Your eight-month-old baby is decorated, busy, decorated — busy exploring, learning, moving around and engaged in more than sophisticated interactions and play.

That means you'll exist plenty busy keeping up with your little one also. Milestones like crawling are on the horizon if he isn't scooting around on all fours already, and he's probably baby-talking upwards a tempest. Plus playtime is more than fun all the time.

Here'south what'south coming up for your 8-month-old.

Your viii-calendar month-erstwhile babe'due south development

At a Glance

Sleeping basics

At this age, babies typically slumber about 11 hours at night (many straight through) and have two daily naps that add upwardly to three to iv hours.

Feeding basics

Your baby should get 24 to 30 ounces of chest milk or formula a solar day and 4 to 9 tablespoons of cereal, fruit and vegetables daily, likewise as 1 to half-dozen tablespoons of poly peptide foods.

Did yous know?

Even at viii months, babies volition look abroad from something that's likewise easy — or too hard — for them to empathise.

Your infant's ability to communicate is expanding daily, and you'll notice him attempting to use sounds, gestures and facial expressions — not to mention those adorable laughs and squeals — to get your attending and let yous know what he wants.

As he strings together more vowel and consonant sounds, you'll start to hear "real" words — including the all-of import "Mama" and "Dada."

You are certainly the about of import people in his life right now, which makes information technology unsurprising that your niggling ane has likely developed a fearfulness of strangers.

Why has your social butterfly of a sudden become antisocial with strangers? This social snubbery isn't snobbery — information technology's a sign of maturity, and it's perfectly normal at this phase of development.

This sudden shyness and newfound clinginess will pass. And so give your little one the space to socialize at his ain pace, and on his own terms.

Speaking of clinginess, you may also find your cutie has become more attached to a comfort object, like a blanket or stuffed animal. This, too, is perfectly developmentally appropriate.

With contained mobility comes the realization that he can carve up (or exist separated) from you at any fourth dimension, and that epiphany is partly exciting and partly unsettling.

A comfort object acts to fill in as a Mommy or Daddy substitute, allowing your baby to bring that comfort along wherever he goes. For at present, let your babe have the security he craves.

Your 8-month-old baby's growth

Your 8-calendar month-old infant girl volition hit the scales somewhere between thirteen and 23 pounds, while your infant boy will be weighing in at 14 to 25 pounds. On the length charts, look for your babe to fall somewhere between 25 and xxx inches.

To keep up with that growth, baby will be interested in expanding his nutrient repertoire and trading in that spoon for finger foods and cocky-feeding.

Certain, the transition from spoon to fingers will be messy and frustrating on both sides of the loftier chair. But as your infant perfects the pincer grasp as he nears his first birthday, his power to hold smaller objects, like peas and small pasta shapes, will improve — considerably expanding the carte and the amount of cocky-feeding that can practically be done.

For at present, stick to finger foods that can be gummed before swallowing or that volition deliquesce easily in the mouth: whole grain breadstuff or waffles, rice cakes, oat circle cereals, cubes of cheese or tofu, avocado, banana, pear, melon or mango slices, small chunks of cooked carrot, sweet potato, or cauliflower florets, baked or poached fish, meatballs, chicken, pasta, smashed beans, or scrambled or hard-cooked eggs.

Avoid uncooked raisins, whole peas (unless they are smashed), hot dogs, basics or popcorn, grapes, difficult or gooey processed, chunks of peanut butter, raw, firm vegetables or fruit, and large chunks of cheese, meat and poultry.

Your 8-month-old babe's wellness

Baby won't have a well-visit for another month, but yous probably have enough of questions about how your baby'due south growing and developing.

Poisonous substance-proof your dwelling

Medicines, cleaning products, furniture polish, antifreeze fluid, windshield wiper fluid — all of these are dangerous poisons, and should be locked away out of baby's reach (and out of sight). Read More

Allergy medicine for infant?

Just because your baby has allergies (which are rare in babies but tin can happen) doesn't mean y'all need to go along him inside all 24-hour interval long. Talk to the pediatrician virtually what allergy meds may be safe for infant to assist minimize symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and an itchy, runny olfactory organ. Read More than

Leaving infant in the car

Don't do it. Always. Car temperatures can soar to dangerously high levels in just a few minutes. In fact, heatstroke — which occurs when body temperature rises to 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit — is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths among children. Read More than

Breadbasket trouble?

Airsickness in older babies can be caused by motion sickness, food allergies, a tum bug or nutrient poisoning. While nausea and bouts of airsickness usually become away on their own, don't hesitate to phone call the dr. if you're concerned. Read More

Acupuncture for babies

Studies advise that this aboriginal Chinese medical practice can ease illnesses like colds, fever and coughs (especially when combined with Western medicine). If you lot're interested in trying it for your piffling one, talk to your child'southward dr. first, and always make sure you choose a licensed acupuncturist. Read More

Postpartum & new baby tips

Stimulate your 8-calendar month-old's senses

Stimulate your 8-month-erstwhile by describing how things piece of work, how they are used and how they are unlike.

For instance, "When I turn on the faucet, water comes out," "The car will help united states go places faster than walking with you in the stroller," "The doggy says 'woof' and the kitty cat says 'meow'".

Spend time talking, singing songs and reading books to boost his language skills; play games that help explicate concepts like cause and consequence (fill a cup of water in the bathroom and permit baby turn it over) and object permanence (play peek-a-boo).

