Medically Reviewed by: Dr José Costa, MD
Although it feels unlikely when you are in the midst of long sleep-deprived days, everyone always tells you how quickly time goes when you have a newborn. Now that you have a 6-month-old baby, you might finally start to believe them.
Already halfway to a year, your little one will be going through lots of exciting baby development milestones at this stage in their life and watching them start to take in and explore the world around them will be a wonderful experience. Here's what you and your 6-month-old baby are in store for this month...
6-month-old baby development
Sleep - "At six months old, your baby may be still waking every 2 hours or they may be sleeping for longer stretches at night, possibly up to 8 or 9 hours," says midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan. "They may also take two-three naps during the day, each lasting about 45 mins - 3 hours. With sleep, it's important to remember that there are many variations of 'normal'." Dr José agrees that the main difference at this stage is longer sleep cycles at night. "Baby can reach six to eight hours at night without waking for a feed."
Cognitive development - "Your six-month-old may start to make more sounds and possibly say their first word, eg. DaDa! But they will not yet be able to have a conversation. They will still be learning to communicate through facial expressions and body language," Susan explains.
Dr Costa agrees, and adds that most babies will also start to laugh between 6-7 months. "As your baby’s hand skills improve, they will also start exploring objects more, moving them from hand to hand and they will briefly search for a fallen object." He adds.
Physical development - "Your baby’s growth will start slowing down and soon they will be able to sit unsupported. This will allow them to look around them, trying to reach objects nearby." Says Dr Costa. "They may also start to develop more control over their hand movements and be able to transfer objects from one hand to the other," says Susan. "You might hear other parents saying that their baby is left-handed or right-handed, but it is worth noting that at this age of your baby’s life, it is not normal for them to have a hand preference (hand preference usually starts to develop between the ages of 2 to 4 years old)."
Feeding - "At six months old, your baby is likely to be drinking about 700 ml (about 24 ounces) of breast milk or formula each day. They may also start to eat solid foods at 6 months, but breast milk or formula should still be their main source of nutrition," says Susan.
As your baby begins weaning, Dr Costa advises that parents should follow a schedule when it comes to mealtimes. "Parents should aim to feed their baby two -three meals, with solids per day. In total, they should have six meals, with the remaining being either bottle or breast, which often are the first and last meal of the day."
6-month-old baby growth
Your baby will likely weigh about 7kg-9kg (about 16-20 pounds) and be about 65 cm (about 26 inches) long. "Of course, every baby is different and will grow at their own rate," reminds Susan. "You will be assigned a Health Visitor (HV) who will be your link healthcare professional, your HV will ensure your baby is thriving in the first few days. weeks, and months of their life."
6-month-old baby health
Teething - Yep, that's right, teething is here. You can expect your baby's lower central incisors - that's her two front bottom teeth - to emerge at around six months. Common teething symptoms include dribbling, chewing, red gums and cheeks and irritability. Thankfully, there are plenty of teething remedies to help your little love.
Sterilising - While you might be wondering if you can stop sterilising bottles at 6 months, the NHS advises that this must be continued until your little one is at least 12 months old. From this point, they will have started to produce their own antibodies and be more resistant to harmful germs.
Things to think about at 6 months
Play - It may not feel like it, but there are plenty of fun activities for 6-month-old babies that you can do from home that will aid their development and help enhance your bond even more. "Encourage your baby to explore their environment and play with toys to help with their development," Susan suggests. "You can increase the length and complexity of your sentences and start playing small games with them including peek-a-boo." Suggests Dr Costa. "Using mirror toys will help them to recognise themselves and control their movements." He adds.
Weaning - Current NHS advice says that weaning should start around six months of age and if your little one can sit up holding their head and chest straight and steady, now is the time to consider whether you are interested in baby-led weaning or spoon-fed weaning. "Always offer your baby a variety of healthy foods and try to include foods from different food groups to ensure that they are getting all of the nutrients they need," Susan recommends.
Introduce a cup or beaker - From around six months, it is advised to introduce your baby to an open or free-flow cup without a valve as this is better for your child's teeth and will help them learn to sip. It may get a bit messy at times but patience is key.
Sitting up - After learning to roll around five months old, it's likely that your youngster will have full control of their neck muscles now which means they might be trying to sit up unassisted between now and seven months. This may only last for a few seconds but it's all good practice. Surround them with pillows just in case they topple.
About the experts
Dr José Costa is a Consultant Paediatrician and fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. He has over 16 years of experience in Paediatrics and over 12 years in Paediatric Allergy. Previously he led the Paediatric Allergy Services at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire. Before that, he led the Paediatric Allergy Service at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
This article contains expert advice from midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan. Sue’s main mission in all of the work she does is "supporting new families, helping them to feel confident and in control during their pregnancy, their birth and as they grow as a family unit."
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.