Your Baby at 7-8 Months

Gross Motor and Large Muscle Development
She is beginning to move in and out of different positions.  She may creep on her hands and knees, forward and backward.  She will have independent sitting balance if you place her in sitting, and may or may not need her hands for support. She has good sitting balance, loves to play in sitting and can reach forward to pick up a toy.  She loves to stand if you place her in standing, but needs help to get down.

Fine Motor and Small Muscle Development
Her reach is very accurate and well directed with either hand.  She bangs and shakes toys. She will "rake" at toys with her fingers.  She is developing a more defined pincer grasp using her thumb and middle fingers to pick up small objects.  She is fascinated by toys like keys and beads.

Cognitive, Social and Visual Development
She plays vigorously with noise-making toys and shows increased exploration of toys.  She looks briefly for a toy that "disappears."  When looking in a mirror she reaches for and pats the mirror image.  She may begin to be fearful of strangers.  She is learning the meaning of "no" from the tone of your voice.  She may begin to make a game of flinging or throwing toys.

Activities for You and Your Baby

• When she is sitting and playing on the floor, put a small basket or box of toys near her where she can reach them. She will choose toys, take them out and play with them. Continue to give her a variety of toys and objects to play with such as pots and pans, balls, blocks, measuring spoons and cups.

• She will have fun when you play games with her like hiding a favorite toy partially under a cloth or cup so she will try to find the toy.

• Show her and read to her from small picture books. Point to the picture and say "this is a ball." Show her objects in the house that are the same as in her book.

• Tie a toy on the end of a string to her highchair so that when she drops the toy she can pull it back up.