A lot of changes happen to the baby at the age of 8 months, such as motor skills, the nature of sleep and eating, so do you want to know the most important developments of the baby in the eighth month? To learn more, keep reading.
Is your 8-month-old playing, moving, and exploring a lot? In this article, learn about the development of the baby in the eighth month:
Baby development in the eighth month
The following highlights the child's most significant changes during the eighth month of his life:
1. Motor skills
A baby who is eight months old is developing a lot of new strength because he might be able to stand up by himself while holding onto someone, a chair, or something else.
Baby learns how to link his motor skills to his senses by spotting a toy, crawling to get it, and picking it up. He also learns how to easily manipulate toys by throwing a ball or shoving a row of cups of various sizes into one another.
To reduce the chance of suffocation, you must make sure that any small game pieces or other sharp objects are removed.
2. Communication
As the child's personality starts to emerge, his capacity for communication grows every day, and at this age, he may be able to express his emotions more effectively. It is noticed that he tries to express fear, read facial expressions, and respond to them by linking words with their meanings, understanding body language, and using sounds and gestures.
As his memory gets better and he starts to develop closer relationships with his favourite people, toys, and books, he might also develop a preference for a specific person, like a family member.
He might experience occasional social anxiety, which is normal for a boy his age.
3. Sleep
By the eighth month, the infant naps twice daily, possibly once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and sleeps an average of 13 to 14 hours per day.
The typical baby nap lasts an hour, but some infants can only sleep for 20 minutes.
4. Eating
Daily nutrition recommendations for babies include breast milk or formula, 4–9 tablespoons of baby cereal, fruit and vegetable purees, and 1–6 tablespoons of protein-rich foods.
Tips to support the development of the baby in the eighth month
To aid your child's development at this age, try these simple things:
- Talk to your baby about everyday things and make sounds as he may love watching your facial expressions as you talk to him. To promote his speech and communication, assist him in comprehending the meaning of words.
- Sing to your child and read more picture books to help him develop his language and imagination.
- Encourage your child to play so that he can develop the muscle strength necessary to stand and walk.
- Spend some time playing and discovering new things with your child outside, but watch out for his safety in the sun.
Tips for dealing with the development of the baby in the eighth month
The following advice will assist you in managing the baby's growth during the eighth month:
- It is advised to include some healthy foods, such as whole grains, oats, fruits, vegetables, meat, chicken, and scrambled eggs, in the child's diet.
- Avoid giving your child uncooked foods that have pieces, so make sure everything you give him is something he can easily eat for the sake of safety.
- Given that children of this age frequently move around, it is advised to keep a close eye on the child, monitor him carefully, and never leave him alone on a table, sofa, or bed to prevent him from being exposed to danger.
- You must make sure that the child can't access cords, cleaning supplies, or cosmetics, and that the home is generally safe for them to move around in.