In assessing a child for growth and development issues, what milestone might raise concern for a 9-month-old?

For a 9-month-old child, the ability to sit without support is a crucial developmental milestone. By this age, most infants can sit independently, which reflects their core strength, balance, and overall motor development. If a child is unable to sit without support, it may indicate delays in motor skills that could warrant further assessment for growth and development issues. This milestone is typically achieved around 6 to 8 months, so when a child reaches 9 months and has not achieved this skill, it raises concerns about their developmental progress.

While not crawling, not babbling, or not pulling to stand are also noteworthy developmental aspects, they do not typically indicate an immediate concern at 9 months. The timeline for these milestones varies widely among children. Some may begin to crawl later (around 9 to 10 months), start babbling at different rates, and pulling to stand often occurs around 9 to 12 months. Therefore, the inability to sit without support is a more definitive red flag for development issues at this particular age.