Baby’s 8 months old! You have a little mover on your hands—they might even be crawling, which means it’s time to double down on your babyproofing efforts. This is also a big month for separation anxiety. While stressful, try not to let it get to you—it’s actually often an indicator of a good parent-child bond.

While you’re quite the parenting pro now, it’s normal to have questions as this next parenting stage approaches. Curious about what an 8-month-old baby should be able to do? Wondering whether baby’s meeting their 8-month-old milestones or what an 8-month-old sleep schedule should look like? Don’t fret, we’ll help hash out what’s developmentally appropriate for baby’s age. Read on for our guide to navigating life with an 8-month-old.

Key Takeaways

• Baby’s moving and grooving! At this stage, they may start to sit unassisted, crawl or scoot.
• Baby’s starting to piece sounds together to make words like “mama” or “dada.” While they don’t quite understand what they mean yet, they will pretty soon!
• It’s important to support baby as separation anxiety hits its peak at this age.

8-Month-Old Growth

Baby keeps on growing! We know you’re wondering: How much should an 8-month-old weigh? The average weight for an 8-month-old baby is 17.5 pounds for girls and 19 pounds for boys. The average length is 27.1 inches for girls and 27.8 inches for boys, according to the World Health Organization.

Of course, height and weight can vary widely between healthy babies, so as long as they’re growing at a healthy rate—on a steady curve on the chart at the doctor’s office—and the pediatrician doesn’t see any signs of a problem, baby’s growth is right on track.

8-Month-Old Milestones & Development

What amazing physical feats will baby accomplish in the coming weeks? There’s a lot happening developmentally. Here’s a look at what an 8-month old is typically able to do:

• Baby can probably sit up without assistance—although you'll still need to catch them sometimes—and is beginning to lean over to pick up toys. Their muscles are getting stronger every day!
• After sitting comes rolling, crouching, twisting and rocking while kneeling. All of this is gearing up for crawling (if baby hasn't accomplished that yet!). When baby’s on the floor, they’re in constant motion!
• You’re probably wondering: Should my 8-month-old be crawling? It depends. Some babies start crawling as early as 6 or 7 months old, while others simply take their time—or skip the crawling step and go straight to walking! If baby isn’t crawling just yet, don’t fret. Some 8-month-olds who aren’t crawling are rolling around, “creeping” or scooting to get where they want to go. It’s all totally normal!
• You might hear words like “mama” or “dada” as baby starts to piece together sounds. While 8-month-old babies might say these words, they may not quite understand what they mean just yet. Between 9 and 14 months, you’ll start seeing them connect meaning to the words they say.

8-month-old sensory development

• Baby still sees better close up than far away but now has better depth perception and is able to spot things from across the room. They’ll begin recognizing you and other familiar faces from further away.
• They can better eyeball distance and depth, making it easier to reach out and grab things.
• Textures and shapes are captivating to baby! Tags and handles might seem especially exciting to touch and feel, and baby is making the connection that different shapes are, well, different!

8-Month-Old Health

Having a baby seems like a never-ending search for answers to health questions. Here are some common things parents may have questions about when baby’s 8 months old:

Fevers

Fevers are common in babies and are generally caused by some sort of infection or virus. An elevated temperature is considered a fever if a rectal thermometer reads 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. If baby has a fever, make sure they’re taking in lots of fluids and keep them in lightweight clothing. You can give them Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) if necessary, or try a lukewarm bath to get their temperature down. Call your pediatrician if they’re not acting like themselves when the fever goes down, their fever lasts longer than 48 hours, they’re inconsolable, their coloring is off or they seem disoriented.

Teething

By 8 months old, it’s quite possible that baby’s first tooth (or more!) has already popped through. That said, they’re likely still in the throes of teething, which can be uncomfortable and disruptive. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents help relieve teething pain by massaging baby’s gums gently with a clean finger or offering them a teething ring or cold, wet washcloth. Avoid using teething gels, teething necklaces or teething tablets, as these can be unsafe for little ones.

Chiropractic adjustments

Is the chiropractor safe for baby? It’s become increasingly popular to take baby to the chiropractor for issues from torticollis to colic. While many parents have seen improvements, if you’re at all on the fence, it’s best to speak with your pediatrician first. While the AAP reports that serious complications from chiropractic treatment of babies and children are possible, they’re also exceedingly rare. And it’s important to note that your chiropractor won’t use the same types of manipulations on baby as they may on an adult; the treatment will be much gentler.

Checkup and vaccines

Make sure to schedule baby’s 9-month-old checkup if you haven’t yet. At this well visit, you can expect a screening test to identify developmental delays, tests for lead exposure and anemia, and for baby to receive updated vaccines. Vaccines schedules vary, but this month will usually include the final dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) and the third dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).

