- Your baby's development may include sleeping for longer stretches through the night.
- You can introduce solid foods!
- Most babies are sitting upright unassisted by this age.
- Little ones can recognise the world around them, including themselves in a mirror.
Your Baby's 6 Month Developmental Milestones
Key points
Congratulations, your baby is already halfway to being 1 year old! Such an exciting time in your baby's life, especially as it comes with plenty of delightful developmental milestones. The 6 month milestones feature their fair share of cognitive and physical developments, so keep an eye out for the signs your baby is learning something new.
Highlights may include sitting upright unassisted and the beginnings of eating solid foods. However, there are more milestones to look forward to in your child's development, all of which will be covered in this helpful guide.
During the 6 month old stage, breastfeeding is still the main form of feeding your baby's needs. They will require the nutrients offered by this food source for many more months to come, which is why the World Health Organisation recommends continuing to breastfeed after you have introduced solids up to 2 years of age.
At this age, however, small amounts of boiled water that has cooled can also be offered in a sippy cup so long as they are eating solids. Additional water is rarely required as a baby’s ingestion of breast milk typically adjusts naturally during changing times such as hot weather or periods of sickness.
At 6 months old, many infants may show they are ready for you to introduce solid food, which will help your baby's growth and cognitive development through the addition of more nutrients. Food is to be introduced only once a baby has drunk their fill of breast milk. Let your baby set the pace which may only be a few bites and do not push them to eat more unless they are interested.
It is evident when your baby is ready to start eating solid foods because of their actions and interest in your meals. They may have already started trying to grab food off your plate, which is why it's best to prepare their own treat to enjoy.
Common first foods to introduce to your baby include:
● Mashed vegetables such as avocado.
● Soft, cooked, or ripe fruits.
● Well-cooked pureed, minced, stewed or grated meat, poultry or fish.
● Legumes.
● Well-cooked rice.
● Pasta and bread.
Keep an eye out for any reactions to the food you introduce to your baby. Experts often advise that common allergenic foods should be introduced before the 1 year milestone[1] to prevent the development of allergies. However, this practice should be done carefully and with plenty of time spent monitoring your little one in case a reaction does occur.
It's not unusual for a baby to only eat a tiny amount of solid food to start with. Think of less than half a teaspoon. However, other babies will be delighted by the new flavours and will want more food during a feed. Allow them to take the lead when they are hungry or full, and enjoy finding their favourite foods.
Some additional tips for making starting solids a positive experience include:
● Many babies need to be offered small amounts of new foods repeatedly before the new food is accepted.
● Offering small amounts of new foods alongside familiar foods can also help your child accept new foods.
● Ensure all offerings of solids are small and mushy enough to prevent choking.
● As much as possible, eat as a family as older members can be great role models for your baby’s eating habits.
● Serve your child the same meal as you as a family are eating but in a portion that is suitable for them. If they choose not to eat it, which is common, take the opportunity to remove it and do not offer an alternative.
● Timing of meals is also important. If your baby is too tired, they will not be interested in eating. Sometimes, meals just need to be offered at different times of the day for your little one to want to eat. Feel free to offer ‘breakfast’ foods at night if they prefer, and vice versa, to get them to eat solids.
In an exciting development, your 6 month old will have a greater reliance on getting their necessary hours of rest at night. Their sleeping patterns are beginning to match with a circadian rhythm, meaning more hours awake during the day to play.
This time is when many parents find themselves settling into a routine as their baby's sleep becomes more predictable. It's still normal to call on friends or family members if things get too overwhelming. Your sleep is just as important as your little one's, so be sure to find a healthy balance between the two.
If you notice your baby struggles with falling asleep or staying asleep, consider contacting a paediatric sleep specialist. Your doctor, Child and Family Health or Well Child nurse can also be contacted for advice on how to get your baby to sleep.
Sleeping patterns
At 6 months of age, many babies are starting to sleep more at night, even if it is not necessarily consistent. This usually takes up 11 to 12 hours of their daily 14 to 17 hours of needed sleep.
The other few hours are left for naps during the day, ranging between 2 to 3. It is common for your little one to start gearing towards dropping their last nap before bed. This is a common phase and may mean you offer a shorter catnap to carry through until bedtime.
However, every baby is different, so don't feel discouraged if their sleep schedule doesn't look like this. So long as they're getting enough hours of rest, and the schedule is something you can work around, then it's more than okay to have their sleep hours spread differently.
The hours between naps should be filled with playing and feeding. This will ensure that your baby stays awake as needed and is more likely to sleep through the night. Remain responsive to their behaviour and ensure that you are checking in with their sleep, hunger, or play cues to know what activity would benefit them best. The best sleeping pattern is the one that works well for you and your little one.
