You have been yearning for your baby to move about and spread cheer. Well, now you might want to reconsider that wish. Your baby is in his eighth month and has started crawling. His growing curiosity will lead him to explore every possible nook and corner.

Milestones in baby's seventh month

Your eight month-old baby can sit all by herself, for longer periods. She can say 'dada' and 'mama', but not always to the right person! Her teeth are erupting and she likes to chew on objects. You can ease her discomfort by giving her cold teething rings to chew on.

She will probably try to reach the feeding bowl, wanting to feed herself. She will turn away her head firmly when she wants to eat no more! She will chatter with immense enthusiasm (though you seem to make no sense of it!). You are now a pro in interpreting your baby's cues.

Destination mouth!

Your inquisitive eight month-old baby finds every object in his way exciting enough to be probed by his mouth! You might be even disgusted to see the range of objects that reach destination mouth. Be careful not to keep any poisonous or sharp objects within his reach.

Snack-time

In baby's eighth month, you can give her some mashed foods (which are coarser) in addition to pureed foods. Feed her mashed potatoes, bananas, carrots, steamed apples or any vegetables. Avoid big chunks, seeds, corn, nuts, grapes and popcorn. They can cause choking. You don't need to add salt or sugar to baby foods.

Catch your forty winks

How you pine for the luxury of a few hours of sleep (If you still believe that word exists in your dictionary, of course!). It is crucial to develop and encourage your baby to sleep through the night, unless you want to turn into an irrevocable insomniac! Your eight month-old baby's life has just turned so exciting that he will be restless and unwilling to go to bed. Decide an appropriate time and routine for your baby to go to sleep and stick to it! Make him sleep in his own bed every time and let him realize you will be gone until morning. Baby's eighth month is the right time to try and make him more independent.

Pat-a-cake!

Did you observe your baby imitates everything you do? Move her hands gently to play pat-a-cake and try gestures. Peekaboo is an all-time favorite. Divert her attention to different sounds like a dog's bark, running water, and name the source of the sound to her.

House in a mess?

With an eight month-old baby around, it is tough to keep your house sparkling clean. You might hate the clutter your baby makes, but do give him the pleasure of making a mess. The more he explores and handles, the more he learns. You can always clear up later at the end of the day, and use this occasion to teach him a lesson in tidiness.

Pamper your eight month-old baby and enjoy every precious moment of his growing up.

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