At 8 months old, babies are developing rapidly and reaching many milestones. Here are some things an 8-month-old baby may be doing:

• Communication: Babies are expanding their ability to communicate and may be attempting to use sounds, gestures, and facial expressions to get attention and let caregivers know what they want.

• Movement: Most babies can roll over in both directions, crawl, pull themselves up to a standing position while holding onto furniture, and cruise around using furniture for support.

• Hand-eye coordination: Babies are improving their ability to coordinate their hands and eyes, and may be exploring objects by ringing bells, banging blocks, and finding hidden objects.

• Feeding: Babies are eating more solids and practicing their eating skills by holding, biting, and chewing food. They are also cutting down on formula and/or breastmilk.

• Sleep: Babies are developing a stronger sense of self and a greater awareness of their surroundings. They understand the idea of object permanence and are starting to anticipate daily routines.

To help with their development, caregivers can stimulate their 8-month-old by describing how things work, how they are used, and how they are different. They can also encourage moving and exploring, spend time playing outdoors, and make their home safe so their baby can move around without getting hurt.