How your baby plays, speaks, learns, and acts is important! Paying attention to these things helps us get a better understanding of his or her development. Although unmet milestones does not always mean trouble, understanding these typical developmental milestones will help you determine the need to speak with a pediatrician.
So, what can your baby do by 6 months old?
Social/Emotional
Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
Likes to play with others, especially parents
Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy
Likes to look at self in a mirror
Language/Communication
Responds to sounds by making sounds
Strings vowels together when babbling
Responds to own name
Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure
Begins to say consonant sounds
Cognitive
Looks around at things nearby
Brings things to mouth
Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
Begins to pass things from one hand to the other
Physical
Rolls over in both directions, front to back and back to front
Begins to sit without support
When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce
Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward
How can I help develop my 6 month old?
Play on the floor with your baby every day
Show your baby how to comfort herself when shes upset
Use reciprocal play- smile back when baby smiles, copy sounds, etc
Read books to your baby every day, praise when baby babbles
When your baby looks at something, point to it and talk about it
When baby drops a toy on the floor, pick it up and give it back
Read colorful picture books
Point out new things to your baby and name them
Hold your baby up while she sits or support her with pillows
Put baby on tummy or back and put toys just out of reach, this will encourage to roll or move
If you are concerned about any of these things, ask your pediatrician for guidance. Check out our other article about milestones and parenting.
As always- like, comment, and share!
Jeri Ford, RN, BSN, CPN
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