Maternal and child health - visit 6 - eight month visit

What happens at the eight month visit?#

At this visit, your baby’s growth, health, and development will be reviewed. You will also be asked to answer some questions about your child’s development, often using a tool such as the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS). Try to complete these questions before your visit.

This visit will usually focus on:

• your child’s growth and development
• poisons information and preventing poisoning
• preventing injuries
• taking care of your child’s teeth
• being sun smart (learning how to protect your child from the sun)
• how play helps learning and development
• checking that your child’s newborn hearing screen has been completed
• your family’s wellbeing

Remember, you and your nurse can also talk about any other issues or concerns that arise.

Whatever the weather, take simple steps to protect your child’s skin and eyes from the sun, even on cool or cloudy days.

What is my baby doing at this stage?#

At this age, your baby is learning about the world by touching, tasting, smelling, listening, watching, and moving around. They need plenty of floor play and time on their tummy in a safe place. Around this stage, your baby might be:

• looking closely at objects
• sitting up by themselves
• rolling and starting to crawl
• putting toys in their mouth
• becoming a little worried about new faces
• babbling or copying sounds you make

Tell your nurse if your baby is:#

• not able to roll
• not enjoying eye contact with you
• not interested in sounds
• not babbling

Activity ideas for this stage#

Try some of these ideas to help your baby learn and develop:

• read aloud and share stories
• play peek-a-boo
• play on the floor with them
• take them for a walk outside and talk about what you see
• visit a local playgroup

How often should I visit?#

Your child will have a number of recommended health and development checks as they grow, from the early weeks after birth through to the years before starting school. The eight month visit is one of these checks. The exact schedule and the services available vary from place to place, and may include open consultation sessions and some after-hours appointments. Your nurse can let you know what is offered in your area, including support for families who speak other languages.

Where to get help#