Eight-month children spend a lot of energy on physical activities and grow less active than in previous months. Boys weigh 7.7-9.6 kg with an increase of 68.4-72.8 cm, the corresponding figures for girls: 7.1-9.1 kg and 66.4-71.1 cm *.

Most kids at this age quickly master the ability to climb up the stairs, which can add trouble to parents if the house has a staircase. The child climbs with enthusiasm to the very top and ... calls his mother to help him come down because the way down seems to the child more difficult and causes fear. Have patience: soon the kid learns to "crawl" up the stairs, backing away. In the meantime, block the child access to the steps with a special grill door to avoid falling.

The eight-month-old child skillfully uses the thumb and index finger of his hand, deftly grabbing even small objects and pieces of food. The crowd is fascinated by objects that can be inserted one into another. Especially he likes boxes and boxes, in which many things are put smaller. A favorite occupation of a child at this age is to empty a variety of containers, from a can with buttons or a container with toys to a bowl with dog food or a pot of earth. Mom always has to be on guard: on the one hand, it is useful for the kid to "feel" the ground and play with small objects, on the other - it is necessary to ensure that he does not take anything superfluous into his mouth.

Children's memory is also developing: now the child remembers well the recent events, the names of favorite toys and household items that are used every day. This helps him to navigate the room, deftly finding the way between the boxes with toys and furniture, and also to understand the connection of words with the corresponding things.

Children begin to understand that things continue to exist, even if they are not visible. If in front of the child to hide the toy under the sheet, he will soon guess that the toy can be found by pulling off the sheet from it. And you can get the keys from the jar they fell into. Gradually the kid realizes that if parents are not kept constantly in sight, they too can disappear, and then again be found.

Although the developmental milestones for most children coincide, they pass them at different speeds and in different orders. Some children develop skills of fine motor skills faster and play well with small objects. Others first learn to sit confidently and crawl. Many children develop speech skills faster than motor skills, and they start talking earlier than walking.

 

The kid at this age fearlessly creeps away from his parents to survey the next room. After all, Mom and Dad are close, and he remembers the way back. But to fall asleep in an unfamiliar place to a child is not easy. He cautiously regards both new people and new places.

And the timidity and fearlessness of crumbs are explained by the growth of his self-awareness: he can not foresee the consequences, faced with something unfamiliar, so a new man can scare him, but the pot with boiling water will not seem dangerous. If a child is afraid, he clings tightly to his mother - a source of protection in any situation.

The eight-month-old can pronounce almost all the sounds of his native language. Having not yet mastered the meanings of words, the child reacts to the intonation with which they are pronounced by adults and understands the mood of the interlocutor well. Imitating adults, the crumb expresses their feelings and desires with the help of babbling.

Children watch with curiosity the adults and try to copy any of their actions. While the baby's movements are poorly coordinated, he can not hold a small object in his hand for a long time. Help your child: turn "adult" affairs (for example, talking on the phone or combing) into a fun game. Talk with the baby on the toy-mobile phone: first "call" him, saying a few words in the tube, then attach it to the child's ears and ask the crumb to "say" something in response. Transfer the phone to each other until the conversation will cause the child's interest. While combing the baby, give him the opportunity to brush himself through the hair, helping the crumb to keep the comb in the correct position. Be sure to praise the young "hairdresser" for diligence.