What should a baby be able to do at 8 months?

A whole new world opens up for both baby and parents when your little one turns 8 months old. Many babies are starting to learn to crawl at this age. There will be plenty of bumps and falls as your baby becomes more mobile, but you can make life safer for your baby by not leaving him alone. What should a baby be able to do at 8 months?

Height and weight of a child at 8 months

At 8 months, the baby's height reaches almost 70-72 cm. Its weight also gradually increases - up to 8.5-9.5 kg. If the baby is bigger or smaller. Do not worry: each child's development is individual. At 8 months, the baby's head circumference reaches about 45.4 cm, and its chest circumference is from 46 to 47.2 cm.

Keep in mind that these are approximate figures. Compared to the height when the child was born, during the month to 8 months he should gain from 1.5 to 2 cm. And the weight in the period from 7 to 8 months the child gains from 550 to 600 grams.

If your baby is not gaining enough growth or is gaining weight very slowly, consult a doctor: this may be a sign of hidden diseases.

Relationships with strangers

Your baby may start to feel shy around strangers or cry if you leave him with a babysitter. This is the beginning of the baby's separation from his mother, which the baby perceives very acutely. Over time, he learns that when his mother leaves him, she will definitely return again.

Will a baby crawl at 8 months?

Now that the baby is eight months old, he can crawl. He can also roll over from his back to his tummy and vice versa, and also try to crawl on all fours.

Read also: How to teach a child to crawl?

Your baby may try to stand by holding on to furniture or a playpen. If you place your baby next to a sofa, he or she will already be able to use it to support himself or herself when standing. Be there for extra support if your baby starts to rock. There will be bumps and falls. Don’t worry: they are part of childhood.

You may miss a bruise or two with bumps and a crying baby, but try to have fun letting your baby explore his surroundings and develop physical skills. It’s understandable that you want to protect your baby from pain. But you need to give him the opportunity to grow and learn.

Now that your baby is moving around a lot, you need to make every effort to make your home baby-proof. For example, you should secure (or remove) any fragile or wobbly objects so that they don't fall on your baby.

Can an 8 month old baby swallow small objects?

Sure. He can pick up objects with two fingers – his thumb and forefinger. It’s a subtle maneuver that allows him to pick up small toys or pieces of food, like pancakes, and put them in his mouth. Just make sure there are no toys with small parts within his reach that could pose a choking hazard.

The baby can also hold objects in a closed fist. He has already learned to control it when he wants to clench and unclench his fist. Therefore, the baby can actively throw objects, to his joy and your chagrin. Your baby will enjoy the fact that the object fell and use his index finger to indicate this.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Can a baby show more emotions at 8 months?

Yes, your baby's emotions are now even more vivid and he can express himself even better. He can do tricks he didn't do before, like clapping his hands when he's excited, blowing kisses to people he knows when he's happy to see them, and waving goodbye.

Your baby is learning to judge and imitate moods, and may now show early signs of empathy. For example, if he sees another child crying, he may look at that child and start crying back.

Is it okay to leave an 8 month old baby alone in his room?

It is completely normal for a baby to show signs when he is tired or left alone. When you are out of sight and not with him, he may become upset and start crying.

To help your child get used to the idea that Mom and Dad may go away but will definitely come back, you can try playing a little game with a familiar toy. Hide a teddy bear or doll under the blanket for a short time, and then show it to your child. This will help him understand that even though he can’t see something or someone, that object or person still exists.

Although it is difficult for a child to understand separation from mom and dad, it is important to let him experience these emotions. Every time you leave your child and return, you prove to him that you always come back. This will also help him develop trust in people.

When you leave your child in the nursery or playroom, kiss and hug him and tell him that you will definitely come back.

If your child is scared or bursts into tears, it will take time to calm him down and calm yourself down. It can be very difficult for a mother not to cry when he starts crying. Try to hold back your tears, because this will upset your child even more. If you still cannot hold back your emotions, let someone else calm the child down. For example, a dad or a grandpa.

If your baby is fussy and cries at night, cuddle him, kiss him, and read him a story before putting him back to bed. You can even give him a massage so that he feels the comfort of your touch.

Some babies sleep well apart from their parents, and some do not. It depends on their temperament. If it takes time to soothe your baby, don't worry and be firm: it may not be a quick process. You know your baby better than anyone, so follow your instincts. Within a month or two, with firmness and consistency, your baby will learn to sleep in his own crib.

[ 3 ]

Exploration of objects and space at 8 months

Your 8-month-old baby is passionate about exploring objects in a variety of ways. He shakes, hits, throws, and chews on them. Your baby will express his joy by laughing, smiling, squealing, and even stamping his feet.

Your baby loves to watch a toy fall and you rush to pick it up. Keep in mind that your 8 month old is not trying to annoy you. He just finds it interesting and naturally wants to see it again and again!

Your 8-month-old baby already understands that objects are related to each other. For example, he understands that small things can fit inside large ones (for example, a nesting doll). He can easily find what you hide and can look at the objects you name.

Your baby's developing vision also helps his cognitive skills. He can recognize people and familiar objects all over the room. So if he spots something that interests him, he may point to it and coo, gurgle, say single syllables to show his admiration, and crawl toward it if he can.

An 8-month-old child can already do a lot. And he will be able to do even more if his parents constantly pay attention to him and provide support.