Baby development at 6–9 months

Week by week in the Oror guide

In the app, the right card opens by itself every week, and you can tick what you have tried.

1. Week 35

   “Ma-ma”, “da-da”

   Syllables repeat: “ma-ma-ma”, “da-da-da”. Not words yet, but soon.

   Try this

   • Name people and things as they look at them
   • Sing songs with actions

   You may notice

   • Strings sounds like “mamama”, “bababa”
   • Turns when you call their name

   Good to know

   • Answer their “talk” as if you understand

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Doesn’t babble
2. Week 30

   Time to babyproof

   Crawling is coming. Look at your home from your baby’s eye level — the floor.

   Try this

   • Clear floor space for crawling
   • Put a toy a little out of reach so they stretch for it

   You may notice

   • Pivots around on the tummy
   • Starts to move forward or backward

   Good to know

   • Cover sockets, anchor furniture, keep medicines and cleaners high and locked

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Shows no interest in moving
3. Week 27

   New tastes

   A new taste can surprise your baby. Sometimes it takes 10–15 tries before a food is liked.

   Try this

   • Offer the same vegetable on different days
   • Eat together, showing that it’s tasty

   You may notice

   • Opens the mouth for the spoon
   • Shows when they’re full

   Good to know

   • No added salt or sugar; no honey before 1 year

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Gags or coughs at every feed
4. Week 28

   Sitting alone

   Many babies start sitting without support — briefly at first. Hands are free to play.

   Try this

   • Play sitting up with toys all around
   • Roll a ball to them

   You may notice

   • Sits without support for a moment
   • Picks up a toy while sitting

   Good to know

   • Put a soft mat or cushions around them

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Can’t sit even with support
5. Week 29

   Hidden, but still there

   Your baby learns that things exist even when out of sight. Hiding games are a big hit.

   Try this

   • Hide a toy under a cloth and let them find it
   • Play peekaboo from behind furniture

   You may notice

   • Looks for a hidden toy
   • Laughs at peekaboo

   Good to know

   • If they cry when you leave, always say goodbye and come back

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Doesn’t follow a falling object
6. Week 31

   Using both hands

   Your baby holds with one hand and explores with the other. They may bang two toys together.

   Try this

   • Give two blocks and show how to bang them
   • Let them open and close a lid

   You may notice

   • Bangs two things together
   • Passes things from hand to hand

   Good to know

   • Noisy games are fine — just not too loud

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Uses one hand much less than the other
7. Week 32

   Missing you

   Many babies get upset when a parent leaves around now. It means the bond is strong.

   Try this

   • Play “gone and back” by stepping out briefly
   • A goodbye ritual: a kiss and a wave

   You may notice

   • Cries or clings when you leave
   • Is happy when you come back

   Good to know

   • Don’t sneak away — it makes the worry bigger

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Doesn’t tell you apart from strangers
8. Week 33

   Crawling

   Many babies start crawling — on the tummy, on all fours or their own way. Some skip crawling, and that’s normal too.

   Try this

   • Make soft “obstacles” with cushions
   • Crawl together and race

   You may notice

   • Moves forward in some way
   • Gets onto hands and knees

   Good to know

   • Check the floor for small objects every day

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Doesn’t try to move at all
9. Week 34

   Finger foods

   Your baby loves feeding themselves. Soft pieces train the fingers and chewing.

   Try this

   • Offer soft pieces of cooked vegetables
   • Let them try holding the spoon

   You may notice

   • Feeds themselves soft pieces
   • Makes chewing movements

   Good to know

   • Avoid whole nuts, grapes and hard pieces — they’re a choking risk

   Talk to a doctor if

   • Can’t swallow soft food
10. Week 36

    Little fingers

    Your baby starts picking up small things with thumb and finger. It’s a very precise skill.

    Try this

    • Offer small soft pieces of food
    • Show how to put things into a box

    You may notice

    • Picks up a small piece with two fingers
    • Puts things in and out of a box

    Good to know

    • Right now small objects are especially risky — stay watchful

    Talk to a doctor if

    • Doesn’t pick up small things
11. Week 37

    Pulling to stand

    Holding on to furniture, your baby tries to stand. Falling and trying again is part of learning.

    Try this

    • Put a toy by a sturdy sofa
    • Hold their hands and help them up

    You may notice

    • Pulls up to stand holding on
    • Sits up by themselves

    Good to know

    • Anchor furniture to the wall and remove tablecloths they could pull

    Talk to a doctor if

    • Doesn’t bear weight on the legs when held
12. Week 38

    Talking with gestures

    Before words come gestures: arms up means “pick me up”.

    Try this

    • Wave “bye-bye” together
    • Clap along to a song

    You may notice

    • Lifts arms to be picked up
    • Claps or tries to clap

    Good to know

    • Answer gestures with words: “Do you want a cuddle?”

    Talk to a doctor if

    • Uses no gestures at all
13. Week 39

    Nine months old

    At nine months many babies sit alone, crawl and are shy with strangers. Time for a doctor’s visit.

    Try this

    • Play rolling a ball
    • Point out animals in a picture book

    You may notice

    • Sits without support
    • Shows several facial expressions — happy, sad, surprised

    Good to know

    • Sleep — usually 12–15 hours a day including naps

    Talk to a doctor if

    • Doesn’t sit without support
    • Doesn’t respond to their name