Child Development
Baby Development: 6 to 12 Months
The second half of your baby's first year is action-packed. They're learning to sit, crawl, and maybe even take those first wobbly steps. Their personality is shining through, and they're working hard to communicate with you.
Movement & Physical Development
6-9 months
- Sits without support
- Rolls in both directions
- Begins to crawl (some babies bottom-shuffle or commando-crawl — all normal)
- Pulls to standing position using furniture
- Transfers objects between hands
- Uses raking grasp to pick up small items
- Begins to eat soft finger foods
9-12 months
- Crawls confidently (or moves in their own way)
- Pulls up to stand and cruises along furniture
- May take first steps (9-15 months is typical range)
- Develops pincer grip (thumb and forefinger)
- Picks up small objects like peas and cereal
- Claps hands
- Bangs objects together
- Drinks from a sippy cup
Language & Communication
6-9 months
- Babbles with strings of sounds ("bababa", "mamama")
- Responds to own name consistently
- Understands "no" (even if they don't always listen!)
- Uses voice to express joy and displeasure
- Begins to use gestures — reaching with arms to be picked up
- Looks at familiar objects when named
9-12 months
- Says first words — usually "mama", "dada", or "baba" (with meaning)
- Understands simple words and phrases
- Points to objects they want
- Shakes head for "no"
- Waves bye-bye
- Follows simple instructions with gestures ("Give it to me" + hand out)
- Uses exclamations like "uh-oh!"
Social & Emotional Development
6-9 months
- Shows strong attachment to primary caregivers
- Stranger anxiety begins — may cry with unfamiliar people
- Enjoys interactive games (peekaboo is a hit)
- Shows preferences for certain toys
- Responds differently to happy and angry tones of voice
- Copies facial expressions and simple actions
9-12 months
- Separation anxiety peaks (this is a sign of healthy attachment)
- Has favourite people, toys, and comfort objects
- Shows fear in some situations
- Hands you a book when they want to read
- Repeats sounds or actions that get a reaction
- Tests boundaries — watches your face for reactions
- May be clingy with familiar adults
Cognitive Development
6-9 months
- Looks for dropped or hidden objects (object permanence developing)
- Explores objects by shaking, banging, mouthing, and dropping
- Watches the path of something as it falls
- Looks at pictures in a book
- Passes things between hands
- Understands cause and effect better (pull string → toy moves)
9-12 months
- Finds hidden objects easily
- Copies gestures and actions
- Puts things in and takes them out of containers
- Pokes with index finger
- Follows simple directions
- Explores how things work — opening, closing, pulling
- Begins simple problem-solving (moves obstacle to reach toy)
How to Support Your 6-12 Month Old
🥕 Introduce Solids
Around 6 months, start introducing solid foods alongside breast milk or formula. Offer a variety of textures and flavours. Let them get messy — it's how they learn to eat.
📚 Read Every Day
Board books with bright pictures, textures, and flaps are perfect. Let your baby hold, chew, and explore the books too. Point to pictures and name them.
🏠 Safe to Explore
Baby-proof as they become mobile. Get down on their level and look for hazards. Then let them explore — crawling, pulling up, and investigating is how they learn.
🎵 Music and Movement
Clapping games, nursery rhymes with actions, dancing together. Music builds language, coordination, and social connection all at once.
🌳 Get Outside
Fresh air, new sights, and textures. Let them feel grass, watch birds, splash in water. Nature is endlessly fascinating at this age.
🎭 Copy and Play
Imitate your baby's sounds and actions, then add something new. Take turns clapping, babbling, or making funny faces. These games teach conversation skills.
When to Seek Advice
Talk to your GP, child health nurse, or paediatrician if your baby:
- Doesn't bear weight on legs when supported standing (by 8-9 months)
- Doesn't sit without support (by 9 months)
- Doesn't babble ("mama", "baba", "dada") by 9 months
- Doesn't respond to their own name
- Doesn't recognise familiar people
- Doesn't look where you point
- Doesn't transfer toys from one hand to the other
- Loses skills they previously had
Early intervention makes a real difference. Trust your instincts — you know your baby best.