At about 9 months of age, which milestone is appropriate for an infant with normal growth?

• A. Will pull up and stand for several seconds holding on to furniture
• B. Will be able to pick up small pieces of food when placed in a high chair
• C. Should be able to say 'mama' and 'dada'
• D. Walks holding on to furniture

Answer: (C)

At about nine months, babies commonly start to express themselves with sounds and syllables, often babbling and sometimes uttering vocalizations that sound like words such as “mama” or “dada,” though without clear, fixed meanings yet. This stage marks a surge in expressive language, and seeing such sounds around nine months fits with normal development for healthy infants.

While pulling up to stand or walking with support can occur around this age for many children, and the ability to pick up small pieces of food (using a pincer grasp) also develops in this general window, those motor milestones are more variable and tend to become clearer a bit later for most infants. The language-related milestone described is the most reliably expected at this age, making it the best fit.