Babies six months milestones
Your baby is finally six months old and you can hardly believe it. If we’re honest, this is not only a milestone for your baby, but for you as well. Six months is a major milestone because the baby has grown from a tiny infant to a six- month old that can smile and laugh.
Below, we take a look at the first 6 months milestones in terms of the baby’s development.
Baby Motor Skills
Before the baby is six months, you’ll notice that he may have trouble sitting up by himself, let alone standing up. However, before the six-month milestone, the baby should have already figured out how to prop himself up using his hands for support. This can then transition to their ability to sit up without requiring support from the mother.
Some may even be able to prop themselves up by their knees. This way, they are able to crawl around. Prior to this, a baby is likely to push against the floor using her legs and arms while on her tummy.
Below are a few other motor skills that the baby will have attained by six months:
- Can or at least tries to crawl
- Can pass an object from one hand to the other with ease
- Can roll from their tummy to their back and vice versa
- Can rock back and forth while supporting himself on hands and knees
- Can bounce while standing
Baby Growth
After the birth of a baby, he/she should be gaining 1.5 or 2 pounds on a monthly basis. However, once the baby hits the six month milestone, the baby should only be gaining 1 pound per month. Essentially, the growth rate of the baby should slow down after six months.
Baby Sleep
For the first few months, your baby is likely to sleep for at least 4 to 5 hours during a night session. However, by six months, most babies sleep for about six to eight hours. As a new mom, you want to ensure that put your baby to sleep on her back to avoid SIDS.
Baby Feeding
Six months is often the recommended time to start introducing fruits and vegetables that are strained slowly and gradually.
Of course, you can always jump between solid foods and formula or breast milk while feeding the baby. However, if you choose to do so, ensure that you feed them more of the solid food as compared to the formula or breast milk.
As you introduce solid food into the baby’s diet, be sure to introduce food types one at a time. Always wait a day after introducing new food to the baby to check for any allergic reactions. Symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting could mean that the baby is allergic to a certain food type.
Baby Senses
Your baby at six months will start noticing the details around him or her. Of course, this is due to the fact that their eyesight has improved and developed a great deal since birth. The baby will even be able to see from across the room.
The eye color of a newborn baby tends to change a lot during the first six months. However, by six months, the eye color should remain the same even after they mature into adulthood.
Baby Communication
At six months, the baby’s brain should have gone through some development since birth. The baby should be attempting to communicate at this stage. When the baby attempts speech, it will often entail a lot of babbling; nothing really comprehensible.
The baby should also be able to respond to you by laughing and smiling. He or she should be able to respond to their name by simply looking at back at you.
Related:
HOW CAN I HELP MY BABY LEARN TO ROLL OVER?
WHEN CAN YOU START TUMMY TIME WITH A NEWBORN?
WHEN SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT MY BABY NOT WALKING?
