NaraJoin the waitlist

Your 7 to 9 month old: what to say and do

Babbling becomes more speech-like as babies repeat and combine consonant and vowel sounds. They also respond more consistently to voices, their name, and changes in tone, making everyday exchanges feel increasingly conversational even before words arrive.

Ideas to try with your 7 to 9 month old

Bedtime · Speaking Clearly

Whisper their babble back

Your baby is lying in the crib and making babbling sounds before sleep.

Try

Whisper their sound back, then go quiet.

“Ba-ba.”

“Night night.”

How to do it

  1. Listen for a babble as they settle.
  2. Copy it once in a whisper.
  3. Go quiet and wait for a sigh or another sound.

Conversation guide

Child
[soft 'ba-ba']
Parent
[whispers] 'Ba-ba.' [pause]
Child
[sighs or babbles quietly]
Parent
'Night night.' [quiet]

Why this matters

Your baby practices babble that sounds more like talk. A whispered reply tends to bring more without waking them.

What not to do

  • Avoid starting a new game as they drift off.
Bath time · Exploring & Discovering

Splash and wait

Your baby is kicking in the bath and making splashes.

Try

Splash once and then stop.

“Splash!”

“Your splash!”

How to do it

  1. Make one small splash with your hand.
  2. Pull your hand back.
  3. Wait for your baby to kick or splash.

Conversation guide

Parent
[splashes] 'Splash!'
Child
[kicks or splashes]
Parent
'Your splash!'
Child
[splashes again or laughs]

Why this matters

Your baby finds out their own kick makes the splash. Stopping after yours leaves room for theirs.

What not to do

  • Avoid big splashes; keep yours small so theirs feels big.
Floor play · Pretend & Imitate

Bang bang

Your baby is banging two blocks together, and you have two more.

Try

Copy the bang and add a simple sound.

“Bang, bang.”

How to do it

  1. Watch for their bang.
  2. Bang your two blocks once, the same way, and say 'bang, bang'.
  3. Pause and wait for their next bang.

Conversation guide

Child
[bangs their blocks together]
Parent
[bangs your blocks once] 'Bang, bang.' [pauses]
Child
[stares, then bangs again, grins]
Parent
[bangs back] 'Bang!'

Why this matters

Your baby learns to take turns by copying, and by being copied. Your pause gives them the next turn.

Mealtimes · Talking & Understanding

You want your cup

Your baby reaches toward their cup on the table.

Try

Hold up their spoon first. When they push it away, say 'cup' and hand the cup over.

“Spoon?”

“No spoon. Cup! You want your cup.”

“Here's your cup.”

How to do it

  1. When they reach for the cup, hold up their spoon and ask, 'Spoon?'
  2. Wait for a push, a head turn or a fuss.
  3. Say 'Cup!' and hand it over right away.

Conversation guide

Child
[stretches toward the cup, says 'ah']
Parent
[holds up the spoon] 'Spoon?' [waits]
Child
[pushes the spoon away, reaches for the cup]
Parent
'No spoon. Cup! You want your cup.' [hands it over]
Child
[grabs the cup, drinks or bangs it]

Why this matters

Your baby starts linking words to what they want. Offering the spoon first lets them say no, then hear 'cup.'

What not to do

  • Avoid a second wrong guess; hand the cup over after one.
Getting changed · Talking & Understanding

Arms up

You are putting a shirt on your baby.

Try

Say 'arms up' and pause before you lift.

“Arms up!”

“You lifted your arms!”

How to do it

  1. Hold the shirt open above their head.
  2. Raise your own arms as you say 'arms up!', then wait.
  3. Help them through, then name what they did.

Conversation guide

Parent
[holds the shirt open, raises own arms] 'Arms up!' [waits]
Child
[watches, then lifts both arms partway]
Parent
[slips the shirt on] 'You lifted your arms!'
Child
[head pops through, babbles 'ba!']

Why this matters

Your baby starts to understand words for a move they know. The pause lets their arms rise to the words.

Going out · Feelings & Comfort

I'm back!

You're back after being away from your baby.

Try

Say 'I'm back!' the same way every time you return, then wait for their reach.

“I'm back!”

“Hello again.”

How to do it

  1. Come in smiling and say 'I'm back!', the same words every time.
  2. Get down close and open your arms.
  3. Wait for their reach, then scoop them up.

Conversation guide

Parent
[smiles] 'I'm back!'
Child
[stares, then reaches up]
Parent
'Hello again.'
Child
[kicks and squeals]

Why this matters

Your baby starts to expect you back. The same happy words each time make your return easy to spot.

What not to do

  • Avoid scooping them up the second you walk in; wait for their reach.
Waking up · Talking & Understanding

Wait for their arms to reach up

Your baby is awake in the crib and sees you come in.

Try

Hold out your arms and wait for theirs.

“Up?”

“Up! Cuddle.”

How to do it

  1. Hold your arms out and say 'up?'
  2. Wait for them to lift their arms toward you.
  3. Say 'up!' as you lift them.

Conversation guide

Parent
[arms out] 'Up?'
Child
[looks, then lifts both arms]
Parent
[lifts] 'Up! Cuddle.'
Child
[snuggles in]

Why this matters

Your baby learns to ask to be picked up by lifting their arms. Waiting for their reach lets them ask.

Story time · Early Literacy

You found the cat

Your baby turns a page and looks at a cat picture in a book.

Try

Name one picture on the page they chose.

“You found the cat.”

“The cat says meow.”

How to do it

  1. Look at the page your baby turned to.
  2. Point to one picture and name it.
  3. Pause and let them turn the next page.

Conversation guide

Parent
[points] 'You found the cat.'
Child
[pats the cat]
Parent
'The cat says meow.'
Child
[flips to another page]

Why this matters

Your baby learns words for the pictures they choose. Naming what they found lets them lead.

Explore this stage

Communication

Babbling becomes more speech-like as your baby repeats and combines consonant and vowel sounds. They respond more consistently to their name, voices, and changes in tone, making everyday exchanges feel increasingly conversational.

Social & emotional

Your baby uses social cues to stay connected—smiling, laughing, looking for you when upset, and raising their arms to be picked up. They are learning that people are sources of comfort and fun.

Common patterns

Babies this age often show stranger wariness, protest when something is taken away, and may briefly pause at the word 'no' even if they do not fully understand it yet.

How you can support them

Name what you see and respond to their gestures. When they reach, point, or babble, put it into words: 'You want the cup.' Short, clear responses help them connect sounds with meaning.

7 to 9 month milestones

See all 25 milestones

Nara is educational and doesn’t assess or diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to your child’s doctor.

Join the waitlist

Sources