Week 33 old
What to expect at 33 weeks (about 8 months): feeding, sleep, growth, and the developmental skills many babies are working on around now.
In short
At 33 weeks (roughly 8 months), most babies sleep about 12 to 15 hours total across the day, take 2 naps, and are settling into two or three solid-food meals alongside breast milk or formula. Sitting steadily and babbling are common around this age.
🍼 Feeding
Breast milk or formula remains the main nutrition: roughly 24 to 30 oz of formula per day, or nursing about 4 to 6 times in 24 hours. Alongside that, most babies are eating solids 2 to 3 times a day, working up to a few tablespoons per meal of iron-rich purees, soft mashed foods, or soft finger foods. Offer a variety of textures and let your baby's appetite guide amounts.
😴 Sleep
Most babies this age sleep about 12 to 15 hours total per day: roughly 10 to 12 hours overnight plus 2 naps totaling 2 to 4 hours. Wake windows typically stretch to about 2.5 to 3.5 hours between sleeps. A temporary sleep disruption around now is common and often tied to new skills and separation anxiety.
What's happening this week
- •Around this age many babies sit without support and may start to lean forward to reach a toy and pull back upright, which builds the core strength behind crawling.
- •Many 8-month-olds are working on moving objects from one hand to the other and raking small items toward themselves; a precise thumb-and-finger pinch tends to come together a bit later.
- •Babbling often becomes more varied around now, with repeated sounds like 'baba,' 'dada,' and 'mama' (not yet tied to meaning for most babies).
- •Stranger awareness and separation anxiety commonly ramp up in this window, so extra clinginess is normal and not a setback.
- •Object permanence is developing, which is why peekaboo and partly hidden toys become so fascinating around this age.
Milestones to keep in mind
- ✓By the 9-month checkup, many babies sit without support, look for a dropped toy, and make several different sounds. Reaching these as a range over the coming weeks is normal.
- ✓Around this age, watch for your baby passing a toy hand-to-hand and turning toward familiar voices or their name.
- ✓Many babies are starting to recognize familiar faces and may react warily to strangers; this is an expected social milestone heading into 9 months.
- ✓Crawling, scooting, or other ways of getting around may appear anytime in this period or later. There is wide normal variation, and some babies skip crawling entirely.
Growth
💡 Tip for this week
Now that your baby is more mobile and curious, do a floor-level safety sweep: anchor furniture and TVs to the wall, secure cords and blind pulls, and add cabinet latches. Keep small objects that fit through a toilet-paper tube out of reach, since this is a peak age for putting everything in the mouth.
⚠️ When to call your pediatrician
Call your pediatrician if your baby has fewer wet diapers than usual or shows signs of dehydration, isn't gaining weight or is losing weight, has a fever (especially with poor feeding or lethargy), refuses to eat, isn't making any sounds or babbling, doesn't respond to sounds or their name, doesn't bear any weight on their legs when supported, doesn't reach for objects, or seems to be losing skills they once had. Any time something feels off, it's always okay to check in.
Frequently asked
How much should an 8-month-old eat at 33 weeks?
Breast milk or formula is still the main source of nutrition, usually about 24 to 30 oz of formula a day or 4 to 6 nursing sessions, plus solids 2 to 3 times a day. Let your baby's hunger and fullness cues guide the amounts rather than aiming for a fixed number.
Why is my 33-week-old suddenly clingy or waking more at night?
Separation anxiety and stranger awareness commonly peak around 8 months, and new skills can briefly disrupt sleep. This is a normal developmental phase. Keeping consistent, comforting routines usually helps, and it typically eases over time.
My baby isn't crawling yet at 33 weeks. Should I worry?
Not on its own. Crawling has a wide normal range and can appear later in this period or beyond, and some healthy babies skip it entirely. Mention it at the 9-month checkup, and call your pediatrician sooner if your baby isn't sitting with support or seems to be losing skills.
Looking for the bigger picture? See the month 8 overview →
General guidance, not medical advice. Every baby develops at their own pace — talk to your pediatrician with any concerns.