Your Baby's 8 Month Developmental Milestones

When it comes to baby development at 8 months of age, there are plenty of milestones to keep your eye out for. Infant development can feel like it is passing in the blink of an eye, but your baby's growth should be celebrated with every new achievement, like the ones listed below.

Physical 

An 8 month old baby's physical development is fairly pronounced regarding milestones. With their increased mobility, you may enjoy the sight of milestones such as:

●      Pulling themselves into a sitting position without assistance.

●      Crawling or shuffling on their bottom.

●      Using furniture to lift themselves into a standing position.

●      Practising their holding, biting, and chewing skills for eating.

●      Feeding themselves via fingers.

 Cognitive

For cognitive development, several milestones may indicate your baby's increasing curiosity and sense of adventure. It is important to encourage this exploration of the world around them, but never leave your baby unattended for their safety.

Common milestones of 8 month old cognitive development may include:

●      Beginning to understand object permanence, such as looking for dropped or hidden objects, or pointing at small objects.

●      Knowing how to drop and pick up objects using a pincer grasp of the thumb and middle or index finger.

●      Understanding the basics of cause-and-effect, such as what objects will make a specific noise or what will happen if they drop or throw a toy. They may repeat a certain action if they want to understand it more or if they enjoy it.

●      Vision will be improving, with a depth perception nearly as good as an adult.

●      Recognising names, including looking for people once a name is said.

●      Recognising certain words, including pointing at the correct object in a book if spoken.

 Emotional

Emotional development at the early stages of infancy typically focuses on making facial expressions and reacting to you. However, your baby's emotions may be becoming more complex and may result in the following developmental milestones:

●      Enjoying your company when around.

●      Exploring and playing on their own when you are around, but still returning to you occasionally to "check in" for assurance.

●      Feeling especially attached to certain stuffed animals, toys or objects.

Communication

Although your baby's communication skills have yet to include actual words, they are still exploring a range of language basics through their babbling. Encouragement of these communication methods may allow for the following milestones to develop:

●      Responding to their name when called.

●      Recognising the names of others in the household.

●      Babbling to you in a form of talking that will almost feel like a conversation.

Social

Significantly, your baby's social development at this age is focused on you as their primary caregiver. Most children at this age may begin to feel anxiety about being separated from you, resulting in crying and holding on to you more tightly when you go to leave.

This is very normal behaviour as they are learning you are a separate person to them. Offer reassurance and spend time familiarising them with their new surroundings and any unfamiliar people. If emotions are still running high give them a moment to calm down and reassure them.

They will begin to learn that you will always come back, allowing them to build deeper relationships with others around them.

 Milestones to monitor

Every baby starts to learn or showcase developmental skills on their own schedule. However, you may want to contact your doctor or nurse if your baby:

●      Is yet to respond to voices or the sound of their name.

●      Does not recognise you or other main caregivers.

●      Cannot make eye contact.

●      Has yet to start moving around and exploring their environment.

●      Is not babbling or repeating sounds.

●      Holds their body stiffly rather than sitting.

●      Is not showing any interest in or reaching for objects.

Organising regular playtime for your baby's development is something all parents must include in their daily schedule. Not only does it allow you to bond with your baby and create a stronger connection, but it also provides them with the opportunity to practise or learn new skills

You can help your baby develop gross motor skills and strength by encouraging them to move. In a baby-proofed space for their safety, try getting your baby to:

●      Pull themselves into a sitting or a standing position to strengthen their muscles for more complex movements.

●      Crawl with you to cement the knowledge of that particular skill.

●      Come to you to encourage further movement.

●      Play games with you like hiding toys, peek-a-boo, singing songs, clapping games, or making sounds together.

Language and communication skills can also be developed by regularly responding to your baby's babbling, or reading or singing at them. This helps them begin to identify words and connect them with people or objects in the world around them. Spending time with them and talking also helps them to feel heard and valued, creating a stronger connection between the two of you.

There is no wellbeing check-up scheduled for this month, but your doctor or healthcare provider is only a call away if you have any concerns about your baby's health. Never hesitate to reach out if you notice signs that your baby is feeling unwell or you notice them having difficulties in key health areas like eating or sleeping.

