Month Eight

Babies First Year: Month Eight

How Baby Is Changing

Have you noticed that your baby understands more of what you say? When you say, "Look at the kitty," he listens, then looks around until he finds it.

Baby is beginning to grasp whole ideas, and is linking his eyesight and hearing together. Baby may notice when you put something new in his room. He remembers what the whole room looks like, so he sees the new item right away. Try it!

Does your baby move toward the door before Daddy or Mommy walks through? Does he drop a toy and cover his ears, waiting for the thud? His mind is developing.

Baby may sit up on his own for longer periods. He can reach for things without falling, because he doesn't need to prop himself up with his hands. His neck and back are getting stronger, so he sits up straighter, too.

Baby Wants You To Know

How I Grow

• I may crawl backward and forward on my stomach.
• I hold onto a toy, such as a rattle, for several minutes.
• I pick up small things like pieces of string.

How I Talk

• I let you know if I am happy, sad or scared by the sounds I make.
• I still babble a lot, and shout to get attention.
• I may recognize some words.
• I watch and try to imitate your mouth movements.

How I Respond

• I like to pat and kiss my reflection in the mirror.
• I turn and listen when I hear familiar sounds, such as the telephone or my name.
• I love to imitate people I know.

How I Understand

• I am very curious, and I want to explore everything.
• I know how to solve simple problems, such as making a toy bell ring.
• I remember events that just happened.

How I Feel

• I am frightened by new experiences and by new people.
• I may be upset when you leave me, even for a short time. I feel so relieved when you return.
• I'm upset when people make a lot of fuss over me.
• I get frustrated or lose my temper when I can't find something.

How You Can Help Me Learn

• Read books to me. Point out pictures of things I see each day. For example, show me a picture of a ball and give me my toy ball at the same time. Hide a small toy under a cup or cloth for me to find. Take me for a walk outside to see leaves and flowers -- or icicles and snow figures!

Fun Activities

• "How big is baby? So big!" - At first, you might need to gently show your baby how to raise her arms up over her head while you say, "So big!"
• Hide and seek - Big brother or sister can hide nearby. You can say, "Where is ______?" The baby can try to help you find the missing one.
• Hiding things - Let your baby watch you as you hide a small toy under a cloth or cup, or in your pocket. Does she try to find it? If not, try covering only part of the toy.
• Music fun - Your baby will like listening to many kinds of music with you and trying to dance. Inexpensive music boxes can be fun, and she can learn to start and stop the music all by herself.

Feeding Baby

Now that your baby is 8 months old and may have some teeth, you can give her some foods that are mashed with a fork in addition to pureed is 8 months old and may have some teeth, you can give her some foods that are mashed with a fork in addition to pureed foods. Mash a favorite cooked vegetable or meat with a fork. Use a potato masher or a blender for foods like bananas, or cooked apples, winter squash, white or sweet potatoes, or carrots. Make sure the food has no big lumps, pieces of skin, seeds or strings. Mashed foods are a little thicker than pureed foods.

Baby Food Tips

• Don't add salt, sugar or seasonings to baby foods. Foods that taste bland to an adult are new to babies. There is enough natural sodium in foods to keep baby healthy.
• Don't give honey to a baby less than 1 year old. Honey may carry botulism spores that can make babies sick.
• Don't make baby foods out of leftovers -- they may be contaminated with bacteria. Use fresh, frozen or canned food. If you use frozen or canned food, buy the form with the least amount of added sugar, salt and fancy sauces that baby doesn't need. For example, use fruits canned in juice rather than heavy syrup.
• Raw or soft-boiled eggs and unpasteurized (raw) milk are not safe for babies. They can cause food poisoning.
• Don't give baby chunky foods such as corn, nuts, popcorn and seeds, or coarse-textured foods such as crumbly cookies. These foods are hard for baby to eat and can cause choking.

Whole grapes and round pieces of hot dog are especially dangerous.

• It's OK to serve foods cold. Most babies don't mind. If you want to warm baby food, do it just before serving. If you use a microwave oven, take care to stir the food after heating and re-check for hot spots.
• NEVER leave a baby alone while eating.