Month 8
Welcome to the exciting journey of your 8-month-old’s development! This stage is filled to the brim with unending curiosity and discovery, making it an exciting time for both you and your little one. Let’s explore this exciting month of growth and learning together!
Physical Development
At 8 months, your baby is growing beautifully! Girls typically weigh around 7.9 kg and are about 68.7 cm tall, while boys weigh approximately 8.6 kg and stand around 70.6 cm tall.
Cognitive Development
Your 8-month-old’s cognitive development is truly remarkable! This stage is filled with exciting discoveries as they explore their environment and understand more about how things work. Here are some key cognitive milestones:
- Uptick in Curiosity: Your baby is curious about everything, eagerly exploring their surroundings and new objects – all part of their rapidly expanding world!
- Move Between Activities Quickly: They move quickly from one activity to the next, showing their desire to learn and engage.
- Object Permanence: They start to look for dropped toys or objects, indicating their understanding of object permanence – the realisation that objects exist even when out of sight!
- Influencing Events: Your baby begins to develop a sense that their actions can influence events, such as shaking a rattle to make noise.
Suggested Activities
To stimulate curiosity and exploration, provide a variety of toys and objects for your baby to interact with. Engage them in games that reinforce object permanence, such as hide-and-seek with toys or partially hiding a favourite toy under a blanket and encouraging them to find it.
Emotional & Social Development
Your 8-month-old’s emotional and social development at this stage is also full of milestones! This phase is marked by a range of new behaviours as your baby navigates their feelings and relationships. Here are some key emotional and social milestones:
- Serious with Strangers: Your baby might look at strangers seriously instead of greeting them with a smile. Your baby may also exhibit stranger anxiety, becoming wary and cautious around unfamiliar people, which is a normal part of their development.
- Separation Anxiety: They develop a strong attachment to you, possibly crying when left alone at naptime or bedtime, seeking your presence for comfort. They might show signs of separation anxiety, feeling distressed when you leave the room or are out of sight, reflecting their deep attachment to you.
Suggested Activities
Promote bonding and attachment with activities that foster closeness and security. Cuddle and read together to create a comforting routine. Play peek-a-boo to help your baby understand that you can disappear and reappear, which can ease separation anxiety.
Language & Communication
Your 8-month-old’s language and communication skills are rapidly developing! This stage is filled with the delightful sounds of babbling and early attempts at communication. Here are some key milestones in language and communication:
- Babbling: Your baby continues to babble frequently, experimenting with sounds and practising early speech. This babbling is important as it lays the foundation for future language development!
- Non-Verbal Communication: They start to develop early communication skills, using sounds and gestures to express needs and emotions. Facial expressions may be another way in which they communicate!
- Responding to Sounds: They may respond to their name or familiar words, showing their growing understanding of language.
- Influence of Interaction: They begin to realise that making sounds can attract attention and elicit responses. They may try to encourage more interaction with you!
Suggested Activities
Promote language development by talking and singing to your baby regularly. Read books with simple pictures and words to introduce new vocabulary. Engage in responsive conversations, even if your baby is just babbling, to encourage their communication efforts and make them feel heard.
Sensory & Motor Skills
Your 8-month-old’s sensory and motor skills are developing at an exciting pace! They are becoming adept at perceiving distance and will move toward objects to explore them more closely. Here are some key sensory and motor milestones:
- Perceiving Distance: Your little one can perceive distance and will move toward objects to gain clarity. This skill helps them navigate their environment more effectively.
- Rolling Over: They are likely rolling over repeatedly, enjoying the new perspective and mobility this developing skill provides!
- Crawling Position: Your baby can get into a crawling position and rock back and forth, preparing to take off on all fours. Any day now!
- Picking Up Objects: They start to use their thumb and fingers to pick up objects, demonstrating improved fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Suggested Activities
Encourage sensory play by introducing different textures, sounds, and visual stimuli for your baby to explore. For motor skill development, engage in activities like tummy time, reaching for toys, and creating safe spaces for crawling practice. These activities support your baby’s growth and keep them entertained while learning new skills.
Feeding & Nutrition
At eight months, your baby’s feeding and nutrition needs are evolving as they begin to explore the world of solid foods while still relying on breast milk or formula for essential nutrients.
Introducing a variety of solid foods is an exciting step that supports their growing nutritional needs. Offer a balanced diet of the five food groups that includes pureed fruits and vegetables, soft-cooked grains, and proteins like mashed beans or finely shredded meat.
Be patient with picky eaters. It’s normal for babies to be hesitant about new textures and flavours! Consistently offering a variety of healthy foods and creating a positive mealtime environment can help make feeding time enjoyable and nutritious for your little one.
Sleep Patterns
At eight months, your baby’s sleep patterns are becoming more established, but they may still face challenges. Typically, an eight-month-old needs about 14-15 hours of sleep per day, including two naps, and about 11 hours of nighttime sleep. However, sleep regressions and separation anxiety at bedtime can disrupt their sleep routine, making it a challenging time for both of you.
Common sleep challenges at this age include frequent night wakings and difficulty settling down at bedtime. These issues can often be linked to developmental milestones, teething, or a desire for more independence. Some babies simply want to keep practising crawling!
To establish and maintain a healthy sleep routine, create a calming bedtime ritual that includes activities such as a warm bath, reading a soothing story, baby massage, and gentle rocking. Consistency is key. Try to keep the same sleep schedule every day, even on weekends.
Health & Safety
Ensuring your 8-month-old’s health and safety is necessary as they become more mobile and curious. Baby-proofing your home is essential. Secure furniture, cover electrical outlets, and use safety gates to prevent accidents.
Prevent common accidents by keeping small objects, chemicals, and sharp items out of reach. Supervise your baby during playtime and introduce safe toys. Regular health check-ups are crucial to monitor growth and development, ensuring your baby stays on track.
Immunisation Schedule
While specific immunisations may not be scheduled for 8 month old babies, it’s necessary to keep up with recommended vaccinations and boosters per the Australian National Immunisation Program Schedule. Discuss the influenza vaccine with your child’s doctor. The shot is safe to administer from 6 months onwards – and little ones are particularly vulnerable! The shot is free under the age of 5!
When to Speak to Your Paediatrician
While every baby develops at their own pace, it’s important to be aware of signs that may indicate developmental delays or health concerns. If your baby isn’t meeting milestones such as rolling over, babbling, or showing interest in objects, it’s a good idea to consult your paediatrician. Remember, it’s always better to address any concerns early to ensure your baby’s health and development are on track.
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