By his first unofficial anniversary, the baby had already learned a lot and managed to process a huge amount of information. His parents and relatives are proud of his achievements, but there are still many important undertakings and difficult tasks ahead that he must complete. Who, if not mom and dad, can help him with this? But to do this, pediatricians advise studying the list of what a child should be able to do at 6 months. This will coordinate their efforts aimed at the development of their daughter or son.

In a month, the baby managed to gain almost 650 g of weight, and his height increased by 2 cm. Along with this, the circumference of his chest increased, which slightly exceeds the diameter of his head. His proportions, changing, gradually begin to approach the proportions of an adult.

One can only be surprised at what metamorphoses have occurred in the baby’s body in just six months:

  1. A six-month-old baby is increasingly showing activity and independence, and this is not surprising, because now his arms and legs have become stronger, his spine has become stronger, most children can already sit up without the help of adults. But that’s not all - while sitting, children do not fall, maintain balance, and at the same time are able to manipulate their hands, grabbing toys.
  2. A distinctive characteristic of age is fully developed vision. Now children see as clearly and distinctly as adults. This gives them many advantages - they can observe the people around them, objects, and their movements. Children are good at distinguishing between views directed at themselves.
  3. The baby’s digestive system has also undergone changes - now the baby’s body actively begins to produce enzymes that can contribute to the high-quality digestion of protein not associated with the mother’s body.
  4. Another event that cannot be ignored is, of course, the eruption of the first milk teeth. This is associated with pain, night vigils, and yet these are organs necessary for the child, because now infants are beginning to switch to an adult menu, and they need to chew food of different consistencies. First, teeth appear on the lower jaw, and in connection with this, the work of the salivary glands in children increases.

Another feature of 6-month-old children is the amazing speed with which they absorb information, so parents only need to give the right direction to their child’s abilities. Mentally and emotionally, a six-year-old baby is a full-fledged little person with individual character traits and his own temperament.

The development of a child at 6 months has reached that social and psycho-emotional stage when contact with other people has become a necessity for him, and now the baby will have to pay even more attention.

What should a 6 month old baby be able to do?

At the sixth month, the baby’s senses and motor function are well developed, and social and everyday perception and behavior begin to form.

When figuring out what a toddler should be able to do at six months, you should focus on what most children of this age can do, and this list is quite impressive:

  1. What, indeed, many children have mastered is crawling. At the same time, everyone has their own style of movement - some can move on all fours, others, lying on their stomachs, on their bellies. This skill precedes the baby rising to his feet and further walking, therefore it is the most important and indicative in the development of the child.
  2. Some children can already stand up, holding the handrails of the playpen and crib, and when mom or dad takes the baby by the hands, his legs straighten. With support, such children even try to step with their legs, which indicates very good physical shape.
  3. The child’s movements with his hands have acquired coordination, he can freely pick up a fallen toy, transfers it from one hand to another, purposefully reaches out to the object that interests him, choosing it from the rest, and examines it carefully.
  4. Interestingly, five-month-old babies are already aware of some cause-and-effect relationships, for example, they understand that if you press a rubber figurine of an animal, a squeak will be heard, and if you shake a bell, you can hear a ringing.
  5. The child’s communication with the people around him becomes more meaningful - he responds to his name, finds with his eyes the object being talked about, listens to his parents attentively, sometimes reacting with a smile or animation to familiar words and names.

All that a child of 6 months should be able to do are simple but necessary things that are needed to adapt to the conditions of adult life. And children at this age are already trying to apply their knowledge and skills in everyday life, which, of course, is very important for their improvement and moving forward.

In this they are greatly helped by fully functioning vision, hearing and motor activity. Children's speech is no longer humming, but real baby babble, consisting of many syllables, the number of which is replenished every day.

