Sense by Meg Faure
Episode: 8-Month Mover with Julia Da Silva
Introduction
Meg Faure:
Welcome back to another episode of Sense by Meg Faure! This week, we’re diving into the world of little Aurelia, who has just turned eight months old. She’s on the brink of some exciting milestones, so join me as I chat with her mum, Julia Da Silva.
Today, we’ll be discussing:
Aurelia’s early attempts at crawling and standing
Why crawling is a crucial milestone for cognitive development
Sleep, teething, and soothing techniques
How probiotics can help after a tummy bug
Separation anxiety at this stage
Julia’s experience of traveling with two energetic little ones
If you’re looking for developmental tips, sleep solutions, or just want to catch up with Julia and Aurelia’s journey, this episode is packed with useful insights!
Welcoming Back Julia
Bailey Georgiades (Intro):
Welcome to Sense by Meg Faure, the podcast brought to you by ParentSense—the app that takes the guesswork out of parenting. Each week, Meg Faure, a well-known OT, infant specialist, and author of eight parenting books, chats with new mums and dads about their challenges, wins, and questions.
Meg Faure:
Welcome back, Julia! We’ve been tracking Aurelia’s journey over the past months. She’s growing so fast! Thank you for joining us again.
Julia Da Silva:
Thanks, Meg! It’s funny—I was lying awake last night thinking about the first time I saw your Instagram story that led me to reach out to you. That was eight months ago, but I remember it so vividly.
Meg Faure:
Wow! It’s amazing how this journey has unfolded. You’ll look back and cherish these conversations as a diary of Aurelia’s first year.
Julia Da Silva:
Absolutely! When I listen back to the episodes, I realize how much I’ve already forgotten. It’s such a great record.
Aurelia’s Movement Milestones
Meg Faure:
What’s happening in Aurelia’s world now that she’s eight months old?
Julia Da Silva:
She’s moving so much! We can’t put her down anywhere except the floor because she’s rolling and shifting so quickly. She’s thinking about crawling—she pushes forward from a sitting position but hasn’t quite mastered getting onto all fours yet. She also loves standing with support and bouncing up and down on our laps.
Meg Faure:
Crawling is such an interesting milestone! Some babies skip it entirely, while others crawl as early as seven months or as late as 11 months. And there are so many different styles of crawling!
Has she tried moving sideways yet? That’s often how babies start transitioning into a crawling position.
Julia Da Silva:
Yes! She twists her body when reaching for things, especially if I place toys behind her.
Meg Faure:
That’s fantastic! A great way to encourage crawling is by placing toys just out of reach to her side. That forces her to put one hand down, shift her weight, and naturally move into a crawling position. Tummy time is also key for strengthening those muscles.
Why Crawling Matters
Meg Faure:
Crawling isn’t just about movement—it’s crucial for spatial reasoning and cognitive development. It teaches babies about navigating space, which lays the foundation for skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and even art!
Crawling also strengthens the small intrinsic muscles in the hands, which later help with fine motor skills like writing and playing musical instruments. Plus, it helps develop the brain’s corpus callosum, which improves communication between the left and right hemispheres—important for language, problem-solving, and coordination.
Julia Da Silva:
That’s so interesting! I had no idea crawling was connected to all of that.
Meg Faure:
Yes! That’s why it was shocking when the American Academy of Pediatrics removed crawling from the milestone checklist. Instead of addressing why some babies were skipping it (due to too much time in baby seats, prams, and walkers), they just removed it from the chart! But crawling is incredibly important, so I always encourage parents to help their babies develop this skill.
Sleep & Teething Challenges
Meg Faure:
How’s sleep going?
Julia Da Silva:
She’s doing pretty well. Some nights she sleeps through, but most of the time, she wakes between 3:30 and 4:30 AM. I’ve been giving her water instead of milk, and that usually helps her settle back to sleep. She wakes up for the day around 6 AM.
Meg Faure:
That sounds perfect for this age! Is she still taking three naps, or has she dropped to two?
Julia Da Silva:
She’s mostly on two naps now. Some days, her morning nap is short, and she takes a long afternoon nap. Managing bedtime can be tricky when that happens, but overall, she handles it well.
Meg Faure:
That transition to two naps is a big milestone. And how’s teething going?
Julia Da Silva:
She cut her first tooth on Sunday! I wasn’t sure at first because she’s been grizzly on and off for months, but suddenly—there it was!
Meg Faure:
That’s wonderful! Some babies struggle with teething, while others sail through it. Since she had a tummy bug recently and teething can also affect digestion, I’d suggest giving her a probiotic to support her gut health.
Julia Da Silva:
That’s a great idea! I have one I should start giving her.
Separation Anxiety Begins
Julia Da Silva:
I think separation anxiety is creeping in. The other night, she had a false start at bedtime, and she wouldn’t settle unless she could see me. She kept looking over to check if I was still there.
Meg Faure:
That’s classic for this age! Around 8-10 months, babies start to understand that you are separate from them, which leads to separation anxiety. The key is to reassure them while also helping them learn that you’ll always come back.
Peekaboo games and hide-and-seek activities are great for reinforcing object permanence. Also, always say goodbye when leaving and hello when you return—sneaking away can actually make anxiety worse.
Julia Da Silva:
That makes so much sense! I’ll keep that in mind.
Family Travel & Special Moments
Julia Da Silva:
We’ve been on holiday recently, and it was so special to spend uninterrupted time with Aurelia and Santi. Watching them bond has been heartwarming—Santi is so sweet with her!
Meg Faure:
That’s beautiful! A three-year age gap is ideal for sibling bonding. Plus, an involved dad makes a big difference in preventing sibling rivalry.
Julia Da Silva:
Yes! And next week, Aurelia is going on her first flight as we take a short family trip. I’m really looking forward to it!
Meg Faure:
That’s wonderful! You’re doing an amazing job, Julia. I love following Aurelia’s journey and can’t wait to see what’s next!
Julia Da Silva:
Thanks, Meg! Catch up soon.
Meg Faure:
Thanks for joining us, everyone! See you next week. Don’t forget to download the ParentSense app to take the guesswork out of parenting!
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