from Enfamil
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Acting Intelligently
Naturally, you think your baby is a genius. Every new parent does. But until now, your smart little cookie didn’t have what the experts call intelligence. Meaning the ability to solve a problem by figuring out an effective response to a new situation.

Watch your nine-month-old when he encounters a problem. For example, what does he do when you “disappear” behind an obstacle such as a couch? He wants to play with you. But the couch blocks his path. A few months ago, he could only cry. This month, clues like the sound of your voice help him find a solution. He crawls around the couch and smiles triumphantly.

“Mama” and “Dada”
As far as babies are concerned, “baby talk” is serious business. That’s part of why it’s so funny to be parents. Your baby may be babbling, but he seems to think he’s making perfect sense.

Your baby has been mimicking adult speech patterns for weeks, combining vowel sounds (ah, uh) and consonant sounds (da, na). This month he will start making more combinations that sound like words (“mama,” “dada”). Eventually he’ll make a connection between the words and the objects they refer to.

When will he start making perfect sense? When he starts calling you Mama.

Gaining Control Over Relationships
A nine-month-old is worlds away from a six-month-old. Both socially and emotionally. Your baby will rely on his advanced motor and cognitive skills this month to get the attention he craves. He’ll reach out his arms and demand to be held. Insist on sharing your food. Crawl happily toward you when you walk in the door.

Your baby has a new feeling of control over his relationships and interactions. Sometimes this makes life difficult for Mom and Dad. Why sit still for a diaper change when playing is so much more fun?

Brain Teaser
Did you know…you can help your baby’s brain develop by exposing him to interesting experiences, toys, and games?

You’re little “people person”
As your baby’s cognitive abilities develop, he’ll start taking control of his social life. That means things like letting you know when he wants to be picked up and held, and when he doesn’t. Crawling toward you, or away. Don’t worry if he’s not always consistent. He’s just trying out his independence.

He may be using his new physical and mental abilities to interact more with his surroundings, too. If his favorite ball rolls behind the sofa, chances are he’ll figure out how to get it.

A Nutritional Nugget
At this stage, you want to make sure your baby is getting vitamin E as part of a balanced diet. Vitamin E is needed for normal growth and development. It’s also an antioxidant that helps keep his cells functioning optimally. If you’re formula-feeding, your baby will get the vitamin E he needs, not to mention other important nutrients, from Enfamil LIPIL®.

Soon, your baby will be a toddler. To be confident that he will get all the nutrients he needs, try Enfamil® NEXT STEP® LIPIL® toddler formulas. It has as much calcium and vitamin D ounce-per-ounce as whole milk, while supplying more iron, vitamin C, and vitamin D. It’s a nutritious alternative to milk. And it’s the only toddler formula that has LIPIL, our blend of DHA and ARA, important building blocks for your toddler’s developing brain and eyes.

A Moment for Mom’s
As your baby’s getting wiser and more active, it may feel sometimes as if it’s getting harder for you to stay on top of everything. That’s only natural. You have a lot going on in addition to the needs of your nine-month-old. So, instead of feeling as if you’ve got to do it all in a given day, prioritize. Decide what absolutely must get done, and leave the rest for another time. Then, spend the day with your favorite priority. Your baby.

  • See how your baby is becoming “master of her universe.”
  • What’s so important about vitamin D?
  • How to deal with her new sense of independence.