baby girl 9 months playing

Baby's Play and Toys - Aged 6-9 Months

From the age of 6 months, your baby will have much more energy and a desire to explore the world around them. They are eager to get moving and will develop many new physical skills during this period. While they may start to play briefly on their own, you should always stay close by to make sure they are safe, and comfort and reassure them.

Make sure toys don’t have small pieces that could come off and be chewed and swallowed.

Young father playing with his daughter inside with toys

Stages in development 6–9 months
At around 6 months, baby will be:

  • Rolling from their back to their tummy (as well as rolling from their tummy to their back).
  • Grabbing their feet and putting them in their mouth.
  • Pushing up on their hands to a lion pose and reaching out for toys.
  • Rocking on all fours, then progressing to crawling.
  • Transferring objects from one hand to another using the whole hand.
  • Sitting with support.

By around 9 months they will be

  • Crawling on all fours.
  • Pulling to stand on their feet.
  • Walking around holding on to the furniture.
  • Sitting up unsupported and reach out to pick up a toy.
  • Picking up small objects with their thumb and index finger (pincer grip).

Ideas for play at home

  • Choose toys with different textures, shapes and colours, such as hard plastic musical balls that roll along the floor, large soft balls that they can squeeze and coloured wooden blocks.
  • Give your baby some unbreakable items from the kitchen cupboard to play with, such as wooden spoons, saucepans, plastic containers, mashers, etc.
  • Put a plastic unbreakable mirror on the floor (but make sure it’s secure).
  • Play games such as ‘Peek-a-Boo’ where you hide your face and surprise your baby.
  • Sing nursery rhymes with actions.
  • Give them plastic or thick cardboard picture books.
  • Rotate your baby’s toys – put some away then bring them out again in a few weeks’ time.
Senior woman getting out of bed holding lower back in pain

Playtime safety tips

  • Make sure toys don’t have sharp edges.
  • Make sure toys don’t have small pieces that could come off and be chewed and swallowed.
  • Buy toys that are not small enough to fit entirely in their mouth (as they might choke).
  • Choose toys that you can wash.
  • If you allow pets near babies or small children, ensure they are constantly supervised.
  • Feed your pet outside, away from the baby, to avoid the risk of baby eating the pet food or being bitten.
  • Always make sure that baby is supervised while playing.
  • Baby walkers (which you sit your baby in) are not recommended for safety reasons.

Chapter 2 Watch Me Grow

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