8-Month-Old Feeding

Now that baby’s eating solid foods—and still drinking formula or breast milk—it’s easy to get confused (and overwhelmed) by questions of how much of what they should be consuming. Just remember: Milk is still what an 8-month-old baby should get the majority of their nutrition from. Read on for the details of how to feed baby this month.

How much should an 8-month-old eat?

As a rule of thumb, baby should eat between 750 and 900 calories per day, and 400 to 500 of those should come from breast milk or formula. You can start their meals off with nursing or a bottle of formula, and then offer a balanced plate of fats, carbohydrates and protein.

• Breastfeeding: Eight-month-olds still typically nurse about every three or four hours.
• Bottle-feeding: Your 8-month-old baby should be consuming about 24 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period. So if baby has six bottles each day, you can make them 4 ounces each.
• Pumping: If you’re pumping, an 8-month-old baby needs a total of about 25 ounces of breast milk per day—you’ll need to divide that by how many feedings baby typically has. For example, if you feed baby about eight times per day, they should get about 3.1 ounces of breast milk at each feeding. Keep pumping each time baby has a bottle, and you should be able to keep up your breast milk supply.
• Solid food: Baby should have three meals and two snacks per day. Try to stick to unprocessed, unsweetened and unsalted foods as much as possible.

What should an 8-month-old be eating?

At the eight-month mark, you might want to add soft table foods and finger foods with different textures to baby’s menu. Have them join the family at the table for meals—it's a great way to foster good eating habits!

If you haven’t already, it’s also a good time to introduce a sippy cup or other transitional cup to baby. At first, baby might play with it more than drink from it, but it’s good to start getting them used to it.

See a list of good foods for an 8-month-old baby, ahead. (Make sure to mash or soften these, if applicable!)

• Apples
• Avocado
• Barley
• Carrot
• Cheddar cheese
• Eggs
• Quinoa
• Mango
• Pasta
• Pumpkin
• Rice
• Sweet potatoes
• Tofu
• Turkey
• Zucchini

As far as snacks go, many of the above foods make great snacks for 8-month-old babies. They may also enjoy fruit, such as berries, pears, watermelon and peaches. Cottage cheese, unsweetened applesauce and yogurt are also great choices.

8-Month-Old Sleep

Sleep is probably still top of mind for you this month—understably so, since baby’s 8-month-old sleep schedule might still be pretty unpredictable. How much sleep should an 8-month-old get? It’s typical for an 8-month-old to sleep a total of about 15 hours each day. About 11 hours of that should be at nighttime. Read on for more sleep details you’ll need to know at this stage.

8-month-old sleep schedule

Baby still probably wakes at night, but sleeps a longer stretch. Some babies even sleep through the night the full 10 to 12 hours at 8 months—if that’s your baby, lucky you! A typical 8-month-old nap schedule includes two naps that total about three-and-a-half hours of daytime sleep.

Why is my 8-month-old not sleeping?

In case you’re wondering, an 8-month-old sleep regression is completely normal. A lot of times this happens because babies are getting up to practice their newfound motor skills: pulling themselves up to stand and maybe even starting to cruise. The problem is, they don’t always know how to get back down and call out to you for help! Others want extra time with their parents—and may be more likely to wake at night if you’re separated during the day (sorry, working parents). So if your 8-month-old suddenly wakes up every hour, you can probably chalk it up to sleep regression.

Be as patient as you can be, reinstate some of the sleep tricks that used to work when baby was younger and try out some new tips for getting baby to sleep. If you’re interested in sleep training, here’s some advice that can help you on your way to a good night of shuteye for the whole family.

8-Month-Old Schedule and Routine

As baby becomes more active with each moment, their schedule is changing too. Plus, their wake windows are now between two-and-a-half and three hours, so you’ve got to fill your time with plenty of activities! An 8-month-old sleep schedule and feeding schedule might look something like this:

Activities for an 8-Month-Old Baby

Beyond feedings, bathtime and play-on-the-floor time, you’re probably looking for other things to do with your 8-month-old baby. Check out this list of baby activities for some ideas, and see more below:

• Eight-month-old babies are getting close to forming their first words. It’s more important than ever to read, sing and converse to encourage those early language skills. Speak slowly and clearly, and remember to repeat everything you say.
• Baby might be getting very curious about what’s in your cupboard. Give baby their own kitchen cupboard full of baby-safe items (wooden spoons, plasticware and measuring cups!)—they’ll love it! (Of course, put locks on the rest as part of your babyproofing efforts.)
• Baby loves to laugh at this age, and there’s nothing sweeter than the sound of their little giggles. Play repetitive games; drop something on the floor and act surprised each time it falls. In doing so, your 8-month-old will begin to develop memory and learn the concept of cause and effect.
• Make musical instruments! Baby loves to experiment with different sounds at this age. Pull out some pots and pans and let baby have fun striking them with a wooden spoon or plastic spatula. You can turn on some music so baby can drum and sway right along with the beat.

