Baby 7–12 months

8 Month Old Baby

Around eight months

What this month often looks like

Around now some babies become more wary of strangers or upset at separations — often a normal sign of their growing bond.
Movement is becoming more of a theme for some.
Every baby develops at their own pace.

Leaning on their hands while sitting with support is common around six months.
A wobble is still part of it.
Between the sixth and eighth month babies learn to pass objects from hand to hand, and to turn and twist them.
Doing the same thing to an object over and over is a question, not a habit.
By six to eight months, a baby positioned upright will often stay sitting without leaning forward on their arms.
Once the arms are not holding the body up, they are free for something else.
A dropped spoon is not always the end of the spoon.
Strings of sound are practice, whatever they happen to sound like.

Change nappies on a mat on the floor — once a baby can roll, a bed, sofa or changing table is somewhere they can roll off.
One safe object they can turn, twist and pass between hands is plenty at this stage.
Sitting them upright frees both hands for play, once they no longer need to lean on them.
With your baby sitting in front of you, hide a rattle under a blanket — shake it while you hide it, and see what happens.

Sudden clinginess can feel intense.
It can be common, and it usually eases with time.
Equipment that promises to speed sitting up is rarely needed.
Repetition is the point here, not variety.
Balance and reaching are being learned together, not one after the other.
Dropping things repeatedly is research, however it looks from where you are standing.

Gentle reassurance and predictable goodbyes can help you both.

40 activity ideas suit this age — most take about five minutes and need nothing you do not already have.

ParentSide has 60 recipes for 6–8 months, each with its texture, portion and preparation notes.

Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.

Sources

If you are worried about your wellbeing or your baby's wellbeing, consider contacting a qualified health professional.