Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

8-month-old child

Expanded maneuvering skills and crawling accelerate a baby's ability to explore during the eighth month of life. Parents are challenged with being able to maintain a balance between containing the child for safety or giving the child freedom to explore. Standing becomes more exciting than sitting. Eight-month-old babies can be kept busy for hours with quiet experimentation. They may begin to tear things up.

The freedom to explore speeds learning and achievement at this age. More active babies tend to have a hard time settling down to sleep for naps or at bedtime. At this age, babies feel a powerful sense of loss and anger whenever they are separated from their mothers. Although all children are unique, new growth and development milestones will typically occur by the end of 8 months.

The typical 8-month-old's motor skills include:

• crawling and pulling on furniture to stand
• needing help to get down from standing
• sitting without support for 10 minutes and
• pinching with the thumb and forefinger

The 8-month-old's language skills include:

• saying "ma-ma" and "da-da" but not specifically to parents
• understanding simple instructions and
• shaking head no

The 8-month-old's mental abilities include:

• reacting quickly to situations
• showing interest in cause-and-effect relationships like making wheels turn or bells sound
• anticipating events not related to own behavior like meeting mom or dad at the door and
• solving simple problems

The 8-month-old's social traits include:

• shouting for attention
• pushing things away that are not wanted and
• biting and chewing toys

Introduce finger foods such as peas and pieces of cut-up, cooked carrots while feeding the baby. This will keep baby busy while the parent feeds her and may avoid disagreements over eating. It also allows her the satisfaction of doing something for herself.

Use a playpen only for short periods of time with interesting toys to keep the child's attention. Give your baby plenty of time during the day to crawl freely. Secure all potentially toxic substances, such as cleansers and medicines in a locked cabinet. Be patient and loving.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File CHIL3051.rf2 VRS# 7707 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1998 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.