8 Months - The Transformation Stage

1. 8 Months - The Transformation Stage Your child seems to have an endless source of power! They're starting to eat solid food at this age. Though you would like your child to grow quickly, you have to be careful when choosing their food as their digestive system is very sensitive. Give your child a four-day break after introducing them to new food. This break is to detect any digestive disorders such as diarrhoea, colic or allergy. Motor Skills Development Crawling is your child's new way of exploring. While laying on their tummy, your child will lift up their body by leaning on their head and knees. When your child is able to balance their body, they will learn to push their body back and forth and move their knees. Crawling is one way for your child to strengthen muscles that will eventually help them to walk. The progression towards walking is different for each baby. Social & Emotional Skills Development Your child becomes more and more reluctant to let you go for work. Your child might suffer from separation anxiety, common to eight month-olds. Up to six months, babies are still not aware of separation with parents. This explains why your child likes to move from one person's lap to another. After a while, babies start to recognise people and develop emotional bonds with those close to them, explained Jude Cassidy, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Be extra

2. patient when dealing with your child's separation anxiety though. They will eventually learn that you will return after going away for a while. Language Skills Development At this age, your child is getting the grip of language and is able to follow your words. According to researchers at the Florida Atlantic University, babies learn to speak by reading the lips of those around them. Therefore, when you speak to your child, let them get a clear look at your mouth. Your child will follow your lips and try to produce words, which become clearer as your child grows older. They will use the same mimicking skills when communicating with others. Cognitive Skills Development At this stage, your child will pick up a new habit of looking at falling objects. Your child will intentionally drop the toys they're holding. It does not mean your child has weak hand muscles. Instead, your child is learning the concept of object permanence, which is that falling object will not completely vanish. When an object falls out of their hands, they will not simply ignore the object. Instead, your child will search for it. Friso,47 Scotts Road, #03-01/ 02, Goldbell Towers, Singapore228233 Contact No:+65 64198484 Mail Id: contactus@friso.com.sg