{"h1":"Signs of sensory delay in a 6-to-9-month-old","faq":[{"a":"Yes — mouthing toys and hands is exactly how babies this age explore textures and shapes. It's a healthy sign of sensory exploration, not a delay. The gentle flag is the opposite: a baby who doesn't reach for or mouth objects at all.","q":"Is it normal for my 6-month-old to put everything in their mouth?"},{"a":"Some babies are more sensitive to touch than others, and that alone isn't a diagnosis. If your baby is consistently very distressed by ordinary touch, clothing or cuddles, a calm developmental check can help you understand their sensory preferences and offer simple, soothing strategies.","q":"My baby gets upset when held or cuddled — should I worry?"},{"a":"You often can't tell from home, and that's fine — a hearing and vision review is usually a sensible first step. If your baby doesn't turn to your voice or startle at sounds, ask your clinician for a hearing check, which is quick, painless and very informative.","q":"How do I know if it's a hearing problem or a sensory delay?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","title":"What are the signs of sensory delay in a 6-to-9-month-old?","entity":{"key":"infant-6-9","kind":"age_band","name":"6-to-9-month-old","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Infant-6-9","value":"infant-6-9"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Sensory","value":"sensory"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Occupational-Therapy","value":"occupational-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Sensory?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-a-6-to-9-month-old-reach","title":"What sensory milestones should a 6-to-9-month-old reach?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-3-to-6-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is my 3-to-6-month-old developing normally in sensory?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-3-to-6-month-old","title":"Signs of sensory delay in a 3-to-6-month-old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-9-to-12-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is My 9-to-12-Month-Old Developing Normally in Sensory?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Signs of Sensory Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old"}],"summary":"Between 6 and 9 months, babies explore through looking, listening, touching, reaching and mouthing. Seek a gentle developmental check if your baby doesn't turn to sounds, doesn't follow objects or faces with their eyes, doesn't reach for or mouth toys, is very distressed by ordinary touch, or feels unusually floppy or stiff. A hearing and vision review is often a sensible first step. None of this is a diagnosis — it means early support, which works beautifully at this age, is worth exploring now.","answer_md":"*Watching how your baby looks, listens, reaches and settles is one of the loveliest ways to get to know who they are becoming.*\n\n## In short\nBetween 6 and 9 months, most babies are busily exploring the world through their eyes, ears, hands and mouth — turning to sounds, reaching for toys and bringing everything to their lips. A gentle developmental check is wise if your baby **doesn't startle or turn to sounds, doesn't follow objects or faces with their eyes, doesn't reach for or mouth toys, strongly dislikes being touched or held, or seems unusually floppy or stiff** when handled. None of this is a diagnosis — it simply means a clinician's calm look is worthwhile now, because the early months are a wonderful window for support.\n\n## What to watch at 6–9 months\nAt this age, babies use their senses to learn — they look, listen, touch, taste and move to make sense of the world. Most sensory differences at this stage are subtle, so trust what you notice day to day. Gentle flags worth a clinician's eye include:\n\n- **Hearing & sound** — not turning towards your voice or everyday sounds, not startling at loud noises, or not babbling or cooing back to you.\n- **Seeing & looking** — not following a moving toy or face with their eyes, eyes that consistently drift or don't seem to meet yours, or not noticing things across the room.\n- **Touch & handling** — becoming very distressed by ordinary touch, cuddling or clothing textures, or seeming not to react to touch at all.\n- **Hands & mouth** — not reaching for, grasping or bringing toys to the mouth, which is how babies explore at this age.\n- **Movement & muscle tone** — feeling unusually floppy (like a rag doll) or stiff when you pick them up, or not pushing up on their arms during tummy time.\n\nThe aim is not worry — it's that one calm, early observation turns small questions into early opportunities.\n\n## When to act\nIf your baby isn't responding to sounds or voices, isn't following with their eyes, isn't reaching for or mouthing toys, or feels notably floppy or stiff, arrange a developmental check now rather than waiting. A hearing and vision review is often a sensible first step, and your everyday observations are valuable clinical information.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online list. Our clinicians watch how your baby looks, listens, reaches and settles, and shape gentle, play-based support around your family. Our [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team can help with sensory regulation and exploration, and you can start any time from our [home page](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nCDC developmental milestones and \"Learn the Signs, Act Early\" resources for infants; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) guidance on sensory and developmental monitoring in the first year; WHO Nurturing Care Framework on responsive caregiving and early development.\n\n**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician for a calm, clear review of your baby's senses and milestones.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-6-to-9-month-old","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"ages","label":"Ages & Stages"}],"meta_title":"Sensory Delay Signs at 6–9 Months","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"During play, gently rattle a toy out of sight on each side and notice if your baby turns towards it; then slowly move a colourful toy across their view to see if their eyes follow. Jot down what you notice — it gives a clinician a clear, useful picture.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:36:00.209871+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Sensory?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-9-to-12-month-old","title":"Signs of Sensory Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-signs-of-sensory-delay-in-a-3-to-6-month-old","title":"Signs of sensory delay in a 3-to-6-month-old","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-3-to-6-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is my 3-to-6-month-old developing normally in sensory?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-9-to-12-month-old-developing-normally-in-sensory","title":"Is My 9-to-12-Month-Old Developing Normally in Sensory?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-sensory-milestones-should-a-6-to-9-month-old-reach","title":"What sensory milestones should a 6-to-9-month-old reach?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-adaptive","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Adaptive Skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-cognitive","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Cognition?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-communication","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Communication?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-emotional","title":"Emotional Development at 6–9 Months","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-motor","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally in Motor Skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-developing-normally-in-social","title":"Is My 6-to-9-Month-Old Developing Normally Socially?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":27},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-sensory-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"Supporting Sensory Development in Your 6-to-9-Month-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-adaptive-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"Supporting adaptive development at 6–9 months","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-cognitive-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"Supporting cognitive development in your 6-to-9-month-old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-communication-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"How can I support communication development in my 6-to-9-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-emotional-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"How can I support emotional development in my 6-to-9-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-motor-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"How can I support motor development in my 6-to-9-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-social-development-in-my-6-to-9-month-old","title":"How can I support social development in my 6-to-9-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-much-screen-time-is-safe-for-a-6-to-9-month-old","title":"How much screen time is safe for a 6-to-9-month-old?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-moving-and-walking-as-expected-for-their-age","title":"Is my 6-to-9-month-old moving and walking as expected?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-my-6-to-9-month-old-talking-as-expected-for-their-age","title":"Is my 6-to-9-month-old talking as expected for their age?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-get-my-6-to-9-month-old-assessed-for-development","title":"Should I get my 6-to-9-month-old assessed for development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-activities-support-a-6-to-9-month-old-s-development","title":"What activities support a 6-to-9-month-old's development?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":14}],"what_to_watch":"Seek a check if your baby doesn't turn to or startle at sounds, doesn't follow toys or faces with their eyes, doesn't reach for or mouth toys, is very distressed by ordinary touch or cuddles, or feels unusually floppy or stiff when handled. A hearing and vision review is often a sensible first step.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs, Act Early (infant milestones)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP — HealthyChildren.org on infant development"},{"url":"https://nurturing-care.org","label":"WHO Nurturing Care Framework"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:36:00.209871+00:00","meta_description":"Worried about your baby's senses? Gentle signs to watch at 6–9 months — sound, sight, touch, reaching — and when a calm developmental check is wise.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}