MONTH 8
Please
keep in mind that all babies are unique. Whether your
baby reaches milestones early or late, he has his
own developmental path to follow. The dividing lines
between these months are very fuzzy. If you have any
concerns or questions about your baby’s development,
please check with his health care provider.
Pointing
These
days, your baby is very busy. His hands, like other
parts of his anatomy, are constantly moving. He can
now handle objects well and continues perfecting the
skill of using the opposable thumb. He has also learned
how to use his index finger as a tool to push parts
of toys and investigate small spaces.
Some
children around this time start pointing at objects.
He is using his finger to ask you, "Hey, what is that
toy called? How can I get to it to explore?" He may
look at you for help.
Try
to resist the urge to swan dive down, pick up the
object and bring it back to baby. Out of reach, interesting-looking
objects are the perfect bait to start little ones
moving. Be sure to tell him the name of the object.
Repeat it a few times. Watch him watching how your
mouth is moving to pronounce words.
Encourage
him to try to reach it himself. Can it be reached
by lunging? Rolling? If he is getting frustrated,
of course, help him out by moving it closer... so
he can stretch and reach it.
It
is important to respect children as capable individuals
and support them in their own developing skills, including
problem solving. Use enticing toys to set up situations
for him to be successful. Learning to do things for
himself supports a positive self concept and happy
attitude about his accomplishments.
Standing
As
if attempts to crawl aren’t exciting enough for baby,
now he may be trying to stand up. It is not so easy
though. Not only does it require strong legs, but
he must figure out how to bend at the knee, grab above
him, shift his weight.
And
once up, he doesn’t know how to get down. Most babies
don’t care initially. They love to bounce, hold on
with one hand, and shift weight from one foot to the
other. But when their bodies become weary, they look
to their caregivers for help. Talk to baby about bending
his knees and landing on his bottom. It may take a
few more weeks before going down is as easy as going
up.
If
your baby does not appear interested in standing yet,
please don’t be concerned. Remember, development comes
in spurts. If your baby is not as interested in gross
motor or large movements, he may not crawl or stand
for a while still. If you have concerns, talk to your
health care provider. Our advice -- enjoy it while
you can!
Sleep
Problems Returned
This
is a common time for children to start waking up in
the middle of the night. They may cry out suddenly
and then fall back to sleep on their own. Or.... they
may cry for extended amounts of time.
Baby
is learning to do very exciting things with his body.
He is learning to move, to stand, to hold things differently.
Some parents find their babies constantly moving in
the crib, trying to crawl, rolling over, pulling up
to a stand. They may call out to their sleepy parents
as if to say, "I am ready to practice some more."
Or, "I am standing and can’t get down." This is extremely
frustrating for parents who may feel like they were
finally back to sleeping well and are now up again
-- several times a night.
Fun
with Photographs
Intellectually,
baby can now associate himself with his image in a
photograph. The same goes for his image in a mirror.
A fun pastime for baby is gazing at photos of loved
ones. You can make or buy for him a photo album and
compile a group of photos of his favorite people.
Or, include photos of grandparents or aunts and uncles
who live far away. Talk about each person to him --
in time he’ll point to them when you say their names.
Photos
are an especially important tool to help children
when they are away from their parents. Provide a photo
of yourself, your partner, and other special members
of the family (don’t forget family pets) for baby
to look at when he is feeling sad. Include photos
of himself doing his favorite activities with you.
After saying good-bye at childcare or when he is feeling
tired, gazing at your image may be just the thing
to help him get through the tough times so he can
get back to playing and learning.
"The
Wheels on the Bus Go Round ‘n Round..."
Babies
love songs and music. More than likely, you have already
been singing softly to baby.
There
are also some wonderful songs for children that involve
movement, such as the goodies from our childhood,
"I am a Little Teapot."
Many
local libraries offer CDs or cassettes you can check
out and play for baby. Check with the librarian about
a community music class that is geared for babies
and toddlers. Often these classes meet for an hour
and are facilitated by a teacher experienced with
music and babies. Show baby the movements on yourself
or gently move his arms and hands to the words. In
a short time, he’ll be trying out his own moves and
singing along.
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