Exploring
Now banging her toys together and flinging her food, your baby has learned to make things happen with her hands and fingers. Best of all, she's learned another way of getting your attention!
By the time your baby is 9 months old you'll notice her repeatedly dropping and throwing objects across the room. Previously she couldn't release objects from her hands at will, the only thing she could control was picking them up. So with this newly acquired skill, you can expect mealtimes to turn into a battlefield of high altitude pasta and flying spoons!
Reassuring your baby
During this stage your baby may become scared and clingy when you try to leave. It could be anything from a quick trip to the kitchen to dropping her off at the crèche. You see, before now it's as if your baby had no short-term memory, so if you left her for a while you simply disappeared - out of sight, out of mind.
Now your baby realises that you still exist even though she can't see you. She'll become nervous when you're not around because she just doesn't know how long you'll be gone. This is known as 'separation anxiety' and can last well past your baby's first birthday.
Playing hiding games with your baby can help with separation anxiety. Babies never tire of peek-a-boo, even long after you've got bored! Try hiding one of your baby's favourite toys and asking him to find it.
Sticking to a regular daily routine can also help ease your baby's fears. Whether it's giving your baby a milk bottle on waking, or planning snack times around naps, making things predictable helps give him a sense of security.