Point out sounds (the fire truck) and smells (the flower) and give your child a take a chance to experiment and explore — even if information technology ways smearing yogurt in his hair or pulling up tufts of grass in the yard.

The "oopsie" game

The scene: Your dinner table. Your 8-month-old is in his high chair with an enticing array of foods earlier him. Your baby has his bib and his spoon. Then, is he eating? No!

Instead, your baby is merrily tossing his spoon overboard — over and over and over again — and giggling with glee every time yous option it upwardly and return it to him.

Is your baby but enjoying watching you stoop downward to the floor? Is he trying to drive yous crazy on purpose? Nope. Your infant's encephalon is simply decorated working on two big concepts: crusade and issue ("When I throw this, Mom picks it up! Cool!") and object permanence ("I can't encounter this while it's under my chair, simply wow! There it is once again!").

As abrasive — and difficult on your back — equally information technology may be, this drop-it-over again-and-once more routine is a sign of the crucial cerebral evolution of memory and abstract-thinking skills.

Finger nutrient prophylactic

Finger foods are particularly welcome now, since babies this historic period similar to feed themselves — or try to. It'southward not pretty, and it's non bang-up, but information technology's gotta happen.

Merely make sure you're ever supervising when you graduate to finger foods.

And remember, even babies who have teeth aren't ready for steak even so: Those first teeth aren't for chewing, just for bitter. Make sure everything y'all give your baby can exist easily gummed, for safety's sake.

More reasons to do

Practice boosts energy forth with immunity. Shoot for at least xx minutes of sustained activity three times a week, although 30 minutes, iv or more times per calendar week, is amend in the long run for stronger bones.

How? At present that your baby is older than half dozen months, strap him in a jogging stroller and get for a run. Or use a front pack or backpack if he can sit unsupported and accept a brisk walk (no jogging with your baby in a pack).

If you're inside, try an exercise video or mini-trampoline. Or merely put on some music and boogie — your baby will find watching you lot endlessly entertaining!

Best fruits for infant

Turn your baby into a fruit fiend by giving him squished blueberries or minor pieces of soft fruits like bananas or very ripe, peeled and skinned pear.

To make information technology easier to pick upwardly slippery assistant pieces, try dusting them in crushed Cheerios first.

Ripe mangoes, peaches, apricots, kiwis, honeydew and cantaloupe are too likely to appeal to your baby'southward sweet tooth (or gums), simply make sure to take off whatsoever skin first.

Non all fruit is baby-friendly, though. Avert pieces of apple, even without the skin, for now. Ditto any other harder-textured or unripe fruit that could get stuck in the windpipe.

Why babies beloved soft blocks

At that place'due south a reason why blocks take been effectually forever — they can do so many things. Before your niggling one learns to stack them, they'll be skilful for grabbing, property and mouthing, so get elementary cubes that are made of cloth but can however be easily stacked.

The best ones have colorful pictures and make a soft, jingly audio when squeezed or shaken. Early on, before he'due south sitting up, you can show him the pictures on the blocks and talk about them and let him listen to the blocks equally you clasp or milkshake them.

Later, boost his gross-motor skills by stacking the blocks and letting him knock them down with his arms or legs. Or show him how to toss the blocks at a safe target — the sofa, say, or the rug.

Your eight-month-old'south mobility

Your babe'due south large-motor skills volition exist tested as he learns to sit up comfortably and steadily and work on pushing himself upwards into a seated position from his tummy.

Some babies begin to creep or crawl this month, or fifty-fifty discover that they can motility around quite well by scooting on their bottoms.

If your baby was an early crawler, he may now move on to standing (pulling himself up the sofa — or your legs — to get upright).

Encourage this new view of the world, and maybe even those first wobbly steps, by arranging the furniture (like chairs and low-lying tables) in a row so he tin can inch his way across with steady support — a motor skill called cruising.

From the What to Await editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When Y'all're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses just credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we proceed our content accurate and up-to-appointment past reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, The ix-Month Well-Baby Visit, March 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Is Your Baby Grasping the Pincer Grasp, November 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Seasonal Allergy Medications That Are Rubber for Babies and Toddlers, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Types of Airsickness in Babies and Toddlers, July 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Acupuncture for Babies, January 2019.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Why Leaving Your Kid in the Car Is And so Unsafe, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Should My Infant Eat?, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Here's How Much Slumber Babies Need, June 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Starting Solid Foods, Oct 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Babe Nutrient and Feeding, 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Transitional Objects, August 2009.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Ageds 18 Years and Younger, 2018.
  • Centers for Illness Control and Prevention, WHO Kid Growth Standards, November 2009.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Child Growth Standards, November 2009.

Recommended Products

What to Look selects products based on independent inquiry  and suggestions from our community of millions of parents; learn more than about our review procedure. Nosotros may earn commissions from shopping links.

Best Car Seat Toys - VTech Baby On-the-Moove Activity Bar

⚠️ Y'all can't see this cool product because you have ad block enabled.

Please whitelist our site to get all the all-time deals and offers from our partners.

Infantino Spiral Activity Toy

Come across Now

best car seat toy - Infantino Spiral Activity Toy

Brilliant Starts Shake & Glow Monkey

See Now

Best Car Seat Toys - Bright Starts Shake Glow Monkey

⚠️ You can't see this absurd product because you have ad block enabled.

Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners.

Lil' Jammerz Babe Music Toys

Run across Now

best car seat toy - Lil' Jammerz Baby Music Toys

best car seat toy - Baby Einstein Star Bright Symphony Toy