How I Grow

• I crawl forward on my stomach.
• I stand up if I lean against something.
• I sit without any support for several minutes.
• I hold onto a toy, like a rattle, for several minutes.
• I reach for small things like pieces of string and cereal. I hold them with my thumb and first and second fingers.

How I Talk

• I let you know if I am happy, sad, or scared by the sounds that I make.
• I still babble a lot. Now it is beginning to sound more like the way you talk.
• I recognize some words.
• I watch and try to copy your mouth movements.

How I Understand

• I am very curious and want to explore everything.
• I know how to solve simple problems, such as getting something I can't reach.
• I understand the meaning of "in" and "out."
• I remember events that just happened.
• I like to look at pictures and have you name them.

How I Respond

• I turn and listen when I hear familiar sounds like the telephone or my name.
• I love to copy the actions that I see other people do.

How I Feel

• I am frightened by new experiences and new people.
• I am upset when you leave me, even if it's for a short time.
• I'm upset when people make a lot of fuss over me.
• I know what I like and don't like. I will show you what I want.

One Thing At A Time

Some children prefer talking to walking.

Any time they are awake, they are making noises. Some of the noises are squeals and self-invented words. Others are the old standbys, mama, and, em>dada.

Other children creep before they talk.

It seems that every child creeps in a different way. Some do it backwards. Some go forwards, even sideways. Some creep on hands and knees, on toes and knees, on one knee and one hand. Some children rock back and forth without moving an inch.

Learning to walk and talk takes time and effort.

During your play time with Baby, spend some time practicing the skills Baby doesn't do on his own. If your baby is a crawler and mover, practice making sounds. If your baby is a talker, practice moving.

This Is The Age Of Curiosity!

Imagine that you are 8 months old.

You reach out to touch things but everyone tells you, NO, DON'T TOUCH.

How would you feel?

A little frustrated, you can bet! Well, that's how your baby feels at this age. She is very curious and wants to find out about all the fascinating things that are around her.

When you find yourself wanting to say, no, give Baby a 1 or 2 word reason.

This helps her learn why she cannot behave in certain ways. Tell Baby what you want her to do instead. Research shows that this really helps. If you only say, No, to Baby, the word "no" will have so many different meanings that it will confuse Baby.

Baby's memory is not very good yet.

You will have to tell Baby again and again how to behave and handle situations the way you want.

No, is a word that is easy for Baby to say.

The more Baby hears it, the sooner she will be saying it to you. Hearing Baby saying it to you may add to your frustration at the moment.

Show the world to her, lovingly and safely.

Be Baby's guide while she examines, explores, and satisfies her curiosity.

Learning About Other Babies

Babies learn about differences by seeing them.

Include infants from different races, different ethnic backgrounds, and babies with disabilities in your infant's life through child care, a play group, or other places you go.

A child who has a disability is first and most important a child.

Having a disability or a delay is part of being a person like having red hair or blue eyes. It is important for infants who have disabilities to do what all infants do.

All infants need to play, make friends, and learn from one another.

Infants do not question differences if adults set the appropriate tone for accepting and including infants with disabilities.

Encourage children to be curious, explore, and talk about differences openly and matter-of-factly.

May we touch John's hair? Do you want to touch John's hair? It feels different from yours. Now touch yours. Touch mine. Describe how the hair feels to you.

If an infant focuses on the brace of another infant, talk about that, too. You're looking at Yolanda's brace. May we touch the brace? Do you want to touch it? It is hard and cold. It helps make her leg stronger.

Babies learn about differences as infants.

They watch the adults around them to learn how to respect, treat, and care for others.

Touchy, Touchy!

Does your child cry at the sight of strangers?

Does Baby laugh and cry almost at the same time? Does your child enjoy splashing in the bath water and make a fuss when you take him out? When your child bumps his head, does he sometimes laugh and the next time cry? Does your infant want company all the time, crying when you leave the room? If so, your child is growing emotionally.

Fortunately, infant emotions come and go quite easily.

Big outbursts are quickly forgotten. The important thing is to expect these ups and downs in your child's emotional life and bounce along with them.

Controlling emotions is one of the most difficult skills human beings have to learn.

You probably know some adults who haven't mastered these skills yet.

Help Baby learn to accept his feelings and emotions.

When he is crying because it is time to leave the tub, say, I know you have fun in the tub and don't want to leave it. You will have another bath tomorrow.

Let's Play...Help Me Learn

Baby Is Watching And Learning

Babies learn by imitation, copying what they see other people doing.

You will see more and more of this in the months to come.

When your baby babbles, imitate him.

After copying what Baby says, change it just a little. Soon your baby will repeat what you said, using the change that you made.

Laugh; say, Good job; and give a little hug to show that you had fun playing.

Music Fun

Your baby will enjoy listening to many kinds of music with you.

Show Baby how to clap and move her body to the music. As Baby can stand and walk, those movements will turn into dancing.

Inexpensive music boxes can be very interesting.

They have the advantage that Baby can start and stop the music all by herself.

Those Tasty Toes

Your baby is becoming more aware of her body, from head to toe.

