You and Your Infant at 35 Weeks
As you know, 8-month-old babies can be pretty entertaining. Because they are not likely to be speaking yet, everything they communicate still feels a little bit like a game of charades.
As your baby gets more effective at indicating to you what she needs or wants, you're getting better at figuring out her clues. One mode of communication to consider at this age is sign language. Signing gives babies the power and confidence to communicate before they have the actual words.
Also, during playtime with your baby, give her the freedom to explore her environment safely. This exploration can reinforce those skills that she may be close to achieving. Right now, those first words and first steps are quietly brewing inside your baby.
Major Developments for an 8-Month-Old Baby
Babies at this age want to explore everything. They will readily empty all the drawers and cabinets available to them, they will tear through magazines, and pull all of the books right out of a bookshelf.
Here are a couple of tips to help you survive this time:
- Create a special drawer in your kitchen without a child lock. Put Tupperware and lids in it. This way, your baby will have a drawer to play with as he pleases, alongside you.
- Make a basket full of board books handy. These books are resilient and fun for your baby to explore (even if he does try to chew on them).
- Check (one more time) to make sure that anything that can do harm is well out of reach. You will be amazed at what your little Houdini can get in and out of. In time, there will be a fascination with putting things back, but that is still in the future.
Music may also become a major source of entertainment for you and your baby this month. Put on a couple of tunes with a fun and upbeat sound, and sit on the floor with your baby. See what she does -- some babies will clap, some will bounce, and some might tap their knees with the beat.
You can also teach her hand motions to various songs, such as "The Wheels on the Bus," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "I'm a Little Tea Pot," and numerous more.
