Movement, Coordination, and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old

From scooting to crawling to cruising, babies learn how to get around during these months. So now is the time to childproof your home, if you haven't already. Be especially careful to gate staircases and block off rooms that you'd rather your baby didn't explore.

How Is My Baby Moving?

By now your baby is sitting and using his or her hands every so often for support. Once comfortable in this position, your baby will start to turn and reach for objects without falling over. Your baby will also get better at changing positions, and soon figure out how to get into a sitting position, then pull up to stand.

When on the stomach, your baby will learn to push up onto the hands and knees and rock back and forth. This little "exercise" is working the arm and leg muscles, getting your child ready to propel forward (or backward) in an attempt to get moving.

Some babies are better at crawling than others so don't worry if your child has developed some novel ways of getting around, including rolling, scooting on his or her bottom, or creeping.

As long as your baby is using the arms and legs on both sides of the body and shows an interest in exploring surroundings, there's usually no reason to be concerned.

Leg muscles have gotten stronger from standing, bouncing, and crawling. Now is the time for your baby to start taking steps while holding on to the couch, coffee table, or other pieces of furniture for balance. This is called "cruising."

Fine motor and hand–eye coordination also continue to improve during this period. Babies develop the ability to pick up small items. This coordination can range from an awkward raking grasp to a precise finger-to-thumb pincer grasp.

How Can I Encourage My Baby?

Give your baby safe areas to practice moving and many chances to move. Limit the time your baby spends in strollers, cribs, and other equipment that restricts movement.

Put a favorite toy out of reach, and encourage your baby to move toward the desired object.

Encourage walking by letting your baby cruise along the furniture (remove or pad furniture with sharp edges), or hold your baby's hands while he or she practices. Walking toys with a bar that extends to about chest height on a baby and is attached to a stable, weighted base with wheels also can help your baby practice. The baby holds the bar for support and pushes the toy for movement. You'll need to supervise this, of course, and make sure stairs are blocked off.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Normal child development tends to follow a certain pattern. The skills that babies develop early serve as building blocks for future skills. Still, the time it takes to develop these skills can vary widely among kids.

Let your doctor know if your child does not:

• crawl, creep, or scoot around
• stand when supported
• use both sides of his or her body equally
• seem to have good control of his or her hands

Not reaching individual milestones doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your baby's development.