Anguish and big tears, your baby at 8 months is going through new decisive stages. Growth, communication, nutrition, health and care, here is everything you need to know about baby’s development at 8 months.

Your baby continues to grow and gain weight: at 8 months, he can exceed 70 centimeters and weighs on average between 7 and 8 kilos. His head circumference measures approximately 45 centimeters. In general, the child already has several teeth, but this largely depends on each one, on a case-by-case basis: some already have 10 teeth, and others none.

In terms of gross motor skills, the revolution for the 8-month-old baby is stability: he now stands upright with his feet firmly anchored to the ground. He relies more and more on the furniture in his environment to stand up. Some children love to move by crawling on their stomach, sliding on their buttocks or on all fours. If this is the case for your little one, it may be useful to equip yourself with several barriers, in order to mark out your house or apartment, in particular by protecting the kitchen, the bathroom and the stairs.

Fine motor skills become more precise, and the 8-month-old baby’s gestures become more dexterous. Thus, the child catches smaller and smaller objects. Again, be careful with what you leave lying around in areas that baby can reach.

The 8 month old enjoys communication and engages in long babbling sessions. He also likes to say successions of syllables, or to repeat certain sounds such as “ma”, “da” or “pa”. His palette of gestures allows him to be more interactive: he stretches out his arms for you to take him, he pushes the spoon away when he no longer wants to eat or doesn’t like what you offer him. Your baby now knows what “no” means.

At his age, the moments of concentration are brief, and his favorite games are related to noise, especially high-pitched sounds, such as squealing or chirping sounds. Your baby loves to play with you, and you can create little stories by animating cuddly toys or puppets. If you accompany your story with noises and sounds, your child’s fun is guaranteed.

It is a difficult month, when your little one discovers the anguish of separation with his mother. Anxious about leaving you, he cries as soon as he loses sight of you for a few minutes. The main thing is to try to satisfy your child’s enormous need for affection by giving him hugs, kisses and other affectionate expressions as often as possible. You don’t have to worry, even if this is a particularly trying time for working mothers: the child will eventually realize that you are leaving, but then you come back.

More and more varied, baby’s diet is full of discoveries. He ingests two bottles daily (one upon waking up and one at snack time), as well as two meals. It is recommended that you give your child about 150 grams of mashed vegetables for lunch and dinner. You have the option of thickening the mash with semolina or tapioca. You can diversify the fruits during the 8th month: crushed banana, applesauce, mashed raspberries… It is also possible to give fruit juice to your child. If you buy them in the trade, imperatively take products designed for babies. Otherwise, dilute a little squeezed orange in water, especially not adding sugar.

Between the 8th and 10th month, a medical consultation is scheduled for your baby. The pediatrician will conduct a check-up on your child’s development, including hearing and sight. He will also take stock of baby’s sleep with you. At 8 months, your child’s nighttime rhythm may be upset due to separation anxiety. Your baby may have difficulty falling asleep. With a few tips, you can create a peaceful atmosphere in his room, which helps him fall asleep: install a soft light, offer him a blanket, play calm music …

The 8 month old baby is very anxious, and this period can be difficult for parents and children alike. Reassure your baby by talking to him and with gentle, tender gestures, and this phase will be over soon.