Discover what skills your 8-month old needs to build this month.

Get ready your 8-month-old is busy mastering more skills than ever before.

At this point, your baby is unstoppable (well… almost). With months of development behind them, they’re gearing up to tackle a whole new set of milestones—and this time, mobility and independence are front and center. Over the next 30 days, your baby will work on 35 new milestones spread across six key developmental areas: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Development, Sensory Processing, and Communication.

Let’s dive into what’s coming up this month.

Is your baby up to the challenge?

From the very beginning—even before birth—babies are wired for rapid learning and development. During pregnancy, a baby’s brain forms at an astonishing pace, producing approximately 250,000 neurons every minute to reach over 100 billion by the time they're born. [1] After birth, the brain continues this incredible growth, creating up to 700 new neural connections per second between birth and age two. These brain connections lay the foundation for key developmental milestones such as grasping objects, crawling, walking, and speaking their first words. [2]

Why this month matters?

Your baby’s increasing mobility, curiosity, and communication skills all signal that their brain and body are growing fast and that they’re building the foundations for crawling, first words, and more complex social interactions in the coming months. According to researchers, “By 8 months, the average infant’s brain has already reached about two-thirds of its adult size, and neural connections are happening at lightning speed.” [3] Experts also note that early milestones like sitting, reaching, and responding to their name are key indicators of healthy development. [4]

Little Mover Alert: What are this month's milestones?

Your baby is building serious core strength and coordination. They’ll learn to sit upright without any support, showing off their growing balance and muscle control. Even more exciting, they’ll start getting into a sitting position all by themselves, whether they’re on their tummy, back, or side. And just when you thought tummy time was winding down, your baby will push up onto their hands and knees and start rocking back and forth, getting ready to crawl.

When it comes to fine motor skills, your little one should start grabbing and experimenting with the objects around them. They’ll stretch and reach for toys that seem out of grasp, engage with activity boxes (pushing buttons and flipping flaps), and begin dropping objects just to see what happens. They’ll also start holding toys in both hands and enthusiastically banging them together. Even better, they’ll let go of objects on purpose, just to explore how they work, how they fall, or how you react.

Cognitively, your baby’s curiosity is booming. They’ll listen intently when you talk, showing more focus than before. Their toy preferences are expanding too, they’ll enjoy a larger selection and may move toward objects that catch their eye. They’ll even start demonstrating more complex coordination, like holding a toy in one hand while reaching for something else with the other. Don’t be surprised if they rub your hair while being carried or splash bath toys just to see what happens. It's all part of learning cause and effect.

On the social-emotional front, your baby is starting to show stronger likes and dislikes. They may develop favorite toys and show clear preferences at mealtime by pushing away a bottle or turning their head when they’re full. You might also notice them reacting more dramatically to unfamiliar situations or behaviors. During diaper changes they might kick at their diaper, and taking away a toy might lead to tears. One of the sweetest new behaviors? They’ll begin moving toward you when they want closeness and comfort.

Your baby’s sensory processing skills are also taking off. They’ll start distinguishing between different sounds and looking where you point. Calling their name? They may finally turn to look at you! Their eating habits will change too as they begin using their tongue to move food around their mouth. Textures, shapes, and sizes will fascinate them, they’ll investigate objects with their hands and reach eagerly for nearby food. And with teething in full swing, teethers will become their new best friend.

Finally, when it comes to communication, your baby’s voice and expressions are becoming more intentional. They’ll start “singing” along with you in their own unique way, making new sounds with their lips and tongue, and even showing signs of understanding a few familiar words. When a toy falls out of reach, expect them to cry and look to you for help. And if there’s something they really don’t want to do? They’ll let you know, loud and clear!

Work Cited:

1. “The Development and Shaping of the Brain.” Discovering the Brain,

2. “Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing!” Parenting. Give it Time, Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government,

3. Gilmore, J. H., et al. "Early Brain Development in Infants." Journal of Pediatrics, 2018

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Developmental Milestones, 2024

   
   

How many of this month's milestones has your baby mastered?

Tracking your baby’s 8-month milestones helps you stay tuned into their development and spot any areas where extra support might be helpful. From motor skills and sensory exploration to communication and emotional connection, each milestone is a stepping stone toward your baby’s next big achievement. With a Basic Membership for just $2 per month, you can track all 812 milestones your child is expected to reach by age 4. Stay on top of your baby’s progress and celebrate every exciting new skill along the way!

Create a free account with Fledglings' Flight and get access to 4820 screen-free, play-based exercises. That is 100-200 exercises each month that you can start doing with your baby from the day that they are born to help them to develop into the best version of themselves. In addition, your free account gives you access to 1200+ articles on child development to keep you informed while you help to navigate your child's developmental journey.