Shocked? Adult seemed to protect toddler initially (9)
I believe the answer is:
astounded
'shocked?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'adult seemed to protect toddler initially' is the wordplay.
'adult' becomes 'a' (abbreviation).
'seemed' becomes 'sounded' (sounding is a kind of seeming).
'to protect' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or protected).
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'toddler' is 't'.
'sounded' going around 't' is 'stounded'.
'a'+'stounded'='ASTOUNDED'
(Other definitions for astounded that I've seen before include "Knocked for six" , "Amazed" , "Shocked" , "Sound date changed and astonished" , "Bewildered" .)