Teething

8 months of age is also a common time when babies experience their first bout of teething if they have not yet. Many babies grow their central incisor around this time, which becomes noticeable when they show common signs of teething, such as:

• Excessive drooling or dribbling.
• Red swollen gums.
• Increased irritability or restlessness, especially at night.
• A recent habit of sucking fingers and/or fists.
• Flushed cheeks.
• Slight fever.
• Tugging on the ear that is on the same side as the erupting tooth.

If you notice your baby is dealing with the discomfort of teething, offering teething objects can help alleviate any pain. Their discomfort can also be lessened by offering things like silicone chew toys between meals. You can also rub the sore gums with a clean finger or cold flannel to soothe them.

You can keep your baby's first teeth clean and healthy by first using a clean cloth and water. Once the tooth has emerged you can move on to a soft-bristled toothbrush. Clean the area very gently as the tooth and its surrounding area will be very sensitive. If you have any concerns about your baby’s teething, please contact your healthcare professional.

Safety

Since your baby's development has recently resulted in them being more mobile, it is time to baby-proof your home. To guarantee their safety in the home, you should:

• Ensure that they are playing in a hazard-free environment at all times by removing obstacles such as electrical cords or breakable objects.
• Place barriers on doorways to rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom, where the space is not always safe for babies. It is also important to put guards around heaters and open fires, while also checking your smoke detectors are operational.
• Store all hazardous chemicals, cleaning products, and medicines out of reach in lockable cupboards.
• Prevent choking during playtime by excluding any toys smaller than a 'D' size battery or with small loose parts.
• Always keep hot beverages out of reach.
• Avoid foods that can be choked on, such as meats, nuts, raw pieces of carrot or apple, and lollies.
• Keep all rubbish bins used for nappies off the floor and sealed at all times.

Safety can also be secured outdoors as long as you remain observant and use a stroller or pram correctly. Useful tips to keep your baby safe include:

• Always use straps in the stroller or pram, even for small trips.
• Consider carrying your little one or sitting far away when around moving vehicles, especially with non-typical vehicles like farming equipment, trailers, mowers, motorbikes, or all-terrain vehicles.
• Never hang bags from a stroller or pram's handles as it may cause it to tip over.
• Keep your baby within eyesight at all times while outdoors.
• Protect them at all times from the sun by using protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and avoiding uncovered skin during peak burn times of 10 am-3 pm.
• Create a safe space outdoors for your baby to play in, well away from roads and driveways, and supervise them at all times.

 Allergies

With the increase in solid meals, you should be checking your baby for any allergic reactions once a new food is introduced. 

It is not uncommon for a child to develop allergies, with 1 in 10 being affected in Australia. That is why it is important to observe your baby closely during any meal and be ready to contact a doctor in case they start to react. Common symptoms of mild-to-moderate food allergies include:

●      Vomiting

●      Diarrhoea

●      Stomach pain or constipation

●      Mucous or blood in the stools

●      Poor weight gain

●      Swelling around the face, particularly the lips or eyes

●      Hives on the skin

More severe reactions, known as anaphylactic shock, include additional symptoms like:

●      A swollen tongue or throat

●      Difficulty breathing or having noisy breaths

●      Wheezing or coughing

●      Dizziness

●      Collapsing

●      Becoming pale and floppy

If you notice any of these symptoms or have an indication your baby may develop an allergy, set up an appointment with your doctor. In cases of anaphylaxis, call 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand for emergency services.

Self-care tips for parents

Looking after yourself as a parent is just as crucial as keeping your baby happy and healthy. You can enjoy every milestone your baby reaches when you are well-rested and ready to face the day.

Your wellbeing may be improved through some of the following tips:

●      Maintaining an open line of communication with your partner or others in your support network.

●      Staying active with regular exercise.

●      Eating a balanced diet full of nutritional foods.

●      Getting sufficient amounts of sleep and rest.

●      Regularly spending time with loved ones and getting a break from parenting.

●      Reaching out if you are feeling lonely, tired, stressed, or anxious.

Professional help is always available if you need an extra helping hand with your self-care, so do not hesitate to talk with a GP or healthcare professional if required.

Otherwise, allowing yourself to enjoy the things you loved before becoming a parent, such as hobbies or sports, is a great way to take care of yourself. Your baby is an integral part of your life, and celebrating their developmental milestones is always a delight, but your wellbeing is just as important!