(Photo credit CDC 9 month milestones)
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DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
Developmental Screening – ASQ
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before your appointment
EARLY INTERVENTION (Developmental Delays)
If you are concerned your child may not be meeting the milestones for their age, discuss with your pediatrician to see if your child may need additional support. Contact your local Early Intervention program to have your child evaluated and see what resources may be available to you. Most Early Intervention programs are free and run by the state and/or local governments.
For children ages 3 and over, contact your local school department.
For more information, check out the following:
Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)
Click Here
FEVER & DOSING
DO NOT give Ibuprofen (Motrin) to infants under 6 months of age
DO NOT give Acetaminophen (Tylenol) to infants under 2 months of age
(unless directed by your doctor)
Fever, whether from sickness or after vaccines, does not necessarily need to be treated. If your child is playful, happy, eating, and staying hydrated, you can likely let the fever run its course, but often kids feel uncomfortable and fussy. Medicine should be used to help them feel better, not just to break the fever. Also, if your child is uncomfortable and fussy without a fever, it is still ok to use medicine to help them feel better. Medications most commonly used are Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Motrin).
It’s important to check with your doctor to ensure the fever is properly diagnosed and your child is given the correct dose based on their weight.
See below for a dosing reference guide:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
DO NOT give Acetaminophen to infants under 2 months of age
Acetaminophen DOES NOT cause Autism
Children’s vs Infant Acetaminophen is the SAME doing (160mg/5mL)
.
Ibuprofen (Motrin)
DO NOT give Ibuprofen to infants under 6 months of age
ONLY purchase CHILDREN’s IBUPROFEN (Infant ibuprofen may cause dosing errors)
BABY/INFANT WALKERS
There are no benefits to baby walkers. Many parents think walkers will help their children learn to walk. But they don’t. In fact, walkers can actually delay when a child starts to walk.
Barefoot/Natural Shoes: An EXCELLENT Choice
Allow your child to naturally develop their foundation and foot strength. Modern shoes are often designed for style and not function. They have too much cushion and are almost always too narrow to allow for natural movement patterns, especially for infants and toddlers learning how to walk and run. Try and look for shoes that have minimal cushion, have a wide toebox, and are flexible.
Tiny Explorings Toddler Sock Shoes
I’ve seen multiple patients come into my office wearing these and they all LOVE them! I wish they made bigger sizes for older kids and adults too, but they only go up to size 2-4 years.
I reached out to them and they provided me with a direct affiliate link and discount code for 10% off by using code “REBELSTRONG” at checkout. They frequently run deals where you only pay for the cost of shipping.
FAQ’s
TEETHING
At 9 months, many babies have teeth starting to come in. But don’t be alarmed if your baby hasn’t started teething yet, sometimes it takes up until around 12 months of age to start teething.
Here are some excellent items to help with the teething process:
Grow-With-Me Toothbrush
Great for brushing gums, tongue, and new teeth as they come in. Can also double as a teething toy!
TOOTHPASTE
As soon as you start noticing teeth, the general recommendation is to brush your child’s teeth with a very small amount of Fluoride-containing toothpaste as soon as they start getting teeth. Toothpaste containing Hydroxyapatite and Xylitol are safe alternatives.
Happy Tooth – Hydroxyapatite
Created by a local Utah dentist, Dr. Hanks, this toothpaste is Hydroxyapatite based which is great for babies, toddlers, and kids because it is safe to swallow! I reached out to them and they offered me a discount code for 10% off!
Use code “JOSHMAX” or go directly by going to https://tryhappytooth.com/JOSHMAX
Alternatively, you can purchase on Amazon HERE
Unicorn Sparkle (Bubble Gum) – Fluoride
Fluoride based toothpaste that I typically buy for my kids
Tubby Todd – Xylitol
Xylitol option from a well-known pediatric brand
RaZbaby RaZberry Teether Pacifier
This is a great transition pacifier! Once teeth start coming in, many infants start to chew rather than suck their pacifier, but do not obtain the necessary relief because it is soft. Not to mention, continued use of a pacifier can lead to tooth and palate deformities.
The RaZbaby RaZberry is a great transition teether pacifier that can be used to provide the necessary teething relief AND remove the habit/dependency on a pacifier.
Check out some of their other teether options HERE
Frida Not-Too-Cold-To-Hold Teether
Added by popular demand, these teethers are a perfect little tool for those little teeth! Also a great substitute to eliminate bottles and pacifiers.
SOLID FOOD INTRODUCTION
Continue advancing solids to supplement breastmilk or formula.
