The CDC defines milestones as things most babies, 75 percent or more, can do by a certain age. There is no 8 month checklist, so the nearest one ahead is the 9 month list. Treat it as a preview of the weeks to come, not a test your baby must pass today. [1]
By 9 months, most babies get to a sitting position by themselves and sit without support. Most also move things from one hand to the other and use their fingers to rake food toward themselves. [1] That raking motion is the rough draft of the pincer grasp, the neat thumb and pointer finger pickup that the CDC lists as a milestone by the first birthday. You may see early versions of it this month. [3]
Now, crawling. The AAP describes it as a skill usually mastered between 7 and 10 months, so an 8 month old who is not crawling yet is squarely on schedule. [2] Style barely matters. Some babies do a classic hands and knees crawl. Others scoot on their bottoms or slither on their stomachs, and some children never crawl at all. The AAP's standard is simpler: as long as your baby is coordinating each side of the body and using each arm and leg equally, there is no cause for concern. [2] Crawling does not even appear on the CDC checklists. [1]
Pulling to stand comes soon, sometimes this month. The AAP notes that once the urge arrives, babies pull themselves up every chance they get, and at first they may not know how to get back down. If yours cries for help, show them how to bend their knees and lower themselves instead of lifting them down each time. [2] Cruising along the furniture follows. Check that anything your baby uses for support has no sharp edges and is properly weighted or attached to the floor. [2]
There is an emotional shift underway too. Around this age babies start to discover separation anxiety: your baby now knows there is only one of you, and protests when you leave the room. The AAP notes this phase usually peaks between 10 and 18 months, then fades. It is a sign of attachment, not a problem to fix. [4]
The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months, naps included. Babies vary, so count the whole day rather than judging the night alone. [5]
Separation anxiety shows up at bedtime as well. A baby who cries the moment you step out is working through a normal stage of development, not manipulating you. [4]
Safe sleep rules still apply at 8 months. Use a firm, flat sleep surface and keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area, since pillows and blankets raise the risk of suffocation. [6] One practical note for this month: a baby who has learned to pull to stand will do it in the crib and may cry there, stuck upright. Practicing the sit back down move during the day saves everyone night trips. [2]
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Open the week calculatorSolids are a daily rhythm now, alongside milk. WHO guidance is 2 to 3 meals of complementary foods per day for infants 6 to 8 months, moving to 3 to 4 meals per day from 9 months, with 1 to 2 snacks as needed. [8]
Breast milk or formula remains the main drink, and both work. The AAP sample menu for 8 to 12 month olds is built around roughly 24 ounces (720 mL) of breast milk or formula a day, with solid food portions of about 2 to 4 ounces. [7] For families who breastfeed, WHO supports continuing on demand up to 2 years of age or beyond. Families using formula follow the same solids rhythm with the same amounts. [8]
This is a great month for finger foods. The AAP advises offering them once your baby can sit up and bring hands or objects to the mouth, which most 8 month olds can. Keep every piece soft to prevent choking, and let your baby do the picking up. It is pincer grasp practice disguised as lunch. [9]
Small amounts of plain water are fine now: about 4 to 8 ounces a day at 6 to 12 months, offered in a cup to build cup skills. [10] Juice can wait. The AAP states that infants under 1 year should not drink juice at all, and that eating fruit is always preferred to drinking it. [10]
Most of what an 8 month old throws at you is ordinary. A short list of signs deserves a call, so you never have to wonder.
A fever above 104 F (40 C) repeatedly, at any age: call your child's doctor. [13]
A fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child younger than 2 years: call your child's doctor, even if no other symptoms show. [13]
A fever along with a seizure, or a child who still acts sick once the fever comes down: call your doctor right away. [13]
Fewer than six wet diapers in a day, or a parched, dry mouth: the AAP lists these as signs of dehydration and advises notifying the pediatrician immediately. Fewer tears when crying and sunken eyes belong on the same list. [14]
Your baby uses one side of the body much more than the other, or does not seem to use each arm and each leg equally: bring it up with your doctor. [2]
Your baby has lost a skill they once had, or is missing several milestones as 9 months approaches: share that with your doctor and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps, and most of the time the answer is reassurance. [1]
LEELALU is education, not medical care. Nothing here is a diagnosis. For anything on this list, or any symptom that worries you, contact your provider. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
By the first birthday, the CDC milestone list includes pulling up to stand and walking while holding on to furniture. It also includes picking things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food. The groundwork for all of it is being laid right now, on your floor. [3]
Meals shift too: from 9 months, WHO guidance moves to 3 to 4 meals of solids per day. [8]
And if goodbyes get harder before they get easier, that is the expected shape of things. Separation anxiety usually peaks between 10 and 18 months and then fades during the second half of the second year. [4]
Yes. The AAP describes crawling as a skill usually mastered between 7 and 10 months, and some babies never crawl at all. They scoot on their bottoms or slither on their stomachs instead, and that is fine as long as they coordinate both sides of the body and use each arm and leg equally. Crawling does not even appear on the CDC milestone checklists. [2] [1]
The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months, naps included. Babies vary, so count the whole day rather than the night alone. [5]
The AAP sample menu for 8 to 12 month olds is built around roughly 24 ounces (720 mL) of breast milk or formula a day, with solid portions of about 2 to 4 ounces. WHO guidance at this age is 2 to 3 meals of solids a day at 6 to 8 months, moving to 3 to 4 meals from 9 months. [7] [8]
LEELALU is education, not medicine. This page cannot diagnose or treat anything, and it never replaces your clinician. For anything on the "call your doctor" list, or anything that worries you, contact your provider. Found an error? Write to hello@leelalu.com and a person will read it. Our method: Editorial Standards.