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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