There are always some differences in the development of children of different sexes by the sixth month. Considering what a girl needs to be able to do at 6 months, it’s probably worth talking about her speech skills, which develop faster than those of boys. The little ones are already pronouncing syllables such as “ma”, “ba” and “pa”, while the boys are still walking.

A boy is different by nature; at 6 months he can do everything related to movement; male children, in general, begin to crawl, sit and walk faster. The muscular development and behavior of children are not the same, but this is not strange, because each of them follows their own path of growing up, inherent in the future man and woman.

Is there any reason to worry?

To make sure that everything is fine with the baby’s development, parents need to know what a healthy child must be able to do at six months:

  • first of all, the baby must turn its head;
  • The baby’s ability to roll over from back to stomach and back is considered necessary;
  • the baby must be able to sit, at least with the support of an adult;
  • It is absolutely normal for a child to explore objects by putting them in his mouth;
  • A child’s speech at six months can be a hum; this is important, since after that syllables will definitely begin to slip through.

In general, healthy children are tireless explorers who show interest in everything that catches their eye. Therefore, a child’s lack of interest in the people and objects around him should be alarming.

Games and exercises for development

There are no narrow restrictions on what a 6-month-old toddler should be able to do, so parents can teach their child a variety of things, using games and objects that are interesting to him.

But classes with children should become mandatory, which will contribute to the development of their physical and emotional state, and expand their passive vocabulary, visual and sound images.

To do this you need:

  • Carry out gymnastics with your baby, including squats and leg raises in the traditional set of exercises, as well as sitting on a flat plane with the feet touching;
  • develop an ear for music and correct perception of rhythm by listening to music, clapping your hands, using children's percussion instruments or ordinary plastic bottles with different amounts of water;
  • play ball with your child to develop the eye and coordination;
  • massage not only the baby’s body, but also his arms and fingers;
  • give the toddler small objects of different textures and small materials to play with for pouring into jars and containers to improve motor skills;
  • In order for a child’s speech to successfully develop, he needs constant communication, parents must tell the child about everything that surrounds him, large books with fairy tales and children’s stories will be needed for classes, it is important to read to children not only prose, but also poems.

You can play and teach your child while swimming, walking along the street or in a forest park, and if the baby goes on a visit with his parents, then it is worth teaching him how to communicate with other children.

Child development at 6 months: video

Six months is an important milestone, crossing which children perceive the world around them and its phenomena more and more meaningfully. Parents who understand what a child should be able to do at 6 months should not try to speed up this learning process, but they can help their baby go on the right path, developing his abilities and important human qualities.

What should a baby do at six months? How to properly develop a six-month-old baby? How to choose good toys without getting lost in the huge assortment of children's stores? Such questions often concern young mothers and fathers who want their child to be healthy, happy and delight them with new successes.

Height and weight of children at six months

Until 2006, outdated child development standards were in effect, based on observations of bottle-fed babies. Therefore, it is not always worth listening to the words of grandmothers that the child seems thin; it is better to check the new standards developed by WHO 10 years ago.

According to these parameters, the weight of girls at 6 months can be from 6.5 to 8.2 kg, and their height ranges from 63.5 to 68 cm. Similar indicators for boys are slightly higher: 7.1–8.8 kg of weight; height ranges from 65.5–69.8 cm.

If a boy or girl is below or above the specified height and weight, this does not directly indicate health problems. However, extremely low or high indicators may indicate gaps in the child’s nutritional system or a hidden deficiency of nutrients. Therefore, if a difference from the norms of height and weight is detected, you should be attentive to the baby’s condition and, if possible, carry out additional examinations in order to exclude unpleasant consequences.

What a baby should be able to do at six months: developmental norms

Let's list the basic skills that a 6-month-old person can boast of mastering:

  • Able to roll from tummy to back;
  • Masters the rollover from back to stomach on both sides, with one side being the leading one
  • Lying on his stomach, straightens his arms and leans on his palms;
  • Reaches for a toy, trying to get it;
  • Tries to transfer objects from one hand to another;
  • Learns to crawl without raising his belly;
  • Sits or half-sits with support;
  • Relies on the legs when held vertically, supported under the arms;
  • When trying to sit him down, he knows how to keep his head in line with his body.