Tips for Parents of an 8-Month-Old

Looking for time-tested advice? Here are some tips for taking care of both yourself and baby this month.

Postpartum recovery tips

• Avoid comparing your body to others’. Your body has been through a lot of changes, and it might look or feel different. That’s completely normal, but it’s also normal to feel uncomfortable with these changes. First and foremost, try to avoid comparing yourself to other people. Instead, focus on what you love about your body and remember that everyone is different, and that includes everyone’s postpartum journey.
• Try gratitude-journaling. Parenting an infant can be tough, and it’s normal to have days where you feel down, stuck or lonely. One way to learn to love where you are at this time in your life is to start a gratitude journal. It can be as simple as waking up each morning and using a notebook to write down one thing you’re thankful for. This can help you focus on the positive aspects of life, which can make you happier, healthier and calmer.

8-month-old baby care tips

• Separation anxiety and comfort items. At this age, babies are just starting to learn the concept of object permanence, but they haven’t quite grasped it yet. Separation anxiety is about to reach its peak. Aside from keeping goodbyes short and sweet and practicing separating from baby, try giving them a comfort item for when you’re away. This could be a stuffed animal, a lovey or another favorite toy.
• Childproofing. Between 8 to 12 months, babies are on the move. At this age, they’ll start sitting up unassisted, scooting and crawling, pulling themselves up to a standing position, walking while holding onto something and eventually walking on their own. Because they’re so mobile, you’ll need to ensure your home is safe from curious little hands—aka babyproof. The AAP recommends adding child-proof safety gates to the top of stairways, removing sharp-edged or hard furniture from rooms where baby plays, keeping any hot liquids or foods away from baby, adding working smoke detectors to every level of your home, placing baby’s crib away from windows and never leaving long cords or strings hanging. You’ll also need to ensure that small items are picked up off the floor and left where babies can’t reach them, since babies at this age will put anything in their mouth. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends adding safety items such as cordless window coverings, furniture and appliance anchors, window guards or safety nettings, safety latches and locks to all cabinets, doors and the toilet bowl. Door-knob covers and locks will also come in handy as will those all-important outlet covers. Phew—it sounds like a lot, but it’s worth the peace of mind!
• Avoid leaving baby unattended. As baby gets older, you might think it’s okay to leave them in another room for a few minutes. But remember that at this age, babies are not only more mobile, but more curious than ever before—you never know what they’re going to get into, and they’re surprisingly fast. If you’re busy, set up your little one by your side with safe toys. And never leave them alone in the car, even for a couple minutes—it’s always safer to bring them with you.
• Bathing baby. By 8 months old, your little one should get a bath a few times a week, depending on how active they’ve been and what they’ve been up to that day. You might find that they’ve needed more baths ever since they started eating solid foods—things can get messy!

Confession Corner: Parenting Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

As your 8-month-old grows, you’re likely feeling like more and more of a parenting expert these days. Still, it’s helpful to hear from other parents about their experiences. Let these stories inspire you:

• Win: “Despite having slept through the night consistently since she was 3 months old, my daughter went through a rough period of sleep regression once she turned 8 months. She'd wake up multiple times in the night, fall back asleep as soon as I picked her up but then wail again when I'd go to put her back in her mini crib next to my bed. I finally realized she was feeling separation anxiety, knowing I was just an arm's reach away! Some families notice separation anxiety kick in when they transition baby to the nursery, but for us, moving our little one to her own room was actually the solution. Once I created a little space between us, she settled back into her normal sleep habits. (Phew!)” — Ashlee Neuman, content director at The Bump and mom of two
• Challenge: “My girls are 8 months old and crawling like crazy! Very exciting, but also making things a bit difficult. At night the routine is bath, PJs, white noise, starry night machine and then their bottle, which we give to them while they lay on their twin ‘z pillow.’ The last few nights have been crazy. I'll get one on the pillow, and while I grab the other the first one is crawling away. Once I wrangle both of them, they’re still squirming and trying to break loose.” — Wishing35
• Wisdom: “My oldest child never crawled. Instead, he did the ‘booty scoot.’ He’d put his hands on the floor in front of him and drag his bum to follow. He got so efficient at this and moved so incredibly fast. Of course—at the time—as a first-time mama, it worried me that this wasn’t ‘the norm.’ I was eager for him to do it the ‘right’ way so that he could follow the predictable path to pulling up, standing up, bearing weight on his legs, cruising and then taking that much-anticipated first independent step. I’d try to model crawling for him and maneuver his body into the right position to take off. But my guy had his own ideas and his own plan. And you know what? He figured it out. All that stress was for naught. Sometimes you just have to let babies and kids do their thing.” — Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three

There are so many special 8-month-old baby milestones to celebrate and many more wonderful experiences on the horizon. In the coming weeks and months, baby will get stronger and work on crawling, standing and walking—how exciting!