At six months old, your baby is undergoing an exciting period of growth and change. From sitting independently to babbling sounds, this stage is packed with important developmental milestones.
Understanding what to expect and how to support your baby’s development can help you navigate this crucial time with confidence.
Physical Development Milestones
At six months, many babies begin showing signs of improved mobility, strength, and coordination. According to the CDC developmental milestones, sitting without support and rolling over are typical indicators of healthy progress during this stage.
1. Improved Head and Neck Control
By now, your baby should have strong head and neck control. They can turn their head to follow movement, which helps them explore and engage with their surroundings.
2. Sitting with or Without Support
Many 6-month-old babies begin sitting with little or no support. This milestone helps develop balance and core strength, giving them a whole new perspective of the world.
3. Rolling Over
Expect your baby to roll both from back to front and vice versa. Rolling is an essential skill that helps build strength and prepares them for crawling.
4. Beginning to Crawl or Scoot
Not all babies crawl at this age, but some start rocking on hands and knees or scooting. These are early signs of mobility and muscle development.
5. Reaching and Grasping
Improved hand-eye coordination means your baby can reach out, grab toys, and transfer them between hands. Offer safe, textured toys to enhance tactile learning.
Cognitive Development Milestones
1. Improved Memory and Recognition
Your baby now recognizes familiar faces and voices. They may smile or become excited when you enter the room or speak to them.
2. Understanding Cause and Effect
Dropping a toy to see you pick it up? That’s your baby exploring cause and effect! Interactive play helps reinforce this understanding.
3. Exploratory Play
Babies begin to play more intentionally by shaking, banging, or mouthing objects. This helps them understand texture, sound, and shape.
4. Early Object Permanence
Though still developing, your baby may start to look around for toys that disappear, showing an early understanding of object permanence.
Social and Emotional Milestones
1. Attachment to Caregivers
Babies show a strong preference for their primary caregivers and may become anxious when separated. This is a sign of secure attachment forming.
2. Expressing a Wider Range of Emotions
Expect giggles, squeals, frowns, and tears—your baby is learning to express how they feel more clearly.
3. Enjoying Social Interaction
Games like peek-a-boo or mirror play are big hits. Your baby might mimic facial expressions or laugh in response to funny faces.
Language and Communication Milestones
1. Babbling Begins
Babbling with repetitive syllables like “ba-ba” or “da-da” is common. While not actual words yet, this is a big step toward speaking.
2. Responding to Name
Call your baby’s name and watch as they turn their head or smile. This shows growing attention and recognition.
3. Responding to Tone of Voice
Babies can distinguish between tones. A soothing tone calms them, while a firm one may surprise or alert them.
Feeding and Nutrition Milestones
1. Starting Solid Foods
Most babies are ready to begin solids around six months. Look for signs like interest in food, good head control, and the ability to sit upright.
Begin with single-ingredient purees like:
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Iron-fortified baby cereal
- Pureed carrots or apples
2. Continued Breastfeeding or Formula
Breast milk or formula remains your baby’s main source of nutrition. Aim for 24–32 ounces per day, even as you introduce solids.
3. Sippy Cup Introduction
You can introduce small amounts of water in a sippy or open cup during meals to help develop sipping skills. Avoid replacing milk feeds with water.
Sleep Milestones
1. Longer Nighttime Sleep
Many babies sleep 6–8 hours at night at this age. However, don’t be surprised by occasional night waking or sleep regression.
2. Napping Schedule
Expect 2–3 naps daily, totaling about 3–4 hours of daytime sleep. Your baby needs about 14–15 hours of total sleep each day.
3. Establishing a Bedtime Routine
A consistent bedtime routine (bath, lullaby, feeding) helps your baby understand when it’s time to sleep and can promote better rest.
How to Support Your Baby’s Development
- Interactive Play: Play with your baby using colorful, soft toys to support their learning and curiosity.
- Talk and Read: Narrate your actions and read books daily to promote language development.
- Tummy Time: Continue supervised tummy time to strengthen upper body muscles.
- Safe Environment: Babyproof your home as they become more mobile.
- Respond to Cues: Watch and respond to your baby’s signals for sleep, hunger, or stimulation.
When to Contact a Pediatrician
Every baby develops differently, but talk to your pediatrician if your baby:
- Shows no affection or social smile
- Cannot sit with support
- Doesn’t respond to sounds or visual cues
- Has poor head control
- Isn’t babbling or showing vocal interest
- Doesn’t reach for or grasp objects
Early evaluation can ensure timely support if any developmental delays are present.
Final Thoughts
Your six-month-old is blossoming into a curious, expressive, and increasingly mobile little person. This phase is filled with delightful discoveries, emerging skills, and important connections.
While every baby’s journey is unique, celebrating each milestone, big or small, fosters confidence—for both baby and parent.
Continue to provide love, stimulation, and safety as your baby learns and grows.
For more expert-backed guides and parenting support, explore our full archive on NewbornStages.com.