At this age, physical development is decisive for the overall development of the child; it is this that should serve as the main guideline. Mastering various motor skills most reflects the gradual maturation of a child's brain. However, there are other criteria for ensuring that the baby is growing and developing correctly, in accordance with his age. For example, these:

  • The ability to pronounce individual vowels and consonants, as well as their combinations;
  • The ability to recognize the mother’s voice, the “animation complex” (movements of the arms and legs, babbling, various sounds, eye tracking) as a response to it;
  • Reaction to the sound of a falling toy, slamming door, etc.;
  • The ability to follow an object in motion with the eyes;
  • Hands and mouth are involved in exploring objects in the surrounding world;
  • Interest in one's own and others' reflections in the mirror;
  • Positive reaction to games with adults (“peek-a-boo,” nursery rhymes, “give and na”).

All these skills do not always appear at the same time; children’s development often does not proceed linearly. Some smart babies at 6 months can say the word “mom”, but are in no hurry to learn to sit and crawl. If the baby is healthy and active, you should not be alarmed by individual manifestations of developmental delay. But the advice of a specialist - competent, calm, attentive - should not be neglected. Although often a baby at six months will please his parents with success if he is engaged with him every day and plays with pleasure.

The development of a child at 6 months is in your hands. After all, at this time the baby spends a lot of time with his loving and caring mother, listens to her voice, watches her actions and facial expressions. Parents also have the power to stimulate the physical, speech and emotional development of the child. How to do it?

First of all, it is worth motivating the child to move independently more often. If for some reason you avoided putting your baby on the floor, he spent time in his arms or in a chaise longue, then it is worth filling this gap (be sure to free the surrounding space from small or dangerous objects). Place a beautiful toy near the baby, knock or ring it, attracting the attention of the young researcher.

There are simple techniques that help young children master turning from their stomach to their back and back. They are easy to find online in video tutorial format.

Name the objects surrounding your child, voice your actions and plans, call him by name.

While your baby is awake, find time to play hide-and-seek (peek-a-boo) and patsies with him, learn a few nursery rhymes and finger games. You'll soon see that some of these games are especially popular with your son or daughter.

Invite your child to build a pyramid, roll or throw a ball. Give your child simple household items like saucepans, spoons, lids, soft bottles, and paper. Comment on your child’s actions and enjoy his discoveries!

Top educational toys for babies 6 months old

  • Balls of different sizes and textures;
  • Pyramid with rings of different colors;
  • A simple machine, non-inertial;
  • Books with surprises;
  • Educational mats with pockets with zippers, Velcro, and buttons
  • A set of cups of different sizes;
  • Musical instruments (maracas, tambourine, drum).

The sixth month of a child’s life is one of the stages of separation from the adult caring for him. What a child can do at 6 months already allows him to play independently for 5–10, or even 15 minutes. However, not all the baby’s activities please the parents. For example, a child may throw a toy on the floor over and over again and ask his mother to pick it up with sounds. Remember that at this tender age children do not know how to manipulate and act out of spite. Such actions are just a growing person’s need for play, interaction with loving people, knowledge of the world and the properties of surrounding objects. Such games, despite their apparent meaninglessness from the point of view of adults, contribute to children's development. Be patient, but do not encourage behavior that is unpleasant for you.

At 6 months, the baby begins to be introduced to new foods - the first complementary foods are offered. The child intensively communicates with loved ones, babbles, and begins to manipulate toys in various ways.

Newborn baby

The main things a newborn needs are physical contact with the mother, warmth and breastfeeding. These needs will be the most important throughout the entire neonatal period - the first month of life.

