8-month-old baby milestones

At 8 months old, your baby is growing, growing, growing—and not just physically. Your baby is probably quite skilled at getting where they want to go, whether that’s by scooting, crawling or rolling. While you can appreciate those gross motor skill milestones, gone are the days where you can set them in safe place—and expect them to stay there.

But this change is exciting, too. Looking ahead, your baby is going to stay on the move. Help fuel their bodies and minds with developmentally appropriate sensory activities. By keeping track of what milestones your baby is working on achieving, you can support their development and consult with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.

Related: How much baby food should I feed my 8-month-old?

8-month milestones at a glance

There’s much more happening in your little one’s world these days, from movement (all that scooting and crawling!) and trying even more new foods (did someone say mashed potatoes?) to sleep progressions (yep, another one) and the beginnings of some separation anxiety.

Your little one may now realize that their favorite person in the world (that’s you) sometimes leaves—and they’re not thrilled about it. Make sure you’re supporting them through this new phase by helping them ease into transitions like when you leave them with another caregiver, and recognize that this is all a normal part of their development.

Related: Can parents have separation anxiety too? Spoiler: Yes

An in-depth look at 8-month milestones

Read on to find out what you need to know about 8-month-old baby development this month to best support your little love’s growth.

8-month developmental milestones

Here’s what The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says about 8-month-old baby milestones.

(Editor’s note: The 8-month milestone guidelines were written to reflect the behaviors that 50% or more of children exhibit at a certain age. Note that milestones are not a perfect metric: It’s key to speak to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your unique child.)

Cognitive

• With a developing understanding of object permanence, your 8-month-old baby realizes that something (or someone!) still exists when they are out of sight.
• Your baby is observing the functions of different items, such as how keys are used to start the car, how you talk into a phone and so on.
• Your little scientist may be eager to study cause and effect by throwing, dropping and waving objects to see what happens.

Related: Why you should be talking to your baby–even if they can’t answer you

Motor skills

• At 8 months, your baby should be able to get themselves into a sitting position from their back and can sit without support.
• If you’re asking yourself, should my 8-month-old be crawling? Most babies begin to crawl between seven and 10 months. If your baby isn’t there yet, they likely still can move across the room. Note that some babies may never truly “crawl”, but may use other methods, like scooting, to get around.
• Your baby may be working on pre-walking skills, such as pulling up to stand and “cruising” by walking while holding onto the side of furniture. Note that the AAP discourages the use of baby walkers due to safety concerns.

Related: Yes, it’s normal if your baby doesn’t crawl

Social and emotional

• Your baby’s communication skills are rapidly improving! They may begin pointing out things they want you to see, clapping when they are happy or using some basic words. Regularly using baby sign language when talking with your baby can give them another way to communicate their specific needs.
• Your 8-month-old’s attention span is probably only two to three minutes. That should improve over the coming months.

Baby’s sleep at 8 months

The good/bad news: There’s another sleep progression coming. Timed with a big developmental leap, the 8-month sleep regression/progression might mean a bit more interrupted sleep for you and your little love. “You can thank teething for this, along with crawling and increased mobility, such as sitting up and rolling a lot,” notes Rachel Mitchell, a certified sleep consultant and founder of My Sweet Sleeper. But it also means your little one is on their way to becoming an *even better* sleeper.

The best thing you can do to make it through a sleep regression with your baby, says Mitchell, is to maintain the sleep cues and routines that you have already set up—and to avoid making any sudden shifts to your schedule. “Try to stay as consistent as possible and don’t make any major changes during this time,” she suggests.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine notes that at 8 months old, your baby should be getting between 12-16 hours of sleep per 24 hours. Try to stay within that 12 to 16 hour window, but remember that naps and night sleep all count toward the total.

What baby sleep looks like at 8 months:

• Your baby may be taking 2 naps and 1 late-afternoon shorter nap per day
• Your baby may no longer need to eat at night
• Your baby may be awake for 2 to 2.75 hours at a time

Your little one should still be aiming for 3 naps per day, even if that last nap is much shorter. Mitchell typically doesn’t recommend dropping the third nap until your baby is between 9 or 10 months old.

Read more: How much sleep does an 8-month-old baby need?

Feeding an 8-month-old

Is your tiny tot turning up their nose at certain foods? Keep trying. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it may take as many as 10 to 15 times trying a food before babies are really interested in it. Staying persistent) with healthy food offerings from an early age can pay off.

Are you seeing any new pearly white teeth peeking out of that mouth? Your little one may be teething this month—if they haven’t already started. Cutting teeth can mean some uncomfortable feelings ahead for them, so keep them close with lots of snuggles and hugs.

The AAP and La Leche League (LLL) recommend the following feeding timeline and amounts for 8-month-olds:

• Solids: Offered two times per day or at family mealtimes
• Breast milk: Up to eight ounces every four to five hours
• Formula: Seven to eight ounces every five to six hours

Related: Does my baby need vitamins?

