a wooden spoon to play with
• playing music and singing nursery rhymes
• pretend to have a conversation with her on the phone

Remember all babies develop at their own pace. If you are worried about anything, talk to your health professional. It is important to ask your health professional to check your baby’s eyesight and hearing if you have any concern at all.