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  5. Baby Growth and Development: 8-12 Month Milestones

Baby Growth and Development: 8-12 Month Milestones

By Catie Bielecki
Updated October 03, 2019
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What should a baby be doing between 8 months and 12 months? With these guidelines, parents can help their little ones reach important developmental milestones.
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Sit Without Assistance

Credit: 5712495/Pixabay

As an 8 month milestone, Baby may get into a sitting position without assistance. He still might topple over from time to time, but he will usually catch himself with his arms. Try rolling a ball to your baby while he’s sitting; every time he leans over to reach a toy, he strengthens his core muscles.

  • RELATED: When Do Babies Sit Up?

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Use Pincer Grasp

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The pincer grasp—which lets you pick up objects between her thumb and forefinger—usually shows up as a 8-12 month milestone. You'll find Baby practicing the pincer movement on any small object, so be extra cautious of coins and other objects that are a choking hazard.

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Pay More Attention to Speech

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As your baby prepares to start talking, he’ll cue into your conversations. The more animated your speech is, the more interested he will be. Let him watch your mouth and facial expressions as you talk.

  • RELATED: How to Help Your Baby Learn to Talk

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Explore Objects

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At 8 months, your baby might spend only two or three minutes with a single toy, but by 12 months, he might sit for up to 15 minutes with an especially interesting object. Give her a box or bag filled with different baby-safe household objects to shake, bang, throw, and drop.

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Develop Stranger Danger

Credit: Stephanie Rausser

As baby grows, he may develop an attachment to his parents. Stay close to your little one when he's around a new person, because holding him helps him feel extra-safe. Ask strangers to approach Baby slowly at first.

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Respond to Verbal Requests

Credit: Thayer Allison Gowdy

Around this time, your baby will respond to simple verbal requests. Here’s how to help: When you are changing your baby or getting him dressed for bed, touch and name the part of his body. Ask him to point to his tummy or touch his head.

  • RELATED: Understanding Your Baby's Language Development
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Bang Things Together

Credit: Photograph by Carl Tremblay

When your baby first plays with blocks, she will love throwing or banging them together. By 12 months, she might begin building simple towers and will especially love knocking them down.

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Find Hidden Objects

Credit: Stephanie Rausser

Baby will master the concept of object permanence—or the idea that objects still exist even when you can’t see them—as an 8 or 9 month milestone. Consider hiding behind a piece of furniture, leaving a foot or hand out as a clue. She'll love finding you!

  • RELATED: Baby Milestones Chart: A Week-by-Week Guide to Development

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Assume Hand-and-Knee Position

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Since your baby's arm muscles are more developed than his legs, he might rock back and forth or even push backward. Place bright toys and fun objects in front of him to encourage him to move forward.

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Improve Memory

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Play simple memory games with baby flash cards. Lay out three or four cards with pictures with clearly different names (showing both a ball and bottle might be confusing). See if she looks at or points to the apple card when you say apple, etc. Try the same game with photos of family members and friends.

  • RELATED: Baby Growth and Development: 1-3 Month Milestones

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Imitate People

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Since babies learn by imitation, he will copy your words and actions. Test this out by offering your baby objects such as a toothbrush, cup, hairbrush, or toy telephone. When he treats the object appropriately, such as putting the toy phone to his ear, react positively and enthusiastically.

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Creep on Hands and Knees

Many babies “creep”—or push around on their belly —during this timeframe. (But sometimes babies skip the creeping stage and immediately start pulling up and cruising.) Create a miniature obstacle course using pillows, cushions, chairs, and boxes for Baby to move between and over.

  • RELATED: Growth and Development Milestones: 4-7 Months

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Put Objects in Containers

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Baby's curiosity and problem solving work together. When she figures something out, she might repeat it many times in a row before she gets bored.

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Show Preference for Toys

Credit: Spencer Selover/Pexels

Baby’s favorite toys are called “transitional objects” because they help children emotionally transition from dependence to independence. Using them is not a sign of weakness or insecurity.

  • RELATED: 12 Milestones You Shouldn't Overlook

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Pull Self Up to Stand

Credit: Igor Sokolov (breeze)/Shutterstock

As an 8-10 month milestone, your baby might pull himself to a standing position with the help of furniture or crib walls.  At first, Baby might not realize how to sit back down. Teach him how to bend his knees to lower himself without falling. Your baby might also stand momentarily without support. 

  • RELATED:Ā The Sweetest Baby Milestones (and When to Expect Them)

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Let Things Go

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Your little one will love throwing objects from his crib or high chair just to watch you pick them up. When you tire of this game, place him on the floor so he can retrieve the toys himself.

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Use Simple Gestures

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Babies may start using simple gestures as a 9 month milestone. In fact, Baby understands more words than you might suspect. Mention a favorite toy, pet, or a family member's name. If she immediately looks for it, you'll know she understands.

  • RELATED: Decode Your Baby's Body Language

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Finger-Feed Himself

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Introduce your child to a variety of foods, since he will their differences in feel and taste. Some favorite food choices for this age include dry cereal, scrambled eggs, diced soft fruit and vegetables, cubes of cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, diced meat, teething biscuits, crackers, pasta, and mashed potatoes.

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Walk While Assisted

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Around 11 months, your baby might walk while holding onto furniture. Let your little one cruise around the living room, holding on to the sides of chairs and couches for support. Stick to heavier pieces that won't flip over, and make sure there are no sharp edges.

  • RELATED:Ā Helping Baby Reach Physical Milestones
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Point with Index Finger

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You might also notice that Baby points to objects that he wants or enjoys. When you are reading to your little one, ask her to find and point to the tree, cat, ball, and so on in the pictures.

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Say Simple Words

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Some babies will have a two- or three-word vocabulary by their first birthday, while others are still speaking gibberish. The more you respond like he's speaking, the more you will encourage his communication.

  • RELATED: Children's Weirdest First Words

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Help Get Dressed

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Baby might extend an arm or leg to help when being dressed. Make dressing easier by having everything you need ready before you start. Remember to never leave Baby unattended on a changing table while you step away to fetch her socks or sweater.

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Take First Steps

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Most babies take their first steps between 9-12 months—though some children wait much later, which is also perfectly normal. Most babies advance from a couple shaky steps to fairly confident walking in just a matter of days.

  • RELATED:Ā 30 Little Ways to Bond With Baby

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1 of 23 Sit Without Assistance
2 of 23 Use Pincer Grasp
3 of 23 Pay More Attention to Speech
4 of 23 Explore Objects
5 of 23 Develop Stranger Danger
6 of 23 Respond to Verbal Requests
7 of 23 Bang Things Together
8 of 23 Find Hidden Objects
9 of 23 Assume Hand-and-Knee Position
10 of 23 Improve Memory
11 of 23 Imitate People
12 of 23 Creep on Hands and Knees
13 of 23 Put Objects in Containers
14 of 23 Show Preference for Toys
15 of 23 Pull Self Up to Stand
16 of 23 Let Things Go
17 of 23 Use Simple Gestures
18 of 23 Finger-Feed Himself
19 of 23 Walk While Assisted
20 of 23 Point with Index Finger
21 of 23 Say Simple Words
22 of 23 Help Get Dressed
23 of 23 Take First Steps

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Baby Growth and Development: 8-12 Month Milestones
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