By Alison Heyerdahl

At six months old, your baby is halfway to her first birthday, and she will be very interested in the world around her.  Soon you won’t be able to contain her in one space, secure that she will stay put, because crawling is around the corner.  This is also the month that you will start her on solid foods, if you haven’t done so already, and will also be the month that she will start to sit unsupported.  Read on to find out more about your baby’s development at six months.

Milestones

Remember that all babies develop at slightly different rates.  While some babies may have already mastered these milestones, others will only be approaching them.  Premature babies and those born with special needs may develop at slower rates. 

Body Development

• Your baby will likely weigh somewhere between 13 and 23 pounds, and measure 24 to 29 inches if he’s a boy.  Girls generally weigh between 12 and 22 pounds and measure between 23 to 28 inches.

• At this stage, your baby will start sitting without support.  The average baby sits unsupported around the 6 ½ month mark.  Interestingly, some babies sit at the age of four months, while others only start sitting at around 9 months.  Nevertheless, she’ll be able to sit up well in a high chair which is perfect for solid feeds.

• Your baby will easily be able to bear weight on her legs when supported in standing, and some babies even pull themselves into standing when place on their tummies. 

• Your baby can roll from her back to her side and can push up onto her hands when she is on her tummy. 

• She can also reach for objects and transfers them from one hand to another.

• You will notice that she grabs onto her feet when lying on her back.

• She will hold out her hands to be lifted up.
  

Cognitive Development

• Your baby will develop an understanding of ‘object permanence.’  This means that your baby will look for an object that is no longer visible.

• Your baby will start to enjoy toys with more complex features such as doors, push-buttons, winding handles, etc.  She will also be able to judge the speed of moving toys, reaching out to grab them with accuracy. 

• She loves to explore with her hands and mouth, and every new object will inevitably land up in her mouth. 

• She will struggle to get objects out of her reach. 
  

Social/Language Development

• You will notice that your baby responds to her own name when it is called. 

• She enjoys social play and will be very interested in her own image in the mirror.  She may even smile and talk to it.

• She will respond to the emotions of others, but will often appear joyful.

• She may start to develop stranger anxiety.  She may fear new people and become afraid when her parents are not around.

• She will try to mimic the sounds that you make.  Some babies may even begin to say “ma” or “da”.  Stimulate her with music, nursery rhymes, singing, and talking to her. 
  

Sleep

• Most six-month-old babies sleep for around 15 to 16 hours a day.  This usually amounts to 11 hours at night (with many babies sleeping straight through), and two naps in the day.  The naps often add up to three to four hours but can vary. 
  

Feeding

• Most parents would have started solids in the last month.  If you haven’t yet started your baby on solids, the six-month mark is a good time.  You can introduce between one and two tablespoons up to three to nine tablespoons of cereals, fruits, and vegetables to your babi’s diet per day.  The food should be well pureed to prevent choking. 

• Your baby will also likely be taking in between 24 to 36 ounces of breast milk or formula a day.

Conclusion

Your baby is developing at an exponential rate, becoming more mobile and aware of her environment every day.  She is also able to communicate her needs with different facial expressions, gestures and sounds.  Your baby will also be sleeping 15 to 16 hours a day, including two daily naps. If you haven’t already, the six-month mark is a good time to start your baby on solids so that she is getting all her nutritional needs met.