6-9 Month Motor Milestones
Do you have a trusted resource for milestones? 🖤 I’m here to tell you, it most likely shouldn’t be your baby apps or Google. What I’ve found is that often these checklists aren’t based in research. But that’s why I’m here :) to be a source for peace-of-mind knowing when the research shows your baby may hit certain motor milestones.
I want you to remember, though: milestones are a RANGE. I usually allow about a 6-8 week window on the tail end to give grace if a milestone isn’t met 👍🏻 but if this happens for every milestone, seek intervention, friend!
Another important thing to remember is that if your baby is meeting all other gross motor milestones but behind in ONE, it’s not cause for panic! They may be working on another skill or another realm of development and just need a little extra time to catch up 😘
If, however, you are consistently noticing your babe is behind in their motor milestones, talk to a trusted healthcare provider and advocate fiercely for a PT referral. Watch and wait never did anyone any good 😅 Or if you’re needing strategies to decide whether or not to pursue PT intervention or try to work on things at home, be sure to check out my courses. The courses were all developed with simple play-based strategies to get your baby moving and reduce your overwhelm!
I’ve also got a ✨Free 0-24 Months Milestone Checklist✨ that puts everything below into a nice tiny package for you to print off + follow along. Let this be a gentle guidepost toward their development though, rather than a source of anxiety and constant comparison 🤟🏻
I also have super fun Motor Milestone + Purposeful Play card decks (that also make a great baby shower gift). Each card comes with the milestone + 3 play strategies to support it!
Let’s dive into this huge burst of mobility from 6-9 months—such an exciting time where you may start thinking a lot
more seriously about babyproofing :)
Some things to be mindful of during the 6-9 month window:
Not all babies army crawl, and that’s okay, but crawling on hands and knees is tremendously important to development! Stay tuned for a blog post on WHY!
Floor time is especially crucial during this phase. Try to double the amount of time spent on the floor versus time spent in baby containers. If necessary, create a Yes Space with these helpful safeguards.
If you’re needing some toys to help promote these crawling and moving skills, I gotchu!
Wondering if crawling really matters? Check this out.
Scroll below to see video examples of each milestone!
If you find yourself worried that your baby may already be a bit behind in some of these, you’ve got to check out my Intro to Crawling Mini Course—designed to move an army crawling babe to hands and knees OR my full course Crawl on Track which takes you from belly down to army crawl and eventually hands and knees crawling! Plus, it explores some atypical crawling patterns! They have all my best simple strategies for building a strong foundation through daily play!
Or maybe you’re just needing some toys to help promote these crawling and moving skills, I gotchu!
Or if you’re curious what’s to come, be sure to check out my 9-12 Months Motor Milestones post.
Here’s some more insights into these + a few other crucial milestones
1. Immediately lifts head & pulls themselves up using arms during "pull to sit": The core is truly the foundation of all motor milestones within the first year and beyond. Little baby crunches are super important to progressing through these major moments of development. Now that babe has hopefully started enjoying tummy time more, consider transitioning the Diaper Change Challenge (flipping babe over to their tummy after every diaper change) from tummy time to practicing pulling to sit! If your little one is still having trouble keeping their chin tucked at their 9 month well visit, talk to your Pediatrician about getting an Early Intervention evaluation to get those muscles in gear!
2. Develops skill of catching themselves if falling forward or sideways out of sitting: You can't quite breathe a sigh of relief to be in the clear from those heartbreaking backwards bonks, but baby will begin to react when falling forward or sideways out of a seated position! This not only helps to prevent injuries but strengthens the arms in preparation for transition to hands and knees and crawling! Just remember: bumps and bruises are a normal and good part of childhood because they teach little bodies about what to do/not to do next time! Your reaction dictates theirs (within reason, of course) and if little falls occur, developing phrases like "uh oh!" or "bonk!" said in a silly voice can turn a frown upside down quickly! But if you're still feeling nervous, we are OB.SESSED. with our Toki Mat. It’s our most beautiful and softest mat we own. My link gets you 15% off! We also adore our Shwally Mat (Use code MOVE10 for $10 off) It’s so gorgeous, has a washable exterior & is so soft!
3. May get from sitting to tummy and tummy to sitting: *Any motor milestones I mark with "May" means that it could start in this window or it could take another month or two!* This transitional skill is HUGE for progress toward crawling and increasing independence in your little love. The basic gist is sit > side sit > hands and knees > tummy and reverse::: tummy > hands and knees > weight shifting back over one hip into a side sit > sit. When it begins, it will look like a belly flop down to the floor but with practice, it will become finely-tuned and effortless! Consider placing toys outside of baby's reach in sitting about 45 degrees to either side to encourage attempting this transitional skill.
4. May begin pulling to stand: If your babe figures this out on their own, no problem. But if they haven't yet crawled, I would discourage practicing pulling to stand. We want them to get strong on the floor before progressing to standing because crawling does so much to prepare baby's body and mind for the act of walking!
5. Gets into hands and knees position: It's the moment you've all been waiting for! Time spent in hands and knees or rocking back and forth in hands and knees will become a favorite game for your little one to practice over and over again. If you've got an army crawler on your hands, kick your leg out or throw down toss pillows and blankets for them to crawl over to encourage building the strength to press up onto hands and knees.
6. Begins crawling forward on their belly/army crawling: All that tummy time is going to start paying off, mama. It's entirely possible your little love will begin crawling backwards on their tummy first in an effort to figure out how to move forward. Try flexing one of their legs up and allowing them to push off your hand. Switch to the opposite side and help them continue this process for a few pushes until they get to a toy they really want. The reward of getting to the toy + your love and praise will continue to motivate them to try this out on their own. Army crawling is a great precursor to crawling on hands and knees, as it allows the body to practice the arms and legs moving in a reciprocal pattern, but it isn't necessary for becoming a hands and knees crawler and some kiddos skip over it.
7. Brings one knee forward on their tummy: This one goes hand-in-hand with army crawling but also can be seen when baby pivots on their tummy. A fun game to encourage this is to place toys in a circle around baby and watch them try to spin around like the hands on a clock.
8. Rolls back to tummy: Say hello to better sleep---for some babies, at least! Often with this milestone comes frequent sleep disturbances from a little love who isn't used to sleeping on their tummy yet. If you’re struggling with rolling, be sure to check out my full play-based course: Roll on Track.
9. Bounces in a supported standing position: You'll notice baby enjoys to stand in your lap and bounce. Soak up this fun activity in your arms but limit time in toys such as bouncers or jumpers (a big no-no in my book).
10. Supports themself on their tummy while they reach with the opposite hand: Taller toys that are easy to bat at are great for motivating your babe to complete this pre-crawling activity! My sweet Redding boy has loved doing this with this wobble toy or this Spinning Rainbow toy from the @Lovevery 5-6 Months Play "Senser" Playkit.
11. Begins to try lifting their head while on their back: Ever seen a turtle stuck on its back? Baby crunches are so cute. And so purposeful! They're ready to see the world from a different point of view, Mama, and they're gonna try any way they can to get there! You can gently roll them to their side and help them press up!
12. Begins to sit independently without needing to prop with their hands: Lightweight toys or hanging toys are great for building this skill. Consider transitioning use of your activity mat (something like this or this) from building reaching strength on their back to reaching strength in sitting. The hanging toys are great for giving them something to balance themselves with by holding onto, as well.
Are you excited yet!? I have to say the @Lovevery 5-6 month kit already has my Redding boy working so diligently toward these skills and I know these toys will be "heirloom" toys that I will enjoy watching my grandkids play with someday.
