Your Baby 7-9 months: Doing

Whether it's crawling around on all fours or shuffling around on his bum, your baby's becoming a lot more mobile!

By now, you'll most likely have one very active baby on your hands, but don't worry if he doesn't seem interested in crawling. He may just prefer to shuffle around on his bum, even going backwards at times.

Now that he can bear a lot of weight on his feet your baby will get a great kick out of bouncing up and down on your lap. It's all thanks to the part of your baby's brain that controls his movement or 'motor skills'.

These skills gradually develop from head to toe, and your little one has already developed control over his neck, shoulders, chest and lower back. So now it's the turn of the lower body, hands and feet.

Help your baby develop

The simple everyday environment of your home is an exciting playground for your baby. Create little obstacles with cushions and throws for him to crawl over and around. He may need a little coaxing, so don't give up at the first hurdle! This will help encourage his explorative nature and strengthen his muscles at the same time!

At around 7 months, your baby's upper body is strong enough so that he can sit up on his own without support. So now is a great time to prop him up in his own high chair, joining the rest of the family at mealtimes.