Your Baby's Day 9-12 Months
Between 9 - 12 months your baby is very energetic and mobile, showing the first signs of independence.
Baby now has three meals a day, plus morning and afternoon tea with a drink from a cup. They also need three milk feeds a day, after meals. Give them finger food at each meal, and a spoon to try feeding themselves.
Baby is now sleeping about 11 hours at night, with two sleeps during the day (1-2 hours each). Remember to approach sleep time in a quiet, soothing way (and playtime in an exciting way), so you cue them into knowing what’s expected. Giving these verbal and physical messages helps your child learn.
- Your baby may now be more active in sleep. If they wake and cry out, wait to see if they resettle — if not, try to resettle them quickly in the cot.
Playtimes are now very busy — baby will be crawling, pulling to standing and cruising around the furniture. It may be a few more months before they actually walk independently, so don’t rush them. (Use soft soled shoes until they’re walking). Their fine motor skills are now well developed — they can pick up and manipulate small objects.
Play ideas:
- An activity board, with buttons to push and interesting sounds.
- Give them a stable push along toy so they can use their legs and gain some independence.
- Go along to a playgroup, as baby now likes being out and about and socialising.
- Cut a slit in the lid of a plastic ice-cream container and give baby plastic pegs to deposit in it.
- Stock a low kitchen cupboard or drawer with safe utensils so they can help themselves.
- Buy baby his or her first books, if you haven’t already (stiff cardboard or plastic ones are best at first).
- Read to baby every day. Point to the pictures and describe them.
- Remove all breakables and sharp objects from baby’s reach.
- Secure bookcases and curtain rods firmly to the wall.
- Put detergents and chemicals in a high cupboard.
- Buy childproof fasteners for cupboards, safety gates for stairs.
- Use socket protectors or install safety power points.
- Have an electrician install an earth leakage detector.
- 7:00am - Wake, breakfast
- 8:00am - Breast or bottle feed (180-240mL)
- 8:30am - Get dressed for the day
- 9:00am - Play
- 9:30am - Sleep
- 11:00am - Morning tea and cup of water or diluted juice
- 11.30am - Shopping or play group
- 12:30pm - Lunch
- 1:00pm - Play
- 2:00pm - Sleep
- 3:30pm - Afternoon tea and a cup of water or diluted juice
- 4:00pm - Walk to the park
- 5:00pm - Dinner
- 6:00pm - Bath, pyjamas, play
- 7:30pm - Settle to bed
- 8:00pm - Sleep (approx 11 hours)