Baby 1 month

The main achievements of the first month are weight gain from 500 to 1500 g, attempts to hold the head in a lying position and eye contact with the mother.

Baby 2 months

The two-month-old baby is very sociable and active: he smiles at his mother, communicates his condition with various sounds and waves his arms and legs with all his might, sometimes hitting a hanging toy.

Baby 3 months

A three-month-old baby can already clearly see the rhythm of feedings and sleep. The child actively communicates with loved ones with smiles and sounds, loves to explore his hands and confidently lies on his stomach, leaning on his forearms.

Baby 4 months

At 4 months, most children are able to roll over and become increasingly interested in the world around them: their vision acquires an “adult” quality, and their hands are able to grab a toy.

Baby 5 months

A five-month-old baby is preparing to crawl - spinning around his navel and rolling around. May be interested in adult food. Often the first tooth is on the way.

Baby 6 months

At 6 months, the baby begins to be introduced to new foods - the first complementary foods are offered. The child intensively communicates with loved ones, babbles, and begins to manipulate toys in various ways.

Baby 7 months

At 7 months, some children are already crawling well, others are just trying to lift their torso off the floor. Some people master sitting before crawling. Many people stand up with support.

Baby 8 months

An eight-month-old child, when asked to find an object, looks for it with his eyes. The first onomatopoeic words appear. Most crawl well and can stand up with support from a sitting position.

Baby 9 months

The baby can stand and walk while holding onto a support. A “tweezer grip” appears - the child can now grasp objects with his thumb and forefinger. Gums and teething teeth require increased chewing load.

Baby 10 months

At 10 months, many children take their first steps. The baby is fascinated by collecting objects in boxes and throwing them away, closing and opening lids.

Baby 11 months

At 11 months, many children begin to walk and master actions with objects that correspond to their purpose: putting a doll to sleep, carrying loads in a car. Some children begin to speak their first words.

Child 1 year

A one-year-old baby understands and fulfills simple requests, imitates the actions of children and adults, and manipulates pyramids and cubes.

Child 1 year 3 months

The child moves actively and in a variety of ways and can run. Learns to use a spoon, knows how to drink from a cup. Compared to the first year of life, weight gain and growth almost stops.

Child 1.5 years old

At one and a half years old, the baby pronounces about 40 words, and the first sentences may appear. He is interested in books - looks at pictures, turns pages. Learns to use pencils, begins to master dressing skills.

Child 1 year 9 months

At this age, the baby usually already understands simple shapes and colors and watches children play with interest (“plays nearby”). Can finish the last words in familiar verses.

Child 2 years old

By this age, many children master the potty and learn to eat themselves carefully. The child can listen to the adult’s explanations; some children begin to ask questions.

Child 2.5 years old

At two and a half years old, children begin to say “I” about themselves. The kid can learn to ride a tricycle, throw and catch a ball, and enjoy drawing and sculpting from plasticine.

Child 3 years old

A three-year-old child can dress and wash himself. Communicates with other children in the game, can follow simple rules. Very inquisitive and strives for independence.

At 6 months, a child can usually roll over from back to side, from back to stomach, from stomach to back. A 6-month-old baby is actively preparing for crawling: without raising his stomach, he crawls forward, crawls back, spins, lies on his stomach for a long time with support on the palms of his straightened arms. The development of a 6-month-old child allows him to stand a little on straight legs with support from both hands or under the armpits and sit for a short time with support from two or one hand. A 6-month-old child often tries to bend forward from a supine position. He pulls both hands towards his mother - expresses a desire to be picked up.

Height and weight of a 6-month-old child, data from domestic pediatricians

Height and weight of children aged 6 months WHO data


Baby nutrition at 6 months

When breastfeeding, the feeding schedule changes. At night, the most active sucking shifts to the last 2-3 hours before waking up. In the first half of the day, a 6-month-old baby who has nursed overnight rarely latches on to the breast; in the evening, latches become frequent. At 6 months, regurgitation disappears completely or becomes sporadic.

