Baby's Development: Sixth Month

Posted on: September 18th, 2017by Ivana Stamenkovic

You probably know that birth color of your baby's eyes may change. If your baby still has blue eyes when she's six months old, they are more likely to stay that way. But remember that light-colored eyes may go through several color changes.

Your Baby’s Growth at Sixth Month of Life

During the first few months of her life, your baby was growing quickly. By now, she's probably doubled her birth weight. But from now on, her height and weight growth will slow. Keep track of important milestones and talk to your pediatrician if there's anything about your baby's growth you're concerned about.

Your Baby’s Motor Skills at Sixth Month of Life

Your little baby is no longer so dependent. Now she can probably sit and move on her own. She may crawl like a commando or roll about, and don't be surprised if you see her shuffle on her bottom - that's perfectly normal, too. However, it's important that she spends as much time as possible on her tummy. Put her on a floor, and help her strengthen her arms and legs (place toys out of her reach to encourage her to start moving towards them). It may seem that your baby favors one hand, but she'll probably switch to the other in a few days, so you probably won't be able to tell if she's right-handed or left-handed until she's between two and three years old. And don't worry if she still isn't moving - there are babies who completely skip crawling.

Your Baby’s Senses at Sixth Month of Life

Your baby will now want to touch so much more than just different materials - she'll love the feeling of water running through her fingers, and she'll enjoy scrunching up a paper. This is a great preparation for weaning when she'll have the opportunity to try differently textured foods. Your baby's vision is so developed that she now sees even the tiniest details, such as your jewelry or the patterns on your clothes. Not only she'll stare at them - she'll even try to grasp them with her fist (and later with her finger).

Your Baby’s Sleeping at Sixth Month of Life

Don't be surprised if you put your baby to sleep on her back and later find her on her stomach. Now she can roll independently, and there's no need to worry - the risk of SIDS is much lower now than it was before. However, you should keep all soft items (such as stuffed animals, pillows, and other) out of the crib for now. If your baby still doesn't sleep through the night, try experimenting with different sleep methods until you find the one that suits your family.

Your Baby’s Eating at Sixth Month of Life

If you haven't introduced solids earlier, you should do that now. This is an important milestone in your baby's development. She'll learn different tastes and textures of food. You may offer her smooth mashed food or purees with a spoon or some finger food she can put in her mouth all by herself. No matter which method you choose, you should make sure that your baby is in a mood for this. If she's too sleepy, she might refuse to eat. Start with small amounts of food and make sure it's the right temperature. It's important that you introduce foods one at a time, so you'd be able to monitor for any reactions (rash, diarrhea, or vomiting). And whatever you do, don't force your baby - if she isn't interested, just wait until tomorrow and then try again.

Your Baby’s Communication at Sixth Month of Life

You might think it's still too early, but it's important that you talk with your baby. Everything you say gets stored in her brain, until one day she becomes able to use it. Tell her what you're doing, name her body parts and other things around her... you may also sing her a song or play a game with her. Peek-a-boo is probably one of her favorites. And some babies will enjoy listening to your voice while you read her a bedtime story every night.

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Health Baby Development
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