Baby development: Month Six
By six months, you’ll notice
your baby becoming more of a little person, as she masters sitting, likes to be
upright and starts trying to tell you things with gestures, body language and
eye contact. It’s hard to believe she’s halfway through her first year now, and
important changes will take place this month.
Most babies start experimenting with solids at around six months, and as most experts recommend babies
sleep in a crib in their parents’ room for at least six months, you might be
moving your baby into a room of her own soon. Watch our video, moving your baby into a crib, which gives you a guide on moving your baby into a crib and
eventually into her own room.
She will also start to know her
name at this stage and you’ll see her becoming less of a baby and more of a
little person.
Grasping
By six months your baby may
start to show interest in objects placed around her. She may even reach out to grasp them or twist her body to get at an object behind her. Once
she has grasped her object she might try to pass it from one hand to the other.
She can play with toys properly now instead of just mouthing them, but don’t go
crazy buying every toy at the store – she’ll be happy enough banging away with
a wooden spoon and some pans.
Everything goes into her mouth
at this stage, so be careful to keep anything that poses a choking hazard away
from her reach.
Hearing
At around six months old she can
turn to hear very quiet noises if there are no distractions in the room
and will turn to find your voice even if you are some distance away.
Sitting
By six months she may be able to
sit
unsupported for a
while as her limbs, neck and back muscles become much stronger. She may still
topple over from time to time when gravity gets the better of her so don’t
leave her without cushions or a soft playmat to protect her.
Understanding the world
At six months old she will be
able to distinguish between different emotions and facial expressions and may
get excited when you’re happy or upset if you’re sad. She’s also starting to
understand where things live in the world in relation to her, so if something
is out of sight, she can move to see it and if something is hidden in a toy
box, she may attempt to find it.
Six month olds also love to
mimic you – try playing peek-a-boo by putting your hands up to your face and
she’ll probably try to join in. Poking your tongue out, blowing raspberries and
making funny faces never been so much fun.
Behavior
It’s a good idea to get into
the habit of praising your baby for good behavior and saying a firm ‘no’ if she
goes to investigate the plug socket. Try not to feel too frustrated with her
though – she doesn’t know her boundaries and is experimenting with what she can
and can’t do.
New bedroom
If your baby still sleeps in
your room you’re probably getting tired of creeping in at midnight and stubbing
your toes, not too mention an awkward sex life. Experts recommend that babies
sleep in a crib in their parents’ room till they’re at least six months old, so
now might be a good time to think about moving your baby into her own room. The
key to success is to do it around the six/seven/eight month mark, as the older
your baby gets the more she realizes (and likes) being in your room.
There’s a good chance your baby
will take to her own room instantly and settle down without complaint – and you
might actually miss hearing her snuffle and snore at night. Here are some tips
to help through the move:
- Start on a Friday night so that
if you do have a few sleepless nights you both have the weekend to recover.
- Try to spend lots of playtime
in your baby’s bedroom before you move her, so she’s familiar with it and
enjoys spending time in there.
- Make sure you make her room as
similar to the environment she is used too – use the same mobile, bedding or
lullaby tape you’ve played to her every night, and keep to her usual bedtime
routine as before.
- Resist the urge to move her
back into your room if things get tough. It might take a few broken nights for
her to get used to her room, but once she does you’ll all sleep better.
Sleep
Six-month-old babies need around
14 hours of sleep, which roughly equates to three and a half hours in the day
and 10½ hours at night. These aren’t continuous hours of sleep – your baby may
nap in two to three-hour stretches, or in lots of shorter naps throughout the
day and night. No baby, toddler or child is the same when it comes to sleep so
resist the urge to compare your baby’s sleep patterns with anyone else’s. This
is also a very rough estimate as some babies need very little sleep whiles
others are fond of a long slumber. If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep
patterns consult your pediatrician. Go to gurgle's Sleep and Bedtime section for all you need to know on sleeping patterns and
establishing good bedtime routines.
Solids
Around six months usually marks
the big move onto solid food, as your baby’s digestive and immune systems are
now mature enough to handle it. The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines
recommend four to six month as the best window for introducing your baby to
solids, though it advises that the closer you wait until six months the
better for your baby, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
As a general rule of thumb, when
your baby has doubled her birthweight (roughly around six months) she’s
probably ready for solids. Other clues that she’s ready are if she wakes in the
night when she slept well before, or is she starts to reach out to your plate
of food while you’re eating. ?For more details on when and how to introduce
solids to your baby, and what to offer, see our Feeding and Food section.
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 25/06/2008