Question
My baby is 8 months and 4 days old, and she doesn’t know how to clap or say words like ‘bye-bye’. Is this normal? When I teach her to clap, she just giggles and doesn’t imitate or learn. What should an 8-month-old baby be able to do?
Answer
Growth indicators for an 8-month-old baby include being able to stand with support, sit steadily, bang toys with both hands, make noise with toys, give toys to specified people, signal for a hug by moving hands, pick up food with fingers to eat, and respond to language with 1 to 2 actions. You can observe your baby’s preferences in food and should provide complementary foods according to her likes, promoting a variety of food types to ensure a balanced diet.