If your baby is now eight months old, you probably cannot believe just how quickly he or she is growing. You probably enjoy the emotional development, and you have probably noticed that your baby is much more active than before. Therefore, you have to make sure that your baby is developing appropriately. This means you have to know what to expect. What should you expect by the time your baby reaches this age? There are a few important points you should keep in mind. Remember to reach out to a trained pediatrician with any questions or concerns you might have.
Weight and Size at 8 Months
Every baby is different; however, most boys at this age weigh between 14 and 25 pounds. Most girls at this age way between 13 and 23 lb. Your baby will probably measure somewhere between 25 and 30 inches in length. Because your baby still cannot stand up by himself or herself, your child will continue to be measured in length. Make sure you take a look at your baby’s growth curve or schedule an appointment with one of our pediatricians to make sure that he or she is staying on track.
Development of the Senses
Your child’s senses will continue to develop as well. Your child is going to interact with you more often and will probably vocalize more than he or she did before. Your child’s fine motor skills are also going to continue to develop. For example, if you try to introduce silverware to your baby, he or she may start banging them around before he or she really understands what they are for. Your child may also try to feed himself or herself do you think his or her hands.
Because children like to put things in their mouth this age, make sure you keep an eye open for any dangerous objects. If you do not want your child to hurt himself or herself.
Feeding Schedule at 8 Months
Your child is also going to continue to grow and diversify his or her feeding habits. Your child should be eating meals with your family in addition to having a couple of snacks throughout the day. During the day, your child should have consumed between 24 and 30 oz of breastmilk or formula. In addition, your child should be eating between 4 and 9 tablespoons add vegetables, fruits, and cereal. Your child should also be eating up to 6 tablespoons of foods that are high in protein every day.
As you continue to introduce new foods to the diet of your child, you should coordinate with your pediatrician. You need to introduce these foods one at a time to make sure your child does not have a bad reaction. This is usually the age during which food allergies are discovered. You need to make sure you make a note of it any allergies you think your child might have and schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to to see if there is a treatment plan necessary.
Bowel Movements at 8 Months
Your child should also be having regular bowel movements. Even though the vast majority of children at this age are going to have approximately one bowel movement every day, this is not necessarily a requirement. Be sure to take a look at your child’s bowel movements and make note of anything unusual. You should address this with your pediatrician. If your child goes a few days between bowel movements, this is probably okay; however, if it continues, you need to reach out to your pediatrician to learn more. Finally, your child should also be having multiple wet diapers during the day. These usually take place after each feeding.
8 Month Old Baby Coughing
You may notice that your child cough from time to time. Usually, this is benign, as babies cough occasionally. There are a few signs that you may need to address with your pediatrician. These include:
- If your child constantly coughs while feeding, it is important to take your child to the pediatrician to examine him or her for any anatomical defects.
- If your child tends to cough when he or she lays down, particularly after eating, this could be a sign of acid reflux.
- If your child develops a cough with a fever, this could be a sign that he or she has an infection.
These are all things that you should talk about with your doctor.
8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
At this age, your baby should be sleeping through the night. Your baby should have a regular bedtime, as well as having a regular waking time each day. This is important for making sure that your child is on a regular sleep schedule. If you put your child on a regular sleep schedule, he or she should have an easier time sleeping through the night.
You should expect your child to sleep approximately 11 hours every night. If you put your child to sleep at 8 p.m., he or she should wake up at 7 am. In addition, your child will also take a few naps during the day. Your child should take approximately two naps totaling between three and four hours. You need to make sure you do not have your child nap too close to bedtime, as he or she may have a difficult time falling asleep again.
Emotional Milestones at 8 Months
Your child is getting older, so he or she is going to require more stimulation during the day. For example, you may want to expose your child to toys that will test gross and fine motor skills in addition to social and language skills. You may want to challenge your child to stack certain toys or fit objects into certain holes. You may also want to give your child toys that light up, roll around, and make music. That will encourage your child to try to go after the toy. Your child may also enjoy books and boards with lots of colors that will challenge his or her vision.
Have Questions, or Need an Appointment for Your Baby? Contact North Texas Medical Center Today!
As you watch your baby continue to grow and develop, it is important to make sure that he or she gets examined by a pediatrician regularly. There are a lot of doctor visits that take place during the first year of life, and this is also important for making sure that your child is up to date on his or her vaccines. At North Texas Medical Center, we are here to help you make sure that your child is growing and developing appropriately. We are also here to answer any questions you might have. If you have questions about the growth of your baby, or if you would like to make an appointment for your child, please contact us today! We look forward to meeting with you.