During breastfeeding, the baby begins to rest his hands on his mother, as if pushing away from her. This is another stage of separation from the mother, as well as testing one’s new bodily capabilities. The mother should accept this behavior of the baby.

Usually starts at 6 months introduction to adult food- pedagogical feeding. The child shows an active interest in food - this is a new stage in his development, and not evidence of a lack of milk in the mother or malnutrition of the baby. He is still just trying out new tastes and adapting to the characteristics of food other than breast milk. From 6 months, you can give your child a taste of both foods recommended for complementary feeding at this age (vegetables, fruits and purees from them, cereals) and safe (dietary, non-allergenic) food from the table of adult family members. The volumes of new food are unlikely to be noticeable yet.

Caring for a 6 month old baby

Night sleep lengthens, 2-3 daytime naps of 30 minutes - 2 hours appear.

Cognitive development of a 6 month old baby

At the age of 6 months, a child can follow the movement of a toy for a long time. He reaches out to her, grabs her, holds her. He spends a long time with one object: he takes toys from different positions, moves them from one hand to another, pulls them into his mouth, moves them away, examines them, listens to their sound (melody). A 6-month-old child is able to roll over onto his side, stomach, or back while holding a toy. In the game he tries to find a suddenly hidden toy (looks in, pulls off the handkerchief). Tries to imitate the movements of an adult: pats, knocks, squeezes, shakes a toy.

Emotional and social development of a 6 month old child

At about 6 months of age, the child develops an emotional preference: a favorite toy appears. The baby smiles in response to the gentle tone of the adult’s voice, frowns at the stern tone of the voice, and is frightened by loud sounds. A 6-month-old child may be emotionally tense when performing difficult actions or movements. Around the age of 6 months, the child becomes wary or even frightened at the sight of a stranger or in a new environment.

Speech development of a 6-month-old baby

He listens to the voice of an adult, echoes it with syllables from his babble, and turns to his name. A 6-month-old child looks towards a familiar object when asked by an adult: “Where is something?” The development of the speech apparatus allows a 6-month-old child to pronounce vowel sounds protractedly. The baby often pronounces syllables (babbles) during independent wakefulness; in the babbling, clear phonemes of the native language and individual rhythm appear. A 6-month-old child repeats some sounds and syllables from his babble after an adult. Imitates the voice intonations of an adult (expressive): “sneezes,” “coughs,” “laughs.”

Household skills

Holds mother's breast during sucking. Opens his mouth in front of the spoon, removes food with his lips, and eats semi-thick food from the spoon.

During the sixth month, the child gains an average of 650 grams of weight and grows by 2 cm. Thus, the weight of a six-month-old child is about 7100 - 7400 g, and his height is 66-70 cm.

It’s okay if the child gains weight faster or slower (up to six months, weight gain can be up to 2 kg per month), but be wary if there is a sharp change in the centile corridor of weight or height (for more details, see the centile tables for boys or girls). The norms of physical development are described in more detail in the centile tables: for boys, for girls.

What can a 6 month old baby do?

  • He plays with toys for a long time, loves to knock them, wave them, and throw them;
  • transfers toys from one hand to another;
  • throws what is grabbed, can quickly pull a toy by the string;
  • transfers objects from one container to another;
  • babbles and imitates audible sounds;
  • listens carefully to speech;
  • finds with his eyes the objects you are talking about;
  • maintains a certain distance from strangers;
  • starts to crawl
  • crawls to a toy lying at a distance of 10-20 cm from an outstretched arm;
  • learns to stand up while holding onto support.

Child development test at 6 months

1. The child distinguishes a thing from its surroundings by moving its gaze. Keep the rattle 25 cm away from the baby. He looks at the rattle, then at the surroundings, clearly highlighting the rattle with his gaze.

