By the time babies reach the second half of their first year, they’re on the move—physically, socially, and emotionally. Development isn’t linear, and no two babies follow exactly the same path. But around 8, 10, and 12 months, we often see a wave of big changes: deeper relationships, more mobility, growing independence, and the emergence of early communication.
Rather than thinking of these ages in isolation, it’s helpful to see them as part of a developmental story—a story that builds and deepens over time. Let’s explore what might be going on for babies at each stage, and how the adults around them can tune in, respond, and support their growing confidence.
At 8 Months Old: The World Is Opening Up
What makes me feel safe?
At eight months, babies are becoming more aware of who’s familiar—and who isn’t. Separation anxiety emerges. This is particularly important given the expansion of the entitlement, where a lot of 9 month olds will be starting in nursery at a time when they are starting to grasp that people (especially key caregivers) can go away—and that feels scary at first.
Safety now often means:
- Seeing familiar faces regularly
- Predictable routines, especially for sleep, food, and comfort
- Being comforted quickly when upset or overwhelmed
- Having a secure base to return to during exploration – practically, this means adults who are quickly available and predictable in their behaviours; a secure base is in the same place where you left it, rather than always rushing around!
What makes me feel loved?
Babies this age are craving connection, but also independence. They want to explore, but with the reassurance that someone is nearby to return to.
They feel loved when:
- You delight in what they’re doing
- You offer warm, responsive attention
- You comfort them when they’re uncertain or need reassurance – this includes more subtle emotional reactions, like feeling scared by a toy that moves suddenly; these subtle reactions are only visible when we look closely and pay attention
- You talk to them in a mind-minded way. That is, we express curiosity and understanding around what they are feeling and thinking: ‘that might have made you feel a little scared’ or ‘you are working out how this works’
What am I fascinated by?
This is a phase of active discovery:
- Cause and effect – banging, dropping, opening, closing, pressing
- Objects that move or make sounds – anything that reacts to their actions
- Increasingly large movements, like crawling and climbing (which is a source of fascination, but can also be a source of frustration!)
- Simple games – like peekaboo or “Where’s the toy?”
- Other babies – they might start to show interest in peers
How adults can respond:
- Offer toys and materials that react—things that pop up, spin, or make noise
- Create safe spaces for crawling, pulling up, and exploring
- Respond consistently to signs of separation anxiety—never “sneak away,” but help build confidence through short, predictable separations
- Share joy in their discoveries: “You dropped the cup again! It made a big noise!” and engage with their behaviours as a series of discoveries; you can find out more about this in my blogposts and workshops relating to discovery-led play
At 10 Months Old: The Scientist Emerges
What makes me feel safe?
By ten months, many babies are becoming increasingly mobile—and that can bring new bumps, wobbles, and frustrations. Feeling safe now means:
- Being able to return to a trusted adult when needed, which depends on knowing where that adult will be and that they will be emotionally and physically available
- Knowing that when they cry, someone responds quickly
- Familiarity in routines and the environment
- Knowing that their actions (like pointing or babbling) lead to responses
What makes me feel loved?
This is a time when babies start testing boundaries and experimenting with independence. But they still need reassurance that love and comfort are always available.
They feel loved through:
- Playful interaction and shared attention
- Adults responding with interest to their communication attempts
- Hugs, cuddles, and calming touch, especially when they’re tired or overwhelmed
- Predictable responses to their emotions—both happy and sad
What am I fascinated by?
- Problem-solving – e.g. fitting objects into containers, trying to open boxes, using tools (like spoons or blocks)
- Imitation – copying facial expressions, sounds, and actions
- Simple sequences – pushing a button to hear a sound, stacking blocks
- Communicating over shared interests – pointing, babbling with intent, showing things
- Bigger and faster movements: standing, cruising, crawling faster
How adults can respond:
- Offer open-ended resources like stacking cups, blocks, and treasure baskets
- Use rich language to describe what they’re doing: “You’re trying to open the lid!” or “That block didn’t fit—what will you try next?”
- Engage in imitation games—copy their sounds, mirror their actions
- Create moments of connection around movement: cruising together, crawling races, clapping games
At 12 Months Old: Confident and Curious
What makes me feel safe?
At one year old, babies are stepping into new phase of independence and curiosity, but they still need the emotional safety net of trusted adults. Safety now means:
- Knowing that adults understand and respond to their attempts at communication
- Having a secure place to return to when they need a break from discovering and exploring the world
- Being supported through big transitions (walking, weaning, changes in care)
- Having consistent, predictable routines, that adapt (in small ways) to needs that are constantly changing
What makes me feel loved?
- Celebrating achievements, like a first step or first word
- Responding sensitively to frustration or big emotions; at 12 month olds, babies can start to get very upset very quickly, and this can feel like a bit of a shock – as though it’s come on very suddenly. We need to adapt how we ‘hold’ big emotions, so that we can do this even when a baby doesn’t want to be held or physically comforted. For example, we might need to respond by being presence while the feeling works its way out, offering soothing sounds and comfort, and waiting patiently for the frustration or anger to pass.
- Enjoying shared routines (like stories, mealtimes, or bath)
- Being noticed and included, “You brought me your book! Let’s read it together.” This needs to be proactive for all babies, including those who tend to be quieter or less demanding. We can look out for the ways in which babies are seeking shared attention with us, even when this is subtly expressed.
What am I fascinated by?
- Exploring independence – walking, crawling fast, testing boundaries
- Language and communication – first words may appear; lots of pointing, showing, babbling
- Books and routines – especially books with repetition, rhythm, or familiar stories (e.g. ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’)
- People – they’re increasingly interested in social interactions and group activity, like rhyme time or games of ‘what’s in the bag’
How adults can respond:
- Support communication with simple, clear language: name objects, repeat their sounds, label emotions
- Set up play spaces for walking and climbing safely, that offer novel opportunities (like obstacle courses)
- Follow their lead during play, even if it’s the same game on repeat!
- Keep routines consistent, but allow time for their growing independence
- Come together as a group (with optional participation) for shared rhyme time and social time together
Final Thoughts: Responding to the Whole Baby
Whether a baby is 8 months old and just starting to crawl, or 12 months and running across the room, their developmental needs are layered—not linear. Fascination with peekaboo doesn’t stop at 8 months; it deepens as their understanding of presence and absence grows. Curiosity about cause and effect starts with banging and dropping but becomes more thoughtful over time.
As adults—parents, educators, or caregivers—our role is to:
- Be responsive and flexible
- Notice what captivates them
- Offer time, space, and materials to explore safely
- Celebrate their efforts and the little steps that happen every single day, rather than fixating on the bigger milestones
Every baby develops in their own time, in their own way. But all babies thrive in environments where they feel safe, loved, and free to explore. When we tune into what’s going on for them and respond with joy, curiosity, and care, we lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning and connection.