Your baby is really beginning to move his or her body into different positions. Don't expect him or her to stay in one place for too long though. Your baby still enjoys playing with toys or things that are within his or her reach, but now you will watch as your baby develops new ways to move towards the toys or things that are out of his or her reach. This is a good time to make sure that your house is safety-proofed for your child! Your baby should still sleep on his or her back as much as possible.

What your child can see, hear and feel:

Your child is learning how to identify objects and see where they go. If you partially hide your baby's bottle or toy, and your baby sees where you put it, he or she may try to reach for it! Your baby also likes repeating actions, and this helps him or her learn that actions have effects. Your baby also enjoys exploring things with his or her mouth. If he or she can get an object into their hand, they will usually bring it to their mouth.

Social and emotional development:

Your baby has learned how to show you that he or she enjoys you. He or she might smile or laugh when they see you. Your baby is also becoming able to understand your feeling by the tone of your voice. He or she might smile when they hear happiness, and your baby might frown or look worried when they hear anger. Your baby might also 'talk' to you with gestures, like reaching out to you when he or she wants to be picked up.

Your baby won't be as comfortable with unfamiliar people as he or she will be with you. They will be shy, or even upset to see strange faces. Strangers may even make him or her upset, especially between the ages of 7 and 9 months.

Gross motor skills:

At this point in your baby's development, he or she is learning how to sit up by him- or herself without the help of pillows or your body as a support. Your baby may also scoot on his or her tummy by pushing their feet against the floor or by using their elbows and forearms to move. Your baby may push him- or herself off the floor so that he or she rocks back and forth on the hands and knees. This means your baby is getting ready to crawl! Many babies love to stand when you hold them up! Help your baby get used to the sensation of walking, and develop the mechanics of the movement.

Your baby has also probably practiced rolling from rolling from their stomach to their back. This means they may have become able to roll over from their backs to their stomach!

Fine motor skills:

As your baby is learning how to use his or her body better, they are also enjoying learning about his or her surroundings. Your baby is paying more attention to the size and shape of objects that surround him or her. You baby's coordination should have also improved, and you may notice that when your baby tries to grasp objects, he or she should be able to get it on their own on the first try. This is because your baby should be able to see tiny things more clearly, and be able to pick up these small items.

Your baby might try to hold his or her own bottle, and should be able to move a toy more easily from one hand to the other.

Speech and language development:

Your baby's speech will have also improved. Your baby's cooing should have turned into babbling. He or she will also enjoy blowing spit bubbles, and making "bbb" sounds. These sounds are how your baby practices speech sounds, by using consonants and vowels. Additionally, your baby might be able to turn his or her head when you call his or her name!

7-month milestones

• Your baby now can bear weight on his or her legs when you hold him or her upright.
• He or she can sit without support.
• Baby can stand while holding onto someone or something.
• He or she can pull him- or herself up to a standing position from a seated one.
• Baby walks by holding on to furniture.
• He or she babbles.
• Baby plays peek-a-boo.
• He or she plays patty-cake.
• Baby waves good-bye.
• He or she can say "mama" or "dada."

8-month milestones

• Rolls both ways.
• Sits with and without support of hands.
• Reaches with one hand.
• Uses raking grasp but may be able to use the thumb and fingers to pick up small objects.
• Uses Palmer grasp (whole hand) to reach for and grasp desired objects.
• Is able to transfer an object from one hand to another.
• Can reach a distance of up to 1 foot away with both hands.
• Kicks become stronger and can move an object placed in front of feet.
• Can kick using alternate legs.
• Rolls from front to back and back to front.
• Is able to maneuver their self to an upright-seated position from a lying back position.
• When lying on back, brings legs up and over chest and can grasp and bring one foot to mouth.
• Crawls, either by supporting his or her weight on the hands and knees or by pulling their self along in a semi-lying position.
• Cruises (walks holding onto furniture).
• Waves hands in a goodbye gesture.
• Claps hands together.
• Bangs objects together.
• Stands while holding onto something and supports body weight on feet while being held in an upright position.
• Pulls up to standing position from sitting position.
• Starts crawling, may be lunging forward on all fours, pulling or dragging self (military crawl), scooting around on bottom, rolling around the floor or even backward crawling like a crab.
• Feeds self a Cheerio, cracker or other type of finger food.
• Develops full color vision.
• Distance vision matures.
• Able to track moving objects.
• Can visually follow objects from one side to another.
• Can move both eyes in unison.
• Finds partially hidden objects.
• Explores with hands and mouth.
• Works to get objects that are out of reach.

9-month milestones

• Sits alone and change position
• Says "mama" and "dada"
• Crawls
• Responds to people they know
• Responds to their name
• By 10 months old babies have learned words.
• Puts hands forward when the head is pointed to the ground (parachute reflex) to protect self from falling
• Is able to crawl
• Sits for long periods
• Pulls self to standing position
• Has a pincer grasp between thumb and index finger
• Feeds self with fingers
• Throws or shakes objects
• Is developing depth perception
• Understands that objects continue to exist, even when they are not seen (object constancy)
• Responds to simple commands
• Responds to name
• Understands the meaning of "no"
• Imitates speech sounds
• May be afraid of being left alone
• Plays interactive games, such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
• Waves goodbye