Sleep safety
At 6 months your baby's development has them moving around and being increasingly more active. Even with their new skills, it's still important to place their safety first when it comes to sleeping. That's why they still need to be placed to bed on their back with no objects or bedding in their crib. This ensures their well-being throughout the night.
Beyond eating solid food, there are numerous important milestones to celebrate by the 6 month old stage. Most children are capable of the following milestones, but many take things at their own pace so don't be worried if your little one hasn't hit the mark for everything listed below.
Physical
Physical development at the 6 month old stage is focused mainly on building the foundations of more exciting movements. You can see the beginnings of your baby's understanding of crawling and standing through the following skills:
● Rocking back and forth.
● Sitting upright without additional support.
● Rolling over in both directions when laid down.
● When placed in a standing position on a hard surface they will push down their legs to try and hold their weight.
You can encourage your baby's physical development by creating games for them to play that exercise these skills. An example of this is encouraging rolling over by placing a favoured toy just out of their reach. Be prepared for some frustration and grumpiness at the time as they learn these new skills, it is all part of normal development as they master something different.
Cognitive
Curiosity is the word when it comes to cognitive development at 6 months. Your little one is at the stage where they want to touch everything and learn more about the world around them.
You may notice certain behaviours such as:
● Looking at nearby objects and trying to grab those out of their reach.
● Moving objects between hands and fidgeting with them.
● Regularly bringing their hand to their mouth for stimulation.
Providing your baby with age-appropriate toys will allow them to experience a range of textures and items that are easy to move. Playing peek-a-boo and other games with partly hidden objects can encourage this curiosity. It also teaches your baby about cause and effect as well as object permanence, the building blocks of more advanced skills in their future. Object permanence means knowing that an object still exists, even if it is hidden. It requires your baby to form a mental picture of the object.
Emotional
In terms of emotional developmental milestones, you may have noticed an increase in your baby's attempts to connect with those around them. They are happier and more prone to responding to other's emotions. Because of this, talk to your baby in a soft tone and allow them to explore their facial expressions.
Communication
Language development is a major part of the 6 month mark. Your little one can start expressing themselves more clearly with their mouth, making sounds and recognising some common ones used around them.
Your baby at this age will likely express the following skills:
● Responding to external sounds by making sounds of their own.
● Putting together vowel sounds, especially in response to your sounds.
● Beginning to make some consonant sounds.
● Recognises and responds to their name.
● Will make particular sounds to express positive and negative emotions.
Encourage their language skills by regularly engaging in conversation. Repeat any sounds they make to prompt them to keep trying to speak. Frequently using their name can also help your baby learn to respond to it and identify it with themself. Further encouragement can be provided by pointing out and naming objects, or reading age-appropriate picture books with simple yet catchy language.
Social
The inherent desire to connect with others is not just the focus of emotional development in 6 month old babies. Socially, this kind of behaviour is common and shows an indication of wanting to understand others and themselves. Additionally, your baby's personality is sure to shine through in these interactions, so be sure to watch out for their hidden nuances when they:
● Differentiate between familiar faces and those of strangers.
● Enjoy looking at themselves in a mirror.
● Express joy at playing with you and others.
Connections can be built through regular interactions, so try games like peek-a-boo or patty cake. Maintaining eye contact can also help your baby learn social skills and make connections with others.
Milestones to monitor
Although all babies develop and learn new skills at their own pace, it is best to talk with your healthcare professional if you notice your baby:
● Doesn't laugh or make vowel sounds.
● Can't roll over in either direction.
● Has difficulty putting things into their mouth.
● Doesn't show any affection to parents or close family members.
● Does not attempt to grab nearby objects.
● Seems floppy/stiff or is unable to attempt sitting.
If you think you have a reason to be concerned about your baby’s development, speak to your Child and Family Health or Well Child nurse or family doctor.
When your baby learns new skills, this is typically practised and explored best through playtime. Interacting with your baby during these moments will not only encourage their development but also strengthen the connection between you and your little one.
At 6 months your baby is overflowing with curiosity, a desire to explore and experience everything around them. Most children express this by grabbing everything in their surroundings and babbling more. Encourage this behaviour for their overall development and create further learning opportunities through fun activities such as:
● Introducing toys with varied textures and functions for stimulation.
● Reading soft books with colourful pictures.
● Playing clapping games like patty cake for motor skills.
● Singing or playing music.
● Helping them to sit up.
● Repeating words or sounds they make.
Making playtime fun allows babies to feel encouraged and happy to try new things and practice skills. Expanding on these activities as your little one grows allows for them to remain appropriate for their age and stage of development.
The 6 month old stage marks another wellness check-up, including more vaccinations. Your baby has grown so much since their last appointment with a healthcare professional, so it's high time their development is celebrated.