Continue to avoid honey until 12 months of age
Continue to introduce different flavors, textures, and varieties
Below I have included a list of some helpful items, including my favorite resource for introducing solids: SOLID STARTS . Check it out!
SOLID FOOD INTRODUCTION
Solid Starts
Excellent resource and information for introducing solids. Free resources and blog articles available on their blog at solidstarts.com
Access to personalized meal plans, personalized solid food recommendations, and more! with their subscription-based app. Use discount code SOLIDSQNH7W20 or click on link HERE for 20% off. (I do NOT receive any compensation for using this link or discount code.)
Puree Pouches
Other than purchasing from the store, here are some great options for storing homemade baby foods and an easy-to-use pouch.
Constipation Drops
It is very likely your child will get constipated at some point during solid food introduction. Prune puree is a great food to introduce early on to help their stool stay regular.
In addition to prune puree or prune juice, Mommy’s Bliss Constipation Drops are another option to try with one of the key ingredients also being prunes! Be sure to talk with your pediatrician BEFORE using these for your infant to ensure appropriate diagnosis and dosing.
Helpful Items
Grow-With-Me Toothbrush
Although infants don’t have teeth, oral care is still important, like brushing their tongue to prevent milk buildup
Nasal Saline
Your go-to for everything! Not just for times when sick, but for dry air, allergies, smoke and pollution, and general hydration of the nasal passageways, and can be used for ALL AGES from infancy to adulthood with a variety of delivery mechanisms. I tested a multiple brands with my kids and wrote all the details in a separate post HERE, but my TOP recommendations are below:
Nose Frida
Sticking with the Fundamentals: Nasal saline and suctioning. I have never personally used a Nose Frida, but everyone swears by them. I always used the classic bulb suction.
DIAPER RASH
Diaper Creams
It may take some trial and error to find the brand that works best for your baby’s skin, but here are some of the most popular/common brands that I would recommend:
Click on each image for a direct link:
- Desitin Maximum Strength – THE Classic, contains 40% Zinc Oxide
- CeraVe Healing Ointment – Always a HIGH QUALITY brand, with Petrolatum to protect, and Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid to moisturize and heal
- Tubby Todd – EXPENSIVE, but anyone who buys it swears by it
- A&D Ointment – Petrolatum and Lanolin-based
- Boudreaux’s Butt Paste – Well-known classic Zinc Oxide-based cream
- Aquaphor Healing Paste – Non-pasty, Zinc Oxide-based cream
Diaper Cream Brush/Spatula
Sick of getting your hands dirty applying diaper cream? Worry no more with this soft, yet durable, diaper cream spatula made of silicone so it is easy to wipe clean, wash, or sterilize. Once you try it, you’ll never go back!
Baza Cleanse & Protect Spray
Pediatrician recommended and great for sensitive infant bottoms. Helps both to loosen the stool and reduce the smell before wiping, as well as protect the skin after wiping by creating a protective layer. Can be used in addition to other diaper creams.
Active Ingredient: Dimethicone.
Peri Bottle / Portable Bidet / Spray
If your baby’s skin is very irritated, wiping can sometimes make it WORSE. In those cases, washing with water to reduce wiping can really help their irritated skin.
CRADLE CAP
Cradle Cap, also known as Seborrheic Dermatitis, is very common in babies and is usually harmless. But when it overgrows it can create thick, greasy, scales on the scalp that can be irritating and itchy. You should also AVOID perfumes, coconut oil, and petrolatum (Vaseline) since these can worsen cradle cap.
Happy Cappy Shampoo
A well-known brand developed by a Pediatrician. This set has the medicated cradle cap shampoo with Pyrithione Zinc and a daily shampoo to use on alternate days
Frida Cradle Cap 3-in-1
Don’t let that cradle cap build up on your baby! While any brush or comb will do the job, Frida is one of the only products that combines all 3 tools into 1. Always innovating!
VITAMIN D
Discuss with your healthcare provider to ensure appropriate dosing for your infant, which may be different if your child is breastfeeding or formula feeding.
This is by far my favorite brand to use:
Mommy’s Bliss Vitamin D Drops 400 IU
Easy to use dropper with about 100 doses per bottle. Suspended in Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) which helps with absorption of the Vitamin D
Social Media Posts
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@otmarissa for more fantastic educational content
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Dr. Maxwell’s age-specific guides with developmental milestones, resources, and recommendations
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Disclaimers: The products, resources, and recommendations do NOT constitute medical advice. You should always speak with your doctor or medical provider for recommendations specific to you and/or your child. Links below may include both Amazon Associate and/or other brand-specific affiliate links. I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you!) which allows me to continue to keep this site active and provide honest, thorough, and high quality recommendations for you and your family!
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