Here are some milestones for babies 5-8 months old
Communication
- Babble their way through “conversations” with parents, siblings, and caregivers
- Start experimenting with vowel sounds (“oh!” “ah!” etc.), as well as consonants like “B” and. “M”
- Understand what you mean by “no.”
Cognitive
- Be attracted to bright colors and patterns.
- Closely study peoples’ faces, as well as their own fingers and toes.
- Look at their reflections in a mirror.
- Try to find a toy hidden under a blanket or other object.
- Have a firm grasp of cause and effect (i.e., pressing this button causes this sound)
Social-Emotional
- Develop memories of recent events
- Imitate your facial expressions and even your speech patterns
Motor
- Display curiosity about things that are out of reach — and try to reach them
- Become better at tracking moving objects
- Follow a rolled ball across the floor.
- Crawls backward, if not also forward. May get around by scooting across the floor on buttocks and/or pulling forward with their arms while pushing back with their legs from sitting position.
- May pull to a standing position while holding on.
- May come to sitting position unaided.
- Sits unsupported for at least 10 minutes.
- Develops pincer grasp.
- May handle two objects simultaneously.
- Holds own bottle.
- Clasps hands together.
- While lying on the back, he/she can put their foot into their mouth.
Age-Appropriate Activities to Encourage Development
- Water Play
- Blowing Bubbles
- Finger Painting
- Roll ball back and forth
- Pretend phone conversations
- Singing social songs with motions, clapping
- Floor Play with toys
- Stacking blocks on top of one another
- Peek a Boo
- Reading Simple books
- Family Pictures – Sharing pictures of familiar people, labeling names
- Puppets
- Introduce Simple Sign Language (8month)
- Tracking and Reaching Toys
Each child is different and will develop at their own pace. These milestones are a guide to when children meet these milestones on average. If you are concerned that your child is not meeting these milestones in a timely fashion, contact your pediatrician to talk about your child and their individualized needs.