2. If you offer a child a horn and a doll, his reactions will be different: to the horn the child opens his mouth and makes sucking movements, and to the doll he responds with joyful reactions of animation.

3. The child is in a supine position. You move the ringing bell closer to him and then move it away. The child will rise and, with the help of an adult who holds him by the fingers, will be able to sit down.

4. Try changing your facial expression when talking to your child - from affectionate to angry. The child reacts to these changes in different ways: wrinkles his forehead, smiles, gurgles, etc.

5. A child will resist if an adult tries to take a toy from his hands, which he has been holding for several minutes. Outwardly, this can be expressed in reactions of displeasure.

6. Reactions to one’s own and someone else’s name are of a different nature. The child reacts to his name with a “revival” complex.

7. The child can crawl slightly and grab the toy with his hands, and can roll over from his stomach to his back.

8. The first signs of babbling speech appear - the baby can even pronounce individual syllables.

9. The child may already be eating from a spoon. Starts drinking from a cup.

10. Laughs loudly in response to emotional speech addressed to him, reaches for the mirror image.

How long does a 6 month old baby sleep?

Babies between 6 and 9 months need about 14-15 hours of sleep per day, and they can sleep for about 7 hours at a time. If your baby sleeps longer than seven hours, he or she probably wakes up briefly but is able to fall back to sleep on his own—a great sign. This means you are growing a great dormouse.

How much does a 6 month old baby eat?

5 feedings every 4 hours. You can begin to gradually introduce complementary foods if you have not done so before. According to WHO recommendations, it is advisable to introduce complementary foods no later than 6 months, since otherwise problems may arise with chewing and with providing the baby with vitamins and microelements in the required quantities.

Regime and daily routine of a child at 6 months

The daily routine depends on the number of feedings and the child’s biorhythms (some get up earlier in the morning, some later, some sleep more during the day) and often differ for all children of the same age. Adapt to your child, but try to feed and put your child to bed at the same time every day, so he will have fewer problems with digestion and sleep. Sample daily routine for a child.

This regime is far from being a guide to the life of mother and baby by the hour, but only an example by which you can imagine what the duration of the sleep and wakefulness phases and breaks between meals can be.

Baby's health at 6 months

At 6 months, the first teeth begin to erupt, you can notice them when feeding with a spoon - the spoon will clink against the gums. The gums swell and itch, which causes discomfort to the child.

Educational activities and games for a 6-month-old baby

At 6 months, the baby is already sitting and his hands are free to operate with a variety of objects. We will help him develop fine motor skills, this is very important for the subsequent development of speech. In addition to musical toys, at this age the baby really likes to play with objects that fold into each other - molds of different sizes, nesting dolls, pyramids. Let's start playing Ladushki. First, take the baby’s hands in yours and clap, saying: ok, ok, where were you - at grandma’s, what did you eat - porridge, what did you drink - mash (milk), drank and ate - they flew off, they sat on their heads (hands on their heads).

Musical games that imitate animal voices when you press a button are also suitable for your baby.

The first little anniversary is coming. Looking at a six-month-old child, we already see noticeable changes in him; he is no longer a newborn baby, but a little person with meaningful actions. The daily routine is already changing significantly, the baby is more active, developed, and curious. The development of a baby at six months contains many unforgettable moments that parents remember for a long time.

6 months old baby. Development, weight and height

In the sixth month of development, the child usually gains weight up to 650 grams. Height increases by 2-3 cm. At 6 months, the average is from 6.8 to 8.5 kg. Pediatricians do not see anything special if during this period of development the child does not fit into the normative framework and gains a little less weight or, conversely, a little more. The baby can gain a kilogram or even a little more. You should be wary only if there is a sharp change in the centile weight corridor. The same can be said for growth.

At 6 months, if observed from the moment of birth, by this time the average increase is 15 cm, totaling up to 67 cm. If the difference is + 3 cm, this does not play a big role.