While offering solids, the recommended serving sizes for a 8-month-old are:

• Infant cereal (single grain) mixed with breast milk or formula: five to eight tablespoons (optional)
• Fruits: two to three tablespoons
• Vegetables: two to three tablespoons
• Shredded meats, eggs, yogurt and soft-cooked plant-based proteins, such as lentils: two to three tablespoons
• Starches: ¼ to ½ cup simple carbs, such as pasta, mashed potatoes, bread

Read more: 8-month-old baby feeding schedule & amounts

8-month-old health & growth

Your mini me likely went through several big growth spurts in their first six months of life, but because growth slows down between months 6 and 12, you might not see another significant growth spurt until around 9 months—and again around their first birthday.

How much does the average 8-month-old weigh?

According to the WHO:

• An 8-month-old baby boy in the 50th percentile weighs 19 pounds (8.6 kilograms) 
• An 8-month-old baby girl in the 50th percentile weighs 17 pounds, 7 ounces (7.9 kilograms)

How long is the average 8-month-old?

According to the WHO:

• An 8-month-old baby boy in the 50th percentile is 27 ¾ inches long (70.6 cm)
• An 8-month-old baby girl in the 50th percentile is 27 inches long (68.7 cm)

Read more: 8-month-old baby health & growth guide

Activities for 8-month-olds

Here are a few activities to do with an 8-month-old baby:

Your little one is learning all the time, and may be starting to chat and communicate with you in their own way. Now’s a great time to work on introducing some baby sign language for commonly used words like more, milk, water and mama, to help ease any communication struggles.

Number games: Infants as young as 9 months can perform numerical computations with numbers up to 10, even before they can verbalize these skills, studies show. Introduce addition and subtraction into your daily routine. Add finger foods to baby’s tray one by one, count down from 10 as you blast off their rocket ship toy and sing counting songs together.

Mirror, mirror: Your little one watches everything you do, mama. And research shows baby can imitate your actions even after a 24-hour delay. Exercise baby’s developing memory by modeling how you use a spoon, brush your teeth and hair, share toys or care for stuffed animals. 

Step by step: Though not ready to walk just yet, baby is ready to learn about balance and spatial awareness, which help support their early walking skills. Practice stepping movements to exercise those leg muscles. Support your babe under the arms during practice steps, bounce your standing sweetie on the lap, or provide assistance as baby cruises along sturdy furniture. No need for shoes at this stage—being barefoot helps foot muscles develop.

Related: Activities for a 8-month-old: Fostering baby’s development

Our favorite products for 8-month-olds

ezpz

Tiny Pops

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$18.99

Who needs a popsicle more than a teething babe? Made with an easy-to-hold handle and bumps in the mold to provide oral awareness, the ezpz Tiny Pops molds are perfect for babies and toddlers. Each mold holds just a half ounce of puree, breastmilk or even Pedialyte on those under-the-weather days.

SHOP

Dr. Talbot's

Pacifier and Teether Wipes

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$3.99

Every mom who’s pulled a pacifier out from under the car seat knows what comes up with it isn’t pretty. And now that your baby is in the “throw everything on the floor for mom to pick up” stage, it’s a regular occurrence. Keep on truckin’ with a quick wipe down. These convenient wipes are smaller than regular baby wipes and made with food-grade ingredients so there’s no rinsing required. (They’re even vanilla milk flavored!)

SHOP

My First Book of Baby Signs

Teaching your baby to sign not only helps them communicate long before they can use actual words–it’s also a great way to strengthen your bond. This part storybook, part guide is a great way for you to learn 40 essential signs together. The colorful illustrations and clear descriptions are the best of both worlds!

SHOP

Supporting your 8-month-old baby’s development

Ready to make the most of those wake windows? These 8-month-old baby activities can support your cutie’s development.

• Help your 8-month-old baby learn about cause and effect by playing “if this, then that” games. For example, if you push a button, then a song plays.
• Play with your 8-month-old baby by rolling a ball back and forth to help with their coordination skills. Help them experiment with all the ways to play while sitting independently.
• Encourage your 8-month-old baby’s communication skills by introducing some baby signs, such as for milk, more and all done.

Related: 5 tips on making safe, brain-boosting baby food at home

It’s science: Fewer toys can improve the quality of play

By 8 months old, it may seem like your baby’s toys are already taking over the house—but there are proven benefits to limiting the number of toys for your little one. Studies show that young children play longer and with more focus when they have fewer toys, but this can also help boost their creativity, gratitude and responsibility skills.

Related: Gratitude is the key to happier kids—and adults too

A note from Motherly: 8-month milestones

As you enter into a new phase of parenting with a baby on the move, it can feel like you’re always on the move, too. But slowing down is a skill that your baby can learn. Help your little one establish some healthy “downtime” practices by reading, letting them play independently, going on afternoon walks.

In just a few short months, your baby’s skills have skyrocketed, mama. Take a moment to celebrate all these victories—and the challenges that came with them. We’re cheering you on, every step of the way.

Look ahead: 9-month-old baby milestones

A version of this story was originally published on Oct. 17. 2021. It has been updated.