The Typical Development Of A 6 Month Old Baby

Your baby’s world right now

Half a year. A whole new ballgame.

This month, your baby is laying the groundwork for speech with every sound she makes. Keep talking with her this month. Also, she’s becoming more aware of you as a separate person. A good way to help calm her fear of being alone is by playing "peek-a-boo."

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Your baby’s nutrition

Give her a solid start.

Check with your baby's healthcare provider to determine if now is the time to introduce solid foods. When you do start to introduce solid foods, start gradually and one at a time to check for allergic reactions. If she has a severe reaction to a specific food, contact your healthcare provider.

Iron-fortified baby cereals (rice, barley, oats)
Pureed meat (fully cooked beef, chicken)
Pureed or strained fruits (bananas, pears, applesauce, peaches)
Pureed or strained vegetables (avocados, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes)

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Your baby’s development

Playing is teaching. Doing is learning.

Keep in mind that every baby develops on a different schedule, but by the end of month 6, your baby will likely be able to do the following:

Sit up without support
Begin to explore objects by putting them in her mouth
Pick up things by "raking" them with her fingers (You will want to be even more careful now about what you leave around the house.)

Keep in mind that every baby develops on a different schedule, but by the end of month 6, your baby will likely be able to do the following:

Sit up without support
Begin to explore objects by putting them in her mouth
Pick up things by "raking" them with her fingers (You will want to be even more careful now about what you leave around the house.)

Sleep patterns and tips at 6 months.

Once your baby is 6 months old, she'll probably be sleeping through the night. But she occasionally might wake up during the night.
At this age, if she still wakes up several times a night, talk with your healthcare professional about possible causes and solutions.
During the day, your baby will be wide-awake and active for extended periods, and should be taking two or three short naps totaling three to four hours.

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Things to think about now

Separation anxiety is nothing to worry about.

If your 6-month-old cries when you leave the room, she might be suffering from a new fear known as baby separation anxiety. The best way to calm your baby is to leave, wait for a minute or two, and then return. Repeating this pattern, at progressively longer intervals, will help her realize that you always come back. When you soothe and calm your fussy baby, she gets the message that all is well. It is a message that will stay with her as she grows.

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