• Improved chewing and swallowing skills
• Spoon-feeding and drinking with two-handled cup
• Baby teeth coming in
• Imitating the sounds and rhythm of speech

Your 8 month old baby is busy growing - and his mouth is no exception. He is becoming more coordinated with his jaw, tongue and lips. These newfound skills are essential to chewing and swallowing solid foods and imitating the speech patterns he hears around him.

Around this time, your little one may learn to drink using a two-handled cup. First show him how to hold the cup for drinking. Then lift it to your mouth – babies love to imitate. Put a little liquid in the cup and let baby try to drink it. He may spit it out or cough a little but with some practice he’ll be drinking from a sippy cup.

Your baby is also learning how to eat and swallow spoon-fed foods, such as cereals and pureed fruits and vegetables. Around 8 months, you can also try soft pasteurized cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese (remember – no cow’s milk until one year).

Sometime between 6 months and a year, your baby’s first tooth will appear. You will need to keep your baby’s new teeth healthy by cleaning them every day.

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