Baby books. It's never too early and most people don't understand the importance of reading to their child even at such a young age. For a 1 year old party we got an Eric Carle animal book that made animal noises

When my daughter was that age, her favorite toy was something similar to this…

Every toy section has a baby aisle :) Just look at the age appropriate section on the packaging. At 8 months anything for learning or sensory would be a great gift.

These are great

Baby toys they have age suggestions on the box and there's tons for that age to help with motor skills 

Any learning toy. My 9 month old loves the tv remote and I think it's fisher price that makes a toy remote it sings and lights up and teaches them abc's and colors....  anyway that's something we got for her... I say anything that can stimulate them.... you can never go wrong there.

Thank you girls!!!