Health check
During a health check, there is a strong focus on your baby's physical development. Beyond routine weight and height checks, their developmental milestones will be noted. This check-in will look over your little one’s development and how they are progressing through their developmental milestones.
These check-ins allow a professional to observe your baby's ability to:
● Make sounds, especially stringing together vowels or consonants.
● Pass objects between hands.
● Bring objects or hands to their mouth.
● Play with their toes.
● Roll over in both directions.
● Interact with themself in the mirror.
● Laugh.
● Sit up unassisted, or assisted so long as they have good head control.
This is an excellent time to bring up any concerns or questions you may have about your baby's development.
Dental care
For those babies who have been teething, there may be a chance that some pearly whites are poking through the gums at this age. Your healthcare professional will check for any signs of growing teeth during this appointment and advise you on how best to take care of them.
Typically, this visit covers key areas like how to brush your baby's teeth and manage teething symptoms[1] . These tips can help with behaviours like waking up at night, drooling, and increased fussiness. Find out what works best for your baby and pay attention to their cues.
Vaccinations
In Australia, the National Immunisation Program Schedule provides the childhood immunisations recommended for all children, free of charge. If you have started the Immunisation Program your next vaccination is at 6 months. This includes immunisation against the following:
● Diphtheria.
● Tetanus.
● Polio.
● Hepatitis B.
● Hib vaccine.
Speak to your Child and Family Health nurse, doctor or healthcare professional with any questions you may have about immunisations.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the National Immunisation Schedule sets out the free vaccines offered to babies, tamariki, teenagers and adults at certain times in their lives. Your 6 month old baby is not due for another vaccination until they are 12 months old. Specifically, the Pneumococcal vaccine.
Speak to your Well Child provider, doctor or healthcare professional with any questions you may have about immunisations.
Self-care tips for parents
Maintaining your physical and mental well-being is key to being an organised and happy parent. It can be stressful to take care of a fussy baby when you're hungry, sleep-deprived, or ready to take a break. That's why all parents should take the time to organise moments of self-care for themselves.
If you need more sleep, you can try:
● Avoiding caffeine or other stimulants in the evening.
● Avoiding screen time before bed.
● Going to bed at the same time each day.
● Creating as restful of an environment in bed as possible.
● Avoiding napping in the evening.
● Taking brief naps throughout the day when possible.
● Soothe yourself before bed with a warm shower or bath.
For those looking to reintroduce physical exercise into their daily schedule again, you can enjoy benefits such as:
● Boosted mood from heading outdoors and getting enough vitamin D.
● Improved confidence by setting and reaching achievable goals.
● Centring yourself through gentle exercises like yoga or meditation.
● Increased levels of 'feel good' chemicals like serotonin and dopamine from exerting yourself.
Some other key takeaways for improving self-care as a parent include:
● Eating a balanced diet.
● Staying hydrated.
● Making time to regularly socialise, especially doing fun activities with loved ones.
● Reach out to support groups such as parents or playgroups.
● Communicating effectively with your partner and/or support network.
● Picking up old or new hobbies.
Self-care is also about treating yourself to enjoyable or luxurious activities that place you first. Don't hesitate to schedule pamper sessions during your free time and make sure to be kind to yourself as a parent. You're doing an amazing job raising a 6 month old baby and you need to celebrate it!
If additional support is needed, don't hesitate to reach out to your loved ones and support network. You're never alone in the journey of parenthood, even within a professional capacity. Your doctor, Child and Family Health or Well Child nurse can provide expert advice on any developmental milestones and guide you through how best to take care of your little one.
We’re here to help
Our team of nutritionists, dietitians and midwives at Careline are healthcare professionals with big hearts. Specialising in infant and child health, they offer parents and carers, free nutrition, feeding and product advice and lots of moral support. Contact our Careline Experts by phone, LiveChat or email.
Always consult your doctor, midwife or healthcare professional for advice about feeding your baby.
Every feeding journey is unique
Not every parent can breastfeed. Not every parent can produce breast milk. No matter what choice you make, we will support your unique feeding journey.
We at Nutricia believe in providing the best nutrition for babies, which is why we recognise breast milk as uniquely superior for babies, it provides many benefits. It is important that mums have a healthy diet to support breastfeeding. A decision not to breastfeed, or partial bottle feed, may reduce breast milk supply making it difficult to reverse. The cost and social implications of using feeding methods should be considered. Always seek professional for advice about feeding your baby. Ensure formula is used as directed as improper use can affect baby’s health.
Please note: These articles are meant to give you a general sense of the growth and development of your newborn baby. However, it’s important to remember that every baby grows and develops at their own pace. This article is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak to your healthcare professional about any concern you have concerning your child.
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Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora. National Immunisation Schedule [Internet]. [Cited 2024 February 20]. Available from:
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