The second half of your baby’s first year moves fast. Around 6 months most babies are rolling and laughing; by their first birthday many are pulling up to stand, waving “bye-bye” and saying “mama” or “dada”. It is an exciting time, and it can also bring new questions: “Should my baby be crawling by now?” “Is it normal that she cries when I leave the room?”

This guide gives you a calm, simple picture of what most babies do at 6, 9 and 12 months, and how everyday play helps. If your baby is starting nursery during these months, our infant care programme page explains how we care for babies, and you can read our earlier guide to baby milestones from 2 to 6 months.

Our milestone lists come from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklists. The CDC describes milestones as things most babies (75% or more) can do by a certain age. Some babies get there earlier and some a little later, and both are usually fine.

Around 6 months: laughing, reaching and rolling

By 6 months, the CDC checklist says most babies know familiar people, laugh, take turns making sounds with you, reach to grab a toy they want, roll from tummy to back and lean on their hands to support themselves when sitting. This is the starting point for everything that comes next: a baby who can reach, roll and push up is getting ready to sit, crawl and explore.

How play helps: keep giving your baby plenty of safe floor time. Place a favourite toy just out of reach to invite stretching and rolling, and sit behind your baby with your hands ready as they practise sitting.

Around 9 months: sitting, babbling and “where did it go?”

According to the CDC checklist for 9 months, most babies:

  • Are shy, clingy or fearful around strangers, and react when you leave (they look, reach for you or cry).
  • Show several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry and surprised, and look when you call their name.
  • Smile or laugh when you play peek-a-boo.
  • Make lots of different sounds like “mamamama” and “babababa”, and lift their arms up to be picked up.
  • Look for objects when they are dropped out of sight, and bang two things together.
  • Get to a sitting position by themselves, sit without support, move things from one hand to the other and use their fingers to “rake” food towards themselves.

You may notice that crawling is not on the list. Many babies crawl around this age, but some shuffle on their bottoms, roll to get around, or go almost straight to pulling up and cruising. What matters is that your baby is finding ways to move and explore.

How play helps: peek-a-boo and “where is the toy?” games under a cloth build the idea that things still exist when they are out of sight. That same idea is behind the tears at goodbye time, which is why a short, warm and consistent goodbye helps more than slipping away. Answer your baby’s babble as if it is a real conversation, and name things as you go: “Spoon! Here is your spoon.”

Around 12 months: waving, pointing and pulling up

The CDC checklist for 1 year says most babies:

  • Play games with you, like pat-a-cake.
  • Wave “bye-bye”, call a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name, and understand “no” (they pause briefly or stop when you say it).
  • Put something in a container, like a block in a cup, and look for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket.
  • Pull up to stand and walk while holding on to furniture.
  • Drink from a cup without a lid as you hold it, and pick up small things between thumb and pointer finger.

Notice that walking on their own is not yet expected at 12 months. Many babies take their first independent steps in the months after their first birthday.

How play helps: simple “in and out” toys, stacking cups, bead mazes and board books are perfect at this age. Sing action songs with clapping and waving, and give your baby sturdy furniture to cruise along. Because babies now pick up tiny things with their fingers, check the floor for small objects and keep them out of reach.

Food and feeding between 6 and 12 months

These months are when most babies move from milk only to family food. The NHS guide to first solid foods explains how to start at around 6 months, offer a wide range of foods and build up textures over time. If your baby is at nursery, share your weaning plan and any allergies with the caregivers so home and nursery stay in step. Your paediatrician can guide you on your own baby’s needs.

How Balloon Nursery supports babies at this age

  • We welcome babies from 45 days old, and children can stay with us as they grow, up to 4 years.
  • We follow the British EYFS curriculum with hands-on, Montessori-style learning, and babies hear Arabic and English every day.
  • We are open every day from 6:30am to 7:30pm, with early drop-off from 6:00am on request. A bus service is available.
  • We are licensed by SPEA (Sharjah Private Education Authority) and have been caring for children in Sharjah for over 20 years.

To picture your baby’s day with us, read a day in the infant room. If you are still choosing a nursery, our guide to infant care from 45 days in Sharjah lists the questions worth asking. And for the year ahead, see your 1-year-old at nursery.

When to talk to your paediatrician

The CDC advises talking to your baby’s doctor if your baby is not meeting one or more milestones for their age, has lost skills they once had, or if you have any other concern. Your baby’s regular check-ups are a good time to ask. An early conversation is not a diagnosis; it is simply a way to put your mind at rest or get help early.

Every child develops at their own pace.

Would you like to see our infant room? Book a visit or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 342 8582.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do babies sit up without support?

According to the CDC, most babies sit without support and get into a sitting position by themselves by about 9 months.

Is it a problem if my baby does not crawl?

Crawling is not on the CDC milestone checklists. Some babies crawl, some shuffle or roll, and some go straight to pulling up. If you are worried about how your baby moves, talk to your paediatrician.

When do babies say “mama” or “dada”?

The CDC lists babbling sounds like “mamamama” by about 9 months, and calling a parent “mama”, “dada” or another special name by about 12 months.

Why does my 9-month-old cry when I leave?

Reacting when a parent leaves is a normal CDC milestone at around 9 months. A short, warm and consistent goodbye usually helps your baby settle.

Can my baby join nursery between 6 and 12 months?

Yes. Balloon Nursery welcomes babies from 45 days old and is open every day from 6:30am to 7:30pm.