8 Months Old: Milestones And Red Flags

At 8 months old, your baby is likely getting more mobile, more curious and more determined to interact with the world around them. Many babies this age are working on skills like getting into a seated position, moving toward toys and experimenting with more varied babbling. “Eight months typically brings a noticeable leap in movement and communication,” says Dr. Alisa Niksch, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Owlet, a baby-monitoring company.

Here are some milestones babies at this age should reach, and specific things that could be cause for concern.

Milestones

An 8-month-old should be moving more with purpose. That could mean scooting, crawling, rolling efficiently or starting to pull to stand while holding onto furniture or a caregiver’s hands, says paediatrician Dr. Barbara Christakis. Not every baby crawls, she adds, and not all babies use the same strategy to get around, but they should be showing more interest in moving and exploring.

They should also be sitting independently or with very little help, and grasping should be getting more refined. “At this age, babies are often reaching for everything in sight,” Christakis says. They may start picking up smaller pieces of food and using a pincer grasp, which means using the thumb and forefinger together.

Babies at this age are often more socially engaged, too. They may respond differently to familiar versus unfamiliar people, seek comfort from primary caregivers and react to tones of voice. “Their babbling also starts to take on a more conversational rhythm and tone, and babies may begin connecting words like ‘mama’ or ‘dada’,” Dr. Niksch adds.

Quick 8-month milestones

• Sitting independently
• Scooting, crawling or otherwise moving with purpose
• Pulling to stand with support
• Picking up food or small objects with more control
• Babbling with varied sounds and responding to voices

Red flags to look for

Movement and coordination

At this age, babies do not all move in the same way, but they should be making progress in strength, balance and coordination. If your baby is not sitting independently, is not rolling, seems very stiff or very floppy, or shows a clear preference for using only one side of their body, bring it up with your healthcare provider.

Trouble bearing weight through the legs, limited interest in reaching for toys or a lack of progress in overall motor skills can also be worth discussing, especially if those patterns continue over time.

Babbling and responsiveness

An 8-month-old does not need to be saying words, but they should usually be making sounds, reacting to voices and engaging with people around them. If your baby is not babbling much, does not respond to familiar sounds or seems unusually disengaged from caregivers, that is something to raise with their doctor.

Sleep and overall regulation

Sleep can become disrupted again around this age because of separation anxiety, teething and all the developmental changes happening at once, says Dr. Niksch. That is often normal. But persistent difficulty settling, very fragmented sleep or changes that seem to come alongside other developmental concerns can be worth flagging with your healthcare provider.

Fun age-appropriate exercises

Because 8-month-olds are so curious, simple games that encourage movement and problem-solving can be especially fun. Placing a favourite toy just out of reach can motivate them to scoot or crawl toward it. Toys that make sounds, books with textures and simple cause-and-effect play can also hold their attention.

“This is also an age when they begin to understand cause and effect, so games where you press buttons to make sounds or drop objects into a container and take them out again can be especially engaging and reinforce that learning,” Dr. Niksch says.

Peek-a-boo is still a great option, and Christakis says stacking cups or gently knocking over a small tower can also be a hit. If your baby is working on movement, you can try setting up a soft floor space with pillows, blankets and toys to encourage safe exploration.

What parents should do if they are unsure

If you're not sure whether your baby is on track, try looking for patterns over a few days instead of focusing on one moment. Babies can have off days, and development often shows up gradually. If a milestone seems delayed, or your baby has a clear red flag such as poor head control, no response to sound, very limited vocalizing or limited engagement, bring it up with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other healthcare provider.