Your Brilliant Baby in Week 38: Supporting Baby's Attempts

Your own ability to challenge and yet support your baby's next level of development serves your child well. You'll see him pull himself up while holding onto the sofa. He'll signal that he wants to walk over to the chair only a few steps away. You'll realize that he's not yet able to do so, so you'll take his hands and walk him to the chair, like this mom is doing here. By doing so, you'll have provided just the right amount of support for him to envision eventually completing the mission on his own.

Today it's walking from sofa to chair. Down the road you'll likely hold a piece of paper in such a way that your child can cut it using child-safe scissors, and in time he'll use scissors deftly on his own. Children master reading, bicycle riding, and swimming in much the same manner at about age six and a half—fun stuff to look forward to helping your child achieve!

Your Week 38 Toolbox

Related skills and topics this week include …

• What's happening in Baby's ninth month?
• Use our Development Tracker to check off your child's 8-12 month milestones.
• Here's what our pediatrician says you might be worried about this month.