Your 6-Month-Old Baby’s Development and Milestones

As you approach your baby's 6-month birthday, it's probably hard to believe they've been in the world for half a year. A lot has happened over the past several months, and this rapid growth and development will culminate in some big milestones. In fact, parents are often delighted when their babies reach 6 months because it brings so many exciting changes.

Not only will your baby laugh and babble, but they might be able to sit up without support, and they'll likely show readiness for solid foods. Plus, they may start sleeping longer stretches at night, which means you'll finally get more shut-eye!

"At 6 months, your baby should be expressing joy and displeasure, displaying curiosity, and passing things from one hand to another," says Ben Levinson, MD, a primary care pediatrician with Nationwide Children's Hospital. "They will use a raking grasp and swipe objects with their fingers. They also should start reaching for you, recognizing who is a known person and who is a stranger at this point."

Here we discuss the key milestones you can expect your baby to reach this month—like starting solid foods and becoming more mobile—plus some important safety considerations. Read on for more about your 6-month-old baby's development.

6-Month-Old Baby Development

At 6 months, babies usually reach some big developmental milestones because of how strong they're getting. But don't get too worried if your baby hasn't hit a particular milestone just yet; every infant has a unique timeline.

"So much of development occurs within a range of time and along a spectrum," says Marie Trace, MD, a specialist in developmental-behavioral pediatrics with Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation. "We have information about what that looks like for typically developing children, but it's important to remember that every child is unique."

Here's what to expect as your baby approaches their 6-month birthday:

• Your baby is becoming more engaged and curious
• They might sit up without support, so they'll see the world from a whole new perspective
• Your baby will use their hands more, and they're becoming more assertive about what they like and don't like
• Their movement is likely limited to rolling—and possibly rocking back and forth on their hands and knees
• They'll recognize familiar people
• You might notice them squealing or blowing “raspberries” 
• Your baby will probably push up with straight arms during tummy time

Keep in mind that your baby learns about the world through taste, so don't be surprised if they grab your slipper or the dog's toy and put it in their mouth. For this reason, never leave your baby to play alone. You need to be there to stop them from tasting the wrong things!

Your baby will also be eager to reach out and touch everything they see. This includes off-limit items like hot pans, coffee mugs, and even dangly earrings. And, if your baby can't manage to get to these items on their own, they may demand your help by yelling or making a commotion.

Keep in mind that it won't be long until your 6-month-old baby is completely mobile. Make sure to babyproof your house, if you haven't already done so.

6-Month-Old Baby Milestones

According to Dr. Trace, the five primary areas of development include social-emotional, language-communication, cognitive or problem-solving, movement, and self-help/adaptive. Your baby will hit milestones in each of these areas at 6 months. "It's really important to note that none of those domains exist in a vacuum, though; they are intertwined and work together," she says.

Some of the biggest 6-month milestones involve movement. For instance, your baby might roll front to back and back to front, sit without support, bear some weight on their legs, and rock on their hands and knees, says Dr. Levinson. "They also should be able to pass objects from hand to hand, but if they show a hand preference, that should be mentioned to your pediatrician."

As for language, your baby should respond to sounds, string vowels together, and possibly recognize their name, says Dr. Trace. They'll also make noises to show their joy and their displeasure, and they may start to say consonant sounds as well.

6-Month-Old Baby Food

If your baby shows signs of readiness for solid foods—such as holding their head up, opening their mouth for food, and reaching for your food—you can slowly start the introduction. Choose a time when you won't be rushed and you can both get a little messy.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends introducing one new "single-ingredient" food every three to five days, and then watching for an allergic reaction. Outside of these guidelines, "it doesn't matter what order you introduce foods," says Dr. Levinson. "The only caveat would be if your baby has moderate to severe eczema. Then, you may want to talk to your pediatrician first about when to introduce highly allergenic foods."

What you choose to feed your baby is also a matter of personal preference. Some parents prefer pre-made baby foods, while others opt to make their own. Just be mindful of the texture and consistency of the food. Because your baby is just learning how to eat, you should stick with pureed or extremely soft food for now.