Other development parameters are taken into account depending on the baby. The chest circumference is 42-43 cm, and the head circumference according to the norm is 43-44 cm.

Do not panic if the child’s growth at 6 months or his spring does not fit into these limits. The height and weight of the baby at birth and hereditary data are taken into account. As for their development calendar, it’s special.

Not a minute without moving

The baby's development is gaining momentum. He acquires more and more skills and abilities, confidently controls the actions of his body, and achieves certain goals. The baby is constantly striving somewhere, he is interested in everything around him.

  • The neck muscles at this age are already quite strong, the baby confidently controls the head, it does not dangle from side to side.
  • The baby is able to firmly grasp the fingers of an adult and rise. A 6-month-old child does not sit for long; he does this still unsteadily and falls on his side. The back muscles at this age are not completely strong, the spine is poorly maintained in an upright position. Take your time, you will notice when the time comes and the baby is ready to sit.
  • Hold the child under the armpits; he will spring up from the surface as he rises on his toes. Kids really like this exercise.
  • The position on the stomach is already very easy. The baby is able to roll over onto his back and back. Using the legs and arms, the baby can spin 360 degrees. This way he gets the opportunity to better examine the world around him. From a lying position on his tummy, the baby, raising his butt, is able to push off with his knees and move forward a little. When he reaches his cherished goal, some object, he is very happy.
  • When a child turns 6 months old, development, weight and height, and their norms, of course, interest parents, but it is worth knowing that at this age teeth begin to emerge. The first appears at 6-7 months, this is the lower central incisor. The baby's gums begin to itch, and he consciously puts objects into his mouth to scratch the itchy spot. It is best to give up the pacifier during this period, this way you can avoid curvature of the first milk teeth.
  • It is most convenient to wean off the pacifier at the time when complementary foods are introduced. A 6-month-old child is still suffering from tummy problems; the girl is more patient in this matter; the boy is more likely to be bothered by gas formation. Mom should strictly monitor her diet, exclude gas-forming drinks, as well as foods that can cause allergies.
  • Daily walks, massage, educational activities, healthy sleep, bathing - all this must be included in the daily routine of a 6-month-old child.

Possibilities of a six-month-old baby

  • A six-month-old baby actively plays with rattles, knocking them, waving them, throwing them.
  • The child easily takes toys from one hand to another.
  • A baby at this age is interested in transferring toys from one container to another.
  • The baby actively hums and imitates the sounds he hears.
  • Recognizes objects that loved ones are talking about and looks for them with his eyes.
  • The baby keeps a certain distance from strangers.
  • Grasping the support, holding on with his hands, he tries to rise.

Getting to know the world around you

When a child is 6 months old, development, weight and height are not the only factors that interest the pediatrician. At the appointment, the doctor often asks the mother questions about the baby’s curiosity about the world around him. At this age, the baby is already more confident and shows more interest in the environment where he lives.

  • The baby perks up when he hears his name. Shows interest in the caller.
  • At this age, the child recognizes not only his father and mother. He knows people well who often communicate with him. Having recognized a familiar voice, the baby tries to attract attention to himself with sounds.
  • He loves to be held by adults. In this position, he feels not only protection, but also sufficient freedom to learn and see something new for himself. He is often dissatisfied when he is put back into his crib and announces his dissatisfaction by crying loudly.
  • The baby can play with a toy for some time, but when he gets tired of it, he throws it out of the crib. This way, you can play with him, mom picks up the toy, he throws it away again.
  • At this age, the child intuitively reacts to the mood of others, especially the mother’s. If mom feels bad, then the baby is capricious, if mommy is happy, then the baby smiles.
  • Daytime sleep at this age is already reduced. However, the frequency remains the same - three times a day. Each nap is 1.5-2 hours. At night, the baby should sleep at least 10 hours.

let's talk

A mother should worry not only about how much a 6-month-old baby weighs, what are the parameters of its development. At this age, communication is in the leading place, this must be taken into account. You should always talk to your baby. Even when performing the necessary procedures: bathing, going to bed, the mother should always actively communicate with the child, that is, sing him songs, tell him various jokes, rhymes, use fun games - goring, hide and seek, okay. These actions stimulate the baby’s speech activity; he tries to remember and repeat various sounds.

