Is your baby on the move yet? At 8 months old, they may have figured out a unique form of scooting, or they may be starting to crawl (or look as if they want to). It's a trip the first time you set your baby down, leave the room, and come back to see them in a different spot. Imagine how it feels from their perspective, to know that so much is within reach! If you haven't already, it's time to take the glass vases off low shelves and cover sharp corners — the more baby-proofed space your little one has to move around in, the more exercise and safe experimenting they can do.
Your baby may also be experiencing separation anxiety and start crying if you leave the room or someone else holds them. Don’t worry — this is perfectly normal and part of forming a healthy attachment. However, it can break your heart when you have to leave or take a break, so be prepared. Your baby will be fine and will learn that you always come back.
Your 8-Month-Old’s Milestones
Your 8-month-old can probably sit unsupported, and this is usually the time when the average baby starts to crawl (sometimes backwards!). Some babies find alternative ways of getting around (scooting or moving while sitting up). Their baby babbles are becoming more sophisticated and adapting word-like sounds as they try to get and keep your attention.
Your baby also easily rolls over now, and every time they’re on their back, your 8-month-old will be super active and want to flip over. Be especially mindful during diaper changes, and consider changing them on a bed or the floor to lower the risk of your baby falling. Never leave your baby unattended.
They may also give into the temptation of climbing up stairs and get stuck at the top. Teach your child how to get down the stairs by slowly crawling backwards. Your baby may also start standing while holding onto something and take tentative steps.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some other 8-month-old milestones include:
- Separation anxiety.
- Self-awareness (e.g., realizing that their reflection in the mirror is them).
- Crawls
- Rolls over from tummy to back or back to tummy.
- Begins to comprehend what you’re saying.
- Starts to make sounds that sound like words.
Your 8-Month-Old’s Development
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average baby weight and height for an 8-month-old is 17.4 pounds and 27 inches for girls and 19 pounds and 27.8 inches for boys. Your baby may gain about 1 to 1.25 pounds and grow another half or ¾ inches longer in the next month. If your baby is on the smaller side, remember that babies come in all shapes and sizes. As long as your baby is growing and developing, they are totally within the wide range of normal.
Please check with your baby’s doctor if your 8-month-old shows signs of developmental delay at eight months, such as:
- Doesn’t babble.
- Doesn’t show interest in games of peekaboo.
- Doesn’t enjoy being around people.
- Doesn’t try to get your attention.
- Doesn’t follow objects with both eyes whether near or far.
- Doesn’t bear weight on their legs.
- Seems either very stiff or very limp.
Note: If you are visiting a medical professional during COVID, make sure to ask about the facility's safety measures and confirm that they are following COVID protocols as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A General Schedule for Your 8-Month-Old
Since your 8-month-old is now awake for about 10 hours a day, you may feel a lot of pressure to entertain them all day. Never fear: You don’t have to do anything special. There are lots of fun activities you can do at home, or you can venture out to the park or walk around your neighborhood. (Please practice proper social distancing.) Read books and point to the pictures. Sing songs.
Ensure that your home is babyproofed, that stairs are gated off, corners and outlets covered, and choking hazards removed so that you can let your little one safely explore your home. “Be careful of where you place your hot drinks, since babies can now hold onto cups and bottles, and are curious enough to reach for anything,” advised pediatrician Dr. Steph Lee. “If you haven't already, now is the time to get a fence for that pool.”
Here is one suggested routine:
- Morning: feed, play, snack, nap
- Afternoon: feed, play, feed, nap, play
- Evening: feed, play, bath (not necessarily daily), story or lullaby
- Night: feed, sleep, feed, sleep
Feeding and Eating Guidelines
New foods are opening up to your baby with each passing week. Within reason, you can start thinking of your baby as eating what you eat (allergies and certain foods, like honey and nuts, notwithstanding), but in mashed or diluted form. It makes sense to expose your baby to lots of textures and flavors, and feed them whole, not processed, foods. Eat with your child — make them a version of what you're eating, sit together at the table, and chat while you experience the joy of shared meals. Try not to show big praise or frustration with your baby over what they eat.
Instead of: "Oh wow, you really don't like that food, do you?" (Insert yucky face.)
Try: "Oh, you don't know that food yet, huh? It's a different flavor."
Board-certified infant feeding specialist Cynthia Epps shares some of the foods your baby could be eating in the next couple of months:
Protein
- Egg yolks (hard-boiled and cut, or scrambled)
- Beans — cooked, pureed or mashed
- Lean beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork and/or tofu — pureed
Veggies and fruits
Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, winter squash — steamed, pureed, and diluted with water.
Grains
Kasha, buckwheat, quinoa, corn meal, millet, flax, brown rice, farina and amaranth may be served individually, or as mixed whole-grain cereals; breads, toast, muffins, pasta (pureed or in small, soft, cooked pieces). Mixed whole-grain infant cereals, and/or white or brown rice infant cereals may be mixed with breast milk or formula to boost the iron absorption in each serving.
Any commercially prepared Stage 2 baby foods. (Read the labels to avoid dairy and sugar.)
Play: Toys, Games, and Activities
We all know that talking to your baby is important — the number and sophistication of words little ones hear from us directly influences their verbal skills, social skills, and more. But here's a tip that parents don't hear as often: Listening to your baby is just as important. It's tempting to jump in when your baby starts babbling and finish their "sentences," but challenge yourself to truly listen. Yes, right now it's mostly strings of repetitive syllables, but if your baby gets the feeling you're paying attention to their unique contributions, they'll be motivated to share more. Imagine how important that parenting skill will be as your baby grows.
Some other activities you can try:
- Make lots of loud and noisy sounds.
- Sensory bags and bins loaded with different textures, colors, and fun objects (avoid choking hazards and breakable items).
- Give your baby pots, pans, and wooden spoons, and let them have at it.
- Splash around in the bathtub, and provide cups and floating toys.
Sleep and Nap Guidelines
Even the best sleepers will have an off day. You may have a carefully crafted sleep routine, but what happens when you travel, your baby gets sick, or they learn a new skill that they’re excited to practice at night? "Babies aren't robots; they're bound to naturally have nights when sleep is disrupted," said The Happy Sleeper author Heather Turgeon. This is why in her work with parents, Turgeon encourages them not to think in terms of "sleep-training."
"The best sleepers come from families who don't think of good sleep as a one-time fix, but as an overall philosophy that lasts through the years," she said. The habits you set up now, like an early bedtime, a good bedtime routine that ends with your baby falling asleep on their own, and a sleep-friendly bedroom, said Turgeon, will last through childhood and beyond.
A sample sleep schedule for an 8-month-old taking 3 naps:
- Wake: 6:00 a.m.
- Nap: 8:00 a.m.
- Nap: 12:30 p.m.
- Nap: 3:00 p.m.
- Bedtime: 7:30 p.m.
A sample sleep schedule for an 8-month-old taking 2 naps:
- Wake time: 6:30 a.m.
- Nap 1: 9:00 a.m.
- Nap 2: 2:00 p.m.
- Bedtime: 7 p.m.
Common 8-Month-Old Health Conditions
The AAP and the CDC recommend everyone 6 months or older (without medical contraindications) get the current age-appropriate influenza vaccine — especially since COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms and can help conserve potentially scarce medical resources. While the flu vaccine will not protect your baby from COVID-19, it can reduce their risk of getting sick from the flu, hospitalization, as well as possible death. Please consult your pediatrician to see whether your baby needs two doses of vaccine or only one dose.
Coming Soon: Your 9-Month-Old
Standing, cruising, and fine motor skills!
