Your Six Month Old
Getting up and getting going -- that's the theme of the month. Your baby will learn to sit independently, push up and move around, in a circle if not forward or backward. On another front, she's learning things have names and recognizes and often prefers the familiar in her world. You'll be pleasantly surprised how much he's come into his own!
Jump to these developmental stages:
Social/Emotional | Language | Cognitive | Large Motor Skills | Fine Motor Skills
Social/Emotional Development
She recognizes the people and things around her, feels comfortable with the familiar -- mommy, daddy, grandma, and grandpa as well as a few of her favorite toys. She may act apprehensive around strange people or in new situations.
Six-month-olds are a bundle of fun! She can imitate actions, emotions and sounds; smiles, laughs and squeals. Favorite games include "so big," peek-a-boo and itsy-bitsy spider.
She is aware of your intent now -- when you're teasing or when you are unable to help. If you hold out a toy and then pull it back, she will avert her glance and frown. If you accidentally drop it, she'll reach and try to help.
Language Development
His babbles sound more and more like speech, complete with the intonation and flow. In fact, if you're not listening too closely it sounds like he's talking. He uses hard consonants like "da-da" but he probably hasn't connected the sound to the person yet. Have you noticed how he uses his whole body to ask for things like "pick me up" and "I want that?"
Now is a good time to teach sign language if you haven't already begun. Although he won't sign back for a few more months, he can begin to label actions and items with a sign. Later on he'll be able to tell you he wants a drink, wants more... You'll appreciate a less frustrated toddler.
Cognitive Development
He recognizes own name and a few other words. Have you taught him to call out "hi" and to wave bye-bye.
As the family bustles through the daily routine, he knows what to expect next. Bath in the morning? You've got to be kidding! He expects one before bed. Depending on personality, he might just tell you what he thinks of your upsetting his routine.
Already he knows that men and women sound different. He's very surprised to hear a female voice appear to come out of a man's body.
Large Motor Skills
Most likely he's moving now. A few little ones have gotten their bellies off the floor and actually crawl. Most are still weighted down in the middle. He might rock on hands and knees and probably moves around by rolling over, army crawling, inch-worming forward or backward, or scooting on his bottom. Don't be surprised if you're summoned to rescue him from the corner he's back into -- over and over.
He'll be sitting fairly independently now -- somewhere on the scale of leaning forward in a tripod to sitting upright and using hands to explore toys. Balance is a little uncertain and you might want to place a pillow or two behind him, just in case.
His legs are strong enough to support weight a minute or two provide you help him balance, and a few babies are attempting to pull themselves to a stand already. Yikes!
Fine Motor Skills
She rakes an object toward herself and tries to pick it up using fingers and thumbs. She's not too successful yet. Her thumb usually just helps press a toy into her palm.
