Your Baby's 8th Month

Sleep Issues

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, and 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.

But 'fess up: Are you preventing your baby from sleeping through the night? Read on to find out!

Photos and Mirrors

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 buy or make 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 people to him—in time he'll be pointing out family members when you say their names.

Photos 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 your baby to look at when he is feeling sad. Include photos of him doing his favorite activities with you. After saying goodbye 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.