Claire
Your baby will continue to grow rapidly during these months. An eight-month-old normally weighs between 17.5 and 22 pounds (8 to 10 kg). Girls generally weigh half a pound less.
By his first birthday, the average child has tripled his birth weight and is between 28 and 32 inches (71 to 81 cm). Their head growth slows a bit between eight and twelve months of age, compared to the first six months of life.
The normal head circumference at eight months of age is 17 1/2 inches (44.5 cm); At one year old, it is 18 inches (46 cm). All babies grow at their own rate; however, it is important that you check your baby’s height and weight curve on the growth charts to ensure that he is following the established pattern for the first eight months of age.
When your child starts to stand up, you may be surprised by his posture. Their abdomen and buttocks will be projected and their back will swing forward. It may seem weird, but this pose is perfectly normal from the time your baby starts to stand until they develop a confident sense of balance during their second year.
Your child’s feet may also look a bit strange to you. When they lie on their back, their toes may twist inward (pigeon-toed). This common condition usually disappears by eighteen months of age. If it persists, your pediatrician will be able to show you some foot or leg exercises you can do with your baby. If the problem is severe, your pediatrician may refer you to a pediatric orthopedist.
When the child begins to take his first steps, you are likely to notice a different appearance; feet can be crossed in. This occurs because their hip ligaments are still so loose that their legs naturally rotate outward.
During the first six months of the second year of life, the ligaments will strengthen and the feet will be almost in a straight line.
At this age, your child’s feet will look flat because a cushion of fat hides the arch of the foot. In two to three years, this fat will disappear and the arch will be noticeable.
Originally posted 2021-03-03 13:36:23.
