Baby 4–6 months

6 Month Old Baby

Around six months

What this month often looks like

Around this age many babies know familiar people and enjoy looking in a mirror.
Some take turns making sounds and begin to sit leaning on their hands.
This is often when families start thinking about new foods — every baby is different.

Grip is becoming steadier, and an object may stay in the hand through a change of position.
Bringing objects to the mouth to explore them is typical at this stage.
Movement between positions may be practised in pieces long before it happens in one go.
Rolling from front to back is something many babies do by around six months.
Around six months many babies push up with straight arms during front-lying play, and lean on their hands when sitting with support.
Sitting is practised in short, wobbly attempts. Being placed into a position is not the same as getting there.
An object may travel from one hand to the other, sometimes by way of the mouth.
Reaching for a toy they want is common by around six months.
Taking turns making sounds with you, and squealing or making a range of noises, is typical around six months.
Responding to their own name may become more consistent around this age.

Check that anything within reach is too large to fit entirely in the mouth.
Clear floor space on both sides gives room for a roll that may arrive without warning.
Sit close by rather than propping with cushions, so a wobble ends safely.
Offering a second object while one is held invites the swap without any instruction.
Using their name at the start of a sentence, then pausing, gives it something to attach to.

Routines and feeding can be shifting again.
Mixed feelings about that are understandable.
Half a year is approaching, and with it a lot of external comparison. Your baby's own pace is the only useful one.
Once movement starts, the room usually needs a second look.
Equipment promising to speed this up is rarely necessary.
Dropping things is part of the same learning, however it looks from the floor.
Six months of learning each other tends to show up as small confidences rather than one big change.

There is no single right way — gentle and responsive is plenty.

40 activity ideas suit this age — most take about five minutes and need nothing you do not already have.

ParentSide has 60 recipes for 6–8 months, each with its texture, portion and preparation notes.

Services ParentSide defines for this stage. Each page explains what the service covers and which professionals are approved to provide it.

Sources

If you are worried about your wellbeing or your baby's wellbeing, consider contacting a qualified health professional.