At this age, it is already possible to offer games that develop fine motor skills: sort beans and nuts into different jars and boxes. At the same time, it is necessary to monitor safety. To develop tactile sensations, let your baby play with fabrics and materials of various textures. Finger games are very useful: counting rhymes, palms, magpie-white-sided.

Baby talk

When a child is 6 months old, development, weight and height are certainly important in terms of compliance with standards, but do not forget that at this age the baby is already beginning to “talk”. A child is already able to identify individual syllables from the speech of an adult. He pronounces them in different ways, while listening to himself. The “vocabulary” already contains about 40 sounds.

Sometimes the baby needs to be left in the crib alone with his toys, let him learn to occupy himself. As for strangers, it is worth saying that at this age children behave very warily with strangers, hide behind their mother, and may cry. Going to the clinic can be an overwhelming experience.

Nutrition for a 6 month old baby

The baby’s weight at 6 months is already 7 kg (+1), of course, only mother’s breast milk is no longer enough for him. If all developmental indications are normal, then complementary feeding should be introduced.

The pediatrician will advise which foods are best to introduce into the diet first. If your baby is gaining weight quickly, you can start with fruits, vegetables or kefir. If you are underweight, feed your baby milk porridge. Follow the main rule of complementary feeding: give your baby one product at a time, start with one teaspoon, and supplement with formula or breast milk. Within a week, bring the volume of complementary foods to normal, if there are no allergic reactions. It is better to start complementary feeding in the first half of the day, so you can monitor the body’s reaction. The structure of the product should be homogeneous, without salt and sugar (we will get to know them later). A 6-month-old child does not sit quietly when his mother tries to feed him with a spoon. You can put a spoon in his hand, so the baby will feel like he is a participant in the feeding process.

Monitor your body's reaction

When complementary foods are introduced into the diet, the baby's stool will, of course, change. It will no longer be just mushy, but look more formed. If nothing bothers the child when introducing complementary foods, introduce additional foods and increase the dose. Keep a special calendar where you note when you were introduced to a new product, as well as your child’s reaction.

So, if a child is 6 months old and has a height and weight that corresponds to developmental standards, then one of the daily formula or breastfeedings can be safely replaced with complementary foods. It’s best to consult your pediatrician about how to feed.

If the baby is not in the mood or is unhealthy, you should not force him to try a new product; it is better to do this when a more favorable moment comes.

Daily regime

Follow the regime. Even though your child has matured, try to feed him and put him to bed at the same hours. This will only be beneficial. At this age, the baby sleeps less, actively explores the world around him, and learns to move around little by little. His active actions, of course, change his daily routine. He already communicates and plays more. The duration of sleep is decreasing every day, but you should not ignore the regime.

Dream. Activity time

A six-month-old baby should sleep 2-3 times a day. In practice, this is not always possible to comply with. It is very difficult to persuade a naughty child to go to bed, because there are so many new and interesting things around, so before going to bed at night, give preference to quiet activities and peaceful communication. To distribute uniform rest, it is better to put the baby to bed once before lunch, and a second time after snack.

The baby develops actively during games, bathing, and walks. You can start your day with morning exercises. The lightest exercises (“stretches”) performed by the mother can invigorate the baby after sleep. After breakfast, you need to take a walk with your baby. In the summer, when the weather allows, it is better to walk as long as possible if the child likes it. It's good if the baby falls asleep in the stroller. Winter festivities should be shorter. If the frost is more than 15 degrees, it is better not to go out. Never leave the stroller unattended; when the child wakes up, he begins to move actively and may even turn it over.