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Well Child Exam 9 Months


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Your babys 9-month well child exam is a visit with the doctor to check your baby's health. The doctor measures your baby's weight, height, and head size. The doctor plots these numbers on a growth curve. The growth curve gives a picture of your baby's growth at each visit. The doctor may listen to your baby's heart, lungs, and belly. Your doctor will do a full exam of your baby from the head to the toes. � �
Your baby may also need shots or blood tests during this visit. � �

General


Growth and Development � �
Your doctor will ask you how your baby is developing. The doctor will focus on the skills that most children your babys age are expected to do. During this time of your baby's life, here are some things you can expect. � �
  • Movement � � � Your baby may:
    • Begin to crawl without help
    • Start to pull up and stand
    • Start to wave
    • Use finger and thumb to pick up small objects
  • Hearing, seeing, and talking � � � Your baby will likely:
    • Respond to name
    • Say things like Mama or Dada, but not specific to the parent
    • Begin to understand "no " �. Try to distract or redirect to correct your baby.
    • Be more comfortable with familiar people and toys. Be prepared for tears when saying good bye. Say I love you and then leave. Your baby may be upset, but will calm down in a little bit.
  • Feeding � � � Your baby:
    • Still takes breast milk or formula for some nutrition. Always hold your baby when feeding. Do not prop a bottle. This makes it easier to choke and get ear infections.
    • Is likely ready to start drinking water from a cup
    • Will be eating cereal and other baby foods for 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day
    • May be ready to start eating table foods that are soft, mashed, or pureed. Wait 3 to 5 days between adding each new food.
      • Don 't force your baby to eat foods. You may have to offer a food more than 10 times before your baby will like it.
      • Give your baby very small bites of soft finger foods like bananas or well cooked vegetables.
      • Watch for signs your baby is full, like turning the head or leaning back.
    • Should be allowed to try to eat without help. Mealtime will be messy.
    • Should not have fruit juice.
    • May have new teeth. Use a cold clean wash cloth or teething ring to help ease sore gums.
    • Will need you to clean the teeth after a feeding with a wet washcloth or a wet baby toothbrush. You may use a smear of toothpaste each day.
  • Sleep � � � Your baby:
    • Should still sleep in a safe crib, on the back, alone for naps and at night. Keep soft bedding, bumpers, and toys out of your baby's bed. It is OK if your baby rolls over without help at night.
    • Is likely sleeping about 9 to 10 hours in a row at night
    • Needs 1 to 2 naps each day
    • Sleeps about a total of 14 hours each day
    • Should be able to fall asleep without help. If your baby wakes up at night, check on your baby. Do not pick your baby up, offer a bottle, or play with your baby. Doing these things will not help your baby fall asleep without help.
    • Should not have a bottle in bed. This can cause tooth decay or ear infections. Give a bottle before putting your baby in the crib for the night.
  • Shots or vaccines � � � It is important for your baby to get shots on time. This protects from very serious illnesses like pertussis or some kinds of pneumonia. Your baby may need to get shots if it is flu season or if they were missed earlier. Check with your doctor to make sure your baby's shots are up to date.

Help for Parents � �
  • Play with your baby.
    • Give your baby soft balls, blocks, and containers to play with. Toys that make noise are also good.
    • Read to your baby. Name the things in the pictures in the book. Talk and sing to your baby. This helps your baby learn language skills.
    • Sing songs with hand motions like "pat-a-cake " � or active nursery rhymes.
    • Hide a toy partly under a blanket for your baby to find.
  • Here are some things you can do to help keep your baby safe and healthy.
    • Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or around your baby.
    • Have the right size car seat for your baby and use it every time your baby is in the car. Your baby should be rear facing until 2 years of age.
    • Pad corners and sharp edges. Put a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. Be sure furniture, shelves, and televisions are secure and cannot tip onto your baby.
    • Take extra care if your baby is in the kitchen.
      • Make sure you use the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles so your baby cannot grab them.
      • Keep hot items like liquids, coffee pots, and heaters away from your baby.
      • Put childproof locks on cabinets, especially those that contain cleaning supplies or other things that may harm your baby.
    • Never leave your baby alone. Do not leave your baby in the car, in the bath, or at home alone, even for a few minutes.
    • Avoid screen time for children under 2 years old. This means no TV, computers, or video games. They can cause problems with brain development.
  • Parents need to think about:
    • Coping with mealtime messes
    • How to distract your baby when doing something you don 't want your baby to do
    • Using positive words to tell your baby what you want, rather than saying no or what not to do
    • How to childproof your home and yard to keep from having to say no to your baby as much
  • Your next well child visit will most likely be when your baby is 12 months old. At this visit your doctor may:
    • Do a full check up on your baby
    • Talk about making sure your home is safe for your baby, if your baby becomes upset when you leave, and how to correct your baby
    • Give your baby the next set of shots

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Fever of 100.4 � �F (38 � �C) or higher
  • Sleeps all the time or has trouble sleeping
  • Wont stop crying
  • You are worried about your baby's development

Where can I learn more?


American Academy of Pediatrics � �
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx � �
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention � �
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/milestones-tracker.pdf � �

Last Reviewed Date


2015-02-10 � �

List_set bdysylist


  • Healthy Living
  • Pediatric

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. � �

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