The 8-Month- Old Baby Development Process

Your baby’s world right now

Ready to move in new ways, your baby gets ready to cruise.

This month, your 8-month old is crawling, cruising, and experimenting with all-new ways to explore the world around her. When your baby is standing, encourage her by holding her favorite toy just out of reach and getting her to “cruise” along the furniture to get it.

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Your baby’s nutrition

Time to mix it up and introduce new foods.

Month 8 is a good time to consider introducing new foods in addition to breast milk or baby formula, such as:

Small amounts of soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt, or cottage cheese. However, try to avoid cow’s milk until age 1 or until your child’s healthcare professional gives you the OK.
Iron-fortified cereals such as rice, barley, wheat, oats, and mixed cereals.
Mashed fruits and vegetables such as bananas, peaches, pears, avocados, cooked carrots, squash, white potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
cereals or jarred food

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Your baby’s development

Eight months old, and ready to roll.

All babies develop at different rates. You should not be concerned if your baby does something later or earlier than your friend's children. In general, by the end of your baby's eighth month, she will likely be able to do the following:

Crawl
“Inspect” toys
Say “dada” without necessarily knowing what it means
Move from laying on her stomach to a sitting position

She’s fine-tuning her fine-motor skills.
Your baby’s fine-motor skills are developing more each day. Support her progress with these helpful tips:

Help your baby stand when she is near a table or sturdy object, and urge her to use it for balance.
Encourage her to bounce up and down while supporting her in a standing position.
Place a toy out of reach and encourage her to crawl toward it.

Safety tip: Make sure the mattress in her crib is in the lowest setting once she is able to pull up to stand.

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Things to think about now

For a good night’s sleep, create a routine.

Now is a great time to create more concrete bedtime rituals, such as reading the same book or doing quiet activities together.

Now is a great time to create more concrete bedtime rituals, such as reading the same book or doing quiet activities together.

A soothing activity that lasts 10 to 30 minutes is ideal. This will help your baby look forward to bedtime, and find it easier to adjust when you finally leave the room.

Sleep patterns and tips.
If your baby has started teething, she might start waking up in the middle of the night uncomfortable and irritated.

To help soothe your baby’s gums, give her a cold, wet, or even frozen washcloth to chew on (however, remove the washcloth when she tires of it), or rub her gums gently yet firmly with a clean finger.

Always check with your pediatrician before giving your baby any pain-relieving medication.

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Next month’s developments

New thoughts, new skills, new foods.

At 9 months, she’ll be reaching for toys, and reaching out for new foods. She might even reach up to a standing position.

SEE NEXT MONTH

Your 8-Month-Old Baby

Your baby wants to explore everything!

Your baby’s world right now

Your baby’s nutrition

Your baby’s development

Things to think about now

Next month’s developments

Breastfeeding Disclaimer