Your baby's development: 7-9 months

You’re entering a new and exciting stage of development now as your baby starts sitting on their own and getting more mobile, and their curiosity will begin to shine through as they start to move around by themselves and explore the world. By now they’re probably ready for the next stage of weaning and can move onto a follow-on milk that’s specially tailored to complement their weaning diet. Tempt them with new foods, tastes and textures to help them develop their chewing skills. If you want to find out more about your baby’s unique nutritional needs at this stage, just give us a call.

No single food can give your baby all the nutrients they need so variety is the name of the game to make sure they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals, as well as the energy they need for all that growing and exploring they’re doing from 7 - 9 months old. It’s especially important to make sure their food and milk contains a healthy amount of iron, as the natural stores they were born with begin to run low after about 6 months.

You probably started weaning with smooth textures and gentle flavours to introduce foods slowly to your baby and now they might be ready to try some new tastes and more mashed up consistencies. This will get them interested in food as well as helping them learn to eat and develop their chewing skills.

To encourage good eating habits, it’s also an idea to get into a routine for mealtimes – perhaps with your baby sitting in their own high chair. Read more about this stage of weaning here.

Watch for non-verbal signs of communication in your baby too – like telling you they want to feed themselves by picking up food with their hands. Now is a great time to introduce them to soft finger foods to help develop their speech muscles too. And the added benefit is that although they can get a bit messy, they’ll probably eat more this way!

Your baby is learning to copy your sounds! Learn why baby talk can help and listen out for that first little laugh.

Your baby’s beginning to turn into a real little personality! At 7 - 9 months old they’ll start to recognise their own name and turn around when you say it and, although they’re not yet talking, their random babbling will begin to sound more like words as they repeat the sounds they’ve mastered.

Now when your baby says ‘mama' or 'dada' they’re referring to two very special people in their life, although they'll still get you muddled up. They won't be shy about offering their opinion, whether by babbling, laughing, squealing or screaming. And they’ve started to understand the meaning of the word 'no' - although they won’t always obey it!

As your little one explores new tastes and textures, their digestive system is maturing — though it’s still a work in progress. With more teeth coming through, they’re learning to chew rather than just bite, and you might notice a lot more dribble between six months and one year. While spit-ups may be easing off, messy mealtimes are still part of the fun! Their tiny tummy is still small, so offering energy-rich foods in little portions throughout the day helps keep them happy and nourished. It’s all part of their exciting journey from milk to meals.

If your baby’s head still looks a little big compared to their body, don’t worry — it’s perfectly normal. By the end of this stage, their head and chest will be about the same size, around 45cm. Behind the scenes, their bones are developing rapidly, with bone mineral density more than tripling in the first three years. While genetics play a role, a bone-building diet packed with key nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins D and K can make a big difference. With the right nourishment, you’re helping lay the foundations for a strong, active future.