It is fun to watch her amazement as she discovers each body part. Most babies who discover their toes spend time sucking them. When they chew on their toes they get two sensations -- one from their mouth and another from their toes.

A mirror will help your child study her face!

(Be sure the edges aren't sharp and that it won't break if dropped.) Your child will notice many details. Point out Baby's eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Ask her to point to her own facial features.

Help Baby understand her body parts.

Name each of the body parts as she "discovers" them. When Baby knows where her hands and feet are, add the fingers and toes, then the arms and legs.

Baby will be interested in your body parts, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Baby will pull and tug on your hair and nose. This may hurt you sometimes. Patiently teach her how to touch so that it does not hurt you.

If Baby continues to pull and touch you in a way that hurts, use a firm voice and tell her that you will not let her hurt you.

If Baby's play continues to hurt, show her something else to do. You might say, Baby can touch Mommy gently. I can't let you pull my hair. It hurts me. Here, you can pull on this toy.

Problem Solving Games

Baby can solve simple problems.

Here are games to play with her to help develop these skills. Because of using string in these activities, you will need to play these games with Baby. When you are finished playing, remove the strings or ribbons from the toys.

• Tie string or ribbon, no longer than 6 inches, around some favorite toys. Place the toys out of reach and the string close to Baby. Pull the string to get the toy. Talk about what you did. I pulled the string to get the keys. Put the keys back and see if Baby can pull the string to get the keys. This is a good high chair game if you tape the string to the high chair.
• Tie strings, no longer than 6 inches, around other objects that are large, small, heavy, or light. Let Baby try to pull each one.
• Place toys on a towel so Baby has to pull the towel to get the toys.
• Put toys in a box. Turn the box over. Does Baby lift the box off the toys?
• Create simple "problems" for Baby to solve. Tell your baby how wonderful she is for solving the problem.

Feeding Your Baby

Baby Can Eat Fork-Mashed Foods

Mash fruits and vegetables for Baby.

Now that your baby is 8 months old and may have some teeth, you can serve him fork-mashed vegetables and fruits, in addition to strained or puréed foods.

Mash a favorite vegetable thoroughly with a fork or a potato masher. Mash foods like ripe bananas and cooked apples, winter squash, white or sweet potatoes, or carrots.

Make sure the food does not have lumps, pieces of skin, strings or seeds.

The food can be a little thicker than the puréed food you have been serving Baby from the baby food jar or blending in the blender.

Cooked foods may be strained through a fine mesh sieve or strainer.

A sieve can also be used to steam-cook small amounts of food for your baby.

Press the food through the sieve or strainer. This turns the food into a very soft consistency. Be sure that all food particles are removed when you wash the strainer.

Serve Fruits In Small Pieces

Cut soft fruit into small pieces.

Let Baby eat these foods with his fingers:

• banana
• ripe pears
• oranges
• ripe peaches

Remove the skin and all the seeds from the fruit before you give it to Baby.

Protein Foods

Prepare or buy only plain, single-ingredient meat.

Look for the jars of meat that only have strained chicken, strained beef, strained liver, and strained fish. Remember, there is as much protein in 1 jar of strained chicken as there is in more than 4 jars of strained chicken and noodles.

Begin with one type of meat.

Serve it for 5 days before trying another meat with Baby. Baby may eat as much as 2 to 3 tablespoons of meat twice a day.

Be Careful...

Do not add salt, sugar, or seasonings to Baby's foods.

Foods that taste bland to an adult are a new taste experience to an infant. Some sodium is necessary for good health, but there is enough natural sodium in foods. Added salt will provide too much sodium for a small baby and can even be harmful.

Do not feed honey to your baby during his first year.

Honey may carry botulism spores that can harm him.

Do not serve fried meats to your baby.

Although meats are good for your baby, do not feed him fried meats. Trim all fat from the meat and mash it thoroughly with a fork.

Do not use "leftovers" to make baby foods.

Leftover foods are likely to have more bacteria than freshly prepared foods. This could cause Baby to have food poisoning.

Do not feed your baby raw eggs or raw milk.

These raw foods may be sources of infections that can be dangerous for him.

Do not feed Baby chunky foods such as corn, nuts, popcorn, and seeds, or coarse textured foods, such as cookies that crumble easily.

Such foods are difficult for your baby to eat. He could choke on them.

Do not get Baby's food too hot.

Baby's mouth could be burned by hot food. Don't be afraid to serve Baby his food cold. Most babies will accept cold food. If you want to warm your baby's food, do it just before serving.

Great Beginnings   is sent to you by:

Patricia T. Nelson, Ed.D.
Family and Child Development Specialist

This newsletter has been edited by Deborah J. Amsden, CHE; and prepared with the assistance of Dr. Penny Deiner, Department of Individual and Family Studies, University of Delaware and Marie Anne Aghazadian, Executive Director of the Parent Information Center. Information for this issue has also been adapted from Parent Express, by Dr. Dorothea Cudaback, Cooperative Extension, University of California, and from Parenting the First Year by Dorian Schatell, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.

GB-8M
6/19/97