The eighth month is when a baby gains freedom of movement. That makes it the month the home has to be rearranged.

What to expect this month

Movement

  • Crawling or shuffling to move about
  • Sitting unsupported and turning while seated to pick something up
  • Pulling up to stand by holding onto furniture
  • The beginnings of picking up small objects with thumb and index finger (pincer grip)

Social and language

  • Stranger anxiety: crying at someone unfamiliar, clinging to the mother
  • Repeated syllables such as "baba", "mama" without meaning yet
  • Imitating simple gestures
  • Understanding that a hidden object still exists

Feeding

Solids now move towards three meals a day, while breastfeeding continues. Finger foods (such as soft-cooked vegetable sticks) can be offered in this period; they develop chewing and hand-to-mouth coordination. Salt, sugar and honey are still not given. Because of the choking risk, hard round foods such as nuts, grapes and raw carrot must not be given whole.

Home safety: not to be postponed this month

Now that the baby is on the move, safety measures should not wait:

  • Small objects are cleared off the floor
  • A gate is fitted at the top of stairs
  • Socket covers are fitted
  • Cleaning products and medicines go into a locked, high cupboard
  • Tablecloths are not left hanging and hot drinks are not left near the edge

This month's vaccinations

There is no vaccine at month 8 in the national schedule. The next vaccine is given at 12 months.

When to see a doctor

  • If the baby cannot sit unsupported
  • If they cannot move from place to place in any way
  • If they do not take weight on their legs
  • If there is no babbling at all
  • If they do not respond to their name and make no eye contact
  • If one side of the body is used noticeably less

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