Eight months is one of my favourite baby ages and also one of the most exhausting. Your baby is mobile or about to be, has opinions about absolutely everything, and has discovered that you are the best thing in the world and leaving the room is therefore a crime. At 8 months, most babies are either crawling or getting very close to it. Some babies move by rolling, bottom-shuffling, or commando crawling on their tummy. What matters is that they are motivated to move and finding ways to do it. Pulling to stand is often happening around this age. Cruising along furniture may be beginning. A small number of unusually early walkers are already taking steps at 8 months. Most babies at 8 months are sitting independently with good stability, can transfer objects between hands skillfully, and are developing a neat pincer grip. They are putting absolutely everything in their mouth. This is normal sensory exploration and continues for several more months. Language at 8 months is rich with consonant babble: bababa, mamama, dadada. These are not yet words with meaning but the sounds are the building blocks of first words. Your baby is understanding more than you realise. They understand their name. They understand no even if they choose to ignore it. They are beginning to follow your pointing gesture. Stranger and separation anxiety are typically peaking around 8 to 9 months. A baby who previously went to anyone happily may now scream when handed to grandparents they see regularly. This is developmentally healthy. It means your baby has a clear attachment hierarchy. That is a good thing.