Your Baby's 8th Month

Music with Motions

Babies love songs and music, and research shows that music encourages literacy and language. More than likely, you have already been singing softly to your baby.

There are also some great classic songs for children that involve movement, such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "I'm a Little Teapot." 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. (And adding actions to songs encourages Baby to use both sides of his brain. So simple!)

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.

More Development Help

As you're considering your child's development, keep in mind that all babies are unique. Whether your baby reaches milestones early or late, she has her 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 her healthcare provider.

• Use our Development Tracker to check off Baby's 8 to 12 month milestones.
• What's the most common medical concern for babies this age? Check it out!

Now...Let's Take a Closer Look at Each Week

• Week 31: Sensing Conflict
• Week 32: The Onset of Wariness
• Week 33: Discovering Which Objects Bump!
• Week 34: Establishing Temperament

Remember what was happening last month or learn what to expect in Baby's 9th month.