With your 9mo old... Wait for the fever and screaming for no reason. Nursing will likely soothe the throat. DAIRY DAIRY DAIRY! That's what I was told will help. So if you don't have an issue with dairy, eat it... Lots of it so the 9mo old will get that too.
In an adult (I got it too while my little guy was sick with it) the virus is extremely mild compared to anyone pre-pubescent (sp?). Tylanol/Motrin switch off will help with the pain as well. Do Tylanol first and 2hrs after that, Motrin and dose accordingly after that.
My hubby and I had no idea what it was or the beginning symptoms of it. When my son got it, he woke up from his nap screaming and wouldn't stop (because of pain - as I found out later)... That was not like our son at all! So, we took him to Urgent Care (on a Sat evening) and the Dr there sent us to the ER! We were FREAKED OUT! They couldn't figure out what was going on (after a catheter to check for bladder infection, blood draws, x-rays, thermometer up the rear, and a general checkup). The following Monday, I took him into his regular pedi. He knew right away what it was. Our pedi gave us an emergency # of his to call after that... But he said that it would be extremely painful and show no signs of the sores that first night. Which is why the ER couldn't figure it out after all that torture. : (
I asked our pedi what to do... He said, 'The prescription is ice cream.' Our son's eyes LIT UP when he said that! Granted our son wasn't 9mos old, but he was still only 18mos old.
Good luck mama! Don't eat anything spicy until you KNOW your little guy isn't going to get it!