ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN 8 MONTH OLD BABY

An 8-month-old baby is already able to stand up on his own from a sitting position, although most of the time you will still see him crawling and crawling. His joints in this phase become strong and robust and the motor skills begin to intersect with the sensory ones: the child will want to touch everything, he will be attracted by the colors and sounds ... in short, the real discovery of the world begins!

Before we move on to all the typical characteristics of an 8 month old baby, here's a video for you to find out how big a baby is month by month.

The measurements of an 8 month old baby boy

Weight of the newborn
The baby grows more slowly. He should gain about 500 grams by the eighth month of life. A baby girl weighs between 6.5 and 10.5 kg. An 8-month-old boy usually weighs between 7 and 10.5 kg.

Child size
The height of an 8 month old girl varies between 65 and 73 cm.
The height of an 8 month old baby varies between 66 and 75 cm.

The head of an 8 month old baby boy
The fontanel hardens but is still open in most children. His head circumference is expected to increase "only" by 0.5 cm this month.

Teeth of the child
At 8 months, the baby may not have teeth yet or he may already have 2, 4, 6 ... all babies are different. But he certainly has "working teeth", red and swollen gums and a rather impressive ability to produce saliva! If the teeth are not there, be patient, they will arrive soon!

What does an 8 month old baby eat?

For an 8-month-old baby, two "solid" meals are usually prepared to eat with a spoon and two bottles, one for the morning and one for the evening.
Most important of all is to continue to gradually diversify foods to introduce him to new flavors, making him taste what he is curious about (self-weaning).
Some more autonomous children will try to start eating on their own, most of the time with their hands. This is an important first step towards total autonomy.

Sample recipe for baby feeding at 8 months

Breakfast: 240 ml bottle
Lunch: vegetables (approx. 180 grams) and meat or fish (approx. 20 grams) + Swiss cheese or fruit compote.
Snack: small piece of Swiss cheese or fruit compote (to be alternated depending on the lunch). You can also give a small piece of cake and some milk if it is a fruit snack.
Dinner: 240 ml bottle. It can also be replaced by a vegetable-based soup.

8 month old baby: separation anxiety from mother

Eight months is usually the "age when the" eight month anxiety begins ". In particular we are talking about separation anxiety from the mother, the baby cries when the mother leaves, even if he is used to the presence of the babysitter or of another family member to take care of him, separations are difficult and sometimes become the scene of real crises.

The first fears begin, of new things for example, the child will hide in front of a "new face" that speaks to him, refusing contact with strangers and behaving shyly in front of them.
His behavior at this stage will still change even if your child is used to being with other children, with strangers or with the nanny.

To help him get through all of this, you need to reassure him. Talk to him and explain the reason for your departure, but above all that you will soon return home and you will be able to reunite. Tell him that even when you are away from him, he is always on your mind. That of an 8-month-old baby is a real anguish, it is important not to mock him, but to help him overcome this transitory phase.

The development of an 8 month old baby

The most common actions performed by an 8-month-old baby

He sits alone
Sit alone for a long time
He is able to stand up on his own (leaning on the sofa for example). If it doesn't, it's nothing abnormal: every child has their own rhythm.
He rests on his legs when he is squatting.
Walk on all fours (sometimes).
Strip (sometimes forward).
To make himself understood, he trembles and shakes.
To let you know that he would like you to hold him, he holds out his arms.

Motricity

Holds items firmly between thumb and forefinger.
Carefully examine the objects it captures from all angles.
Very good at capturing objects that seem out of his reach.
He can be very vigilant and also pays attention to small objects that even you will not have noticed.

Tongue

The child likes to repeat two-syllable words (the main ones are obviously "mom" and "dad").
When you say a word, he will carefully observe the movements of the mouth trying to reproduce them.

Games

The child loves to laugh. He loves laughing at your funny faces or having you laugh when he's the one making faces.
The 8-month-old baby loves playing hide and seek more and more: it is something that thrills him to the max.
The "hidden cuckoo clock" game is one of the best for an 8 month old baby.
You can also start with nursery rhymes and games with hands and fingers.
Keep reading him stories and showing him colorful, sparkling books.
Sing songs.
Give him time to discover the world around him for himself.