Aside from choking concerns, there are very few limitations when it comes to feeding solids. "You do want to avoid introducing honey or cow's milk during the first year of life," says Dr. Levinson.

6-Month-Old Baby Sleep

By the time your baby's half-birthday rolls around, they're likely consolidating their sleep, and they may be snoozing through the night. They're also taking two to three naps per day. Overall, your infant will sleep a total of about 14 hours—about 10 hours at night and four hours during the day.

While 6-month-old babies often sleep for longer stretches at this time, they might still wake due to teething, hunger, separation anxiety, or the desire to practice a new skill.

"Because it's OK to give babies water at this age, I sometimes tell families that if a baby keeps waking up to feed in the middle of the night, try giving them a little water in a sippy cup [instead of nursing or a bottle]," says Dr. Levinson. "They'll slowly stop waking up to feed if all they're getting is water." Another option is waking your baby to feed before you go to bed, he says.

If your baby does wake up at night, make the experience as boring as possible. Do what needs to be done lovingly and safely, but don't play games like peek-a-boo or interact like you would during the day.

6-Month-Old Baby Schedule

At 6 months old, your baby will be more active, and they'll require more hands-on care since they're becoming curious and mobile, says Dr. Levinson. Additionally, as your infant sleeps more at night, they'll have longer wake windows during the day. View these awake periods as opportunities to engage with your baby. Here are some suggestions for engagement:

• Read books
• Talk to them about what you're doing and why (even though they can't answer back or participate in the conversation, they're learning from the words you speak)
• Repeat back the sounds they're making as a way of mimicking conversation
• Play peek-a-boo
• Look in baby-safe mirrors
• Encourage movement by putting your baby's favorite toys nearby but just out of reach

6-Month-Old Baby Health and Safety

Here's what to know about common health and safety concerns at 6 months old.

Well-Child Visits

Around this time, your baby will have a 6-month well-child visit. They'll continue the immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which includes vaccines against polio, rotavirus, pneumococcal, RSV, hepatitis B, COVID-19, and influenza, as well as the DTap vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) and the Hib vaccine.
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Teething

Your baby may also start teething this month if they haven't already. Most likely, your health care provider will advise you on keeping them comfortable, how much pain medication you can use (based on their weight), and how to begin oral hygiene.

Safety

Another area of concern for 6-month-old babies is their increasing curiosity and mobility. Caregivers need to be diligent about keeping their little one safe, not only from falls, but also from pulling on something hot or putting something dangerous in their mouths.

Even if your baby is not particularly mobile just yet, avoid leaving them unattended, even to run to the bathroom. "Don't leave a baby on a changing table or bed where they could roll off," says Dr. Levinson. "They'll also put everything in their mouth at this age, so watch out for poisonous and small things." Make sure they can't easily pull on things like hot beverages, cords, necklaces, and bracelets.

6-Month-Old Baby Care Basics

You're a veteran when it comes to bathing your baby and changing their diapers, but at 6 months old, you'll notice some changes. For instance, as your infant begins eating more solid foods, their poop will change in consistency, color, and smell. It will start to resemble adult stool.

Now is the time to establish a sleep schedule, making sure your baby is getting two to three naps a day and sleeping at least 10 hours at night. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create a bedtime routine.

Additionally, some babies get their first cold around this time. In fact, a child can get as many as eight to 10 colds before turning 2 years old. The key is to follow your health care provider's advice on how to handle a cold, and don't be afraid to reach out with questions.

What Else to Know About Your 6-Month-Old

Your 6-month-old is likely becoming more social and engaging. They might make eye contact with you and will try mimicking the sounds you're making. What's more, their personality is starting to blossom, says Dr. Trace.

Around this time, you're likely learning more about your little one. Look for meaningful ways to interact and play together, especially while they're less mobile. Before long, your baby will be on the go exploring the world around them!