6 Months

Your child at 6 Months

Tips and Activities

Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your baby during this time:

As your baby’s first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development. Try these simple tips and activities in a safe way. Talk with your baby’s doctor and teachers if you have questions or for more ideas on how to help your baby’s development.

• Use “back and forth” play with your baby. When your baby smiles, you smile; when he makes sounds, you copy them. This helps him learn to be social.
• “Read” to your baby every day by looking at colorful pictures in magazines or books and talk about them. Respond to her when she babbles and “reads” too. For example, if she makes sounds, say “Yes, that’s the doggy!”
• Point out new things to your baby and name them. For example, when on a walk, point out cars, trees, and animals.

More Parenting Tips and Activities

• Sing to your baby and play music. This will help his brain develop.
• Limit screen time (TV, tablets, phones, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
• When your baby looks at something, point to it and talk about it.
• Put your baby on her tummy or back and put toys just out of reach. Encourage her to roll over to reach the toys.
• Learn to read your baby’s moods. If he’s happy, keep doing what you are doing. If he’s upset, take a break and comfort your baby.
• Talk with your baby’s doctor about when to start solid foods and what foods are choking risks. Breast milk or formula is still the most important source of “food” for your baby.
• Learn when your baby is hungry or full. Pointing to foods, opening his mouth to a spoon, or getting excited when seeing food are signs that he is hungry. Others, like pushing food away, closing his mouth, or turning his head away from food tells you that he’s had enough.
• Help your baby learn she can calm down. Talk softly, hold, rock, or sing to her, or let her suck on her fingers or a pacifier. You may offer a favorite toy or stuffed animal while you hold or rock her.
• Hold your baby up while she sits. Let her look around and give her toys to look at while she learns to balance herself.
• Hold your baby with both of your hands securely under her arms and let her stand. Look around with your baby and name what you can see while she is standing.
• Introduce your baby to different sounds and voices. For example, whisper, clap, or make funny noises. See if your baby looks or is curious and see which sounds she prefers.
• Playing on the floor or play mat with your baby every day helps him to move, learn, and explore.
• When he drops a toy on the floor, pick it up and give it back. This game helps him learn cause and effect.

Developmental Milestones – Your Baby By 6 Months

In the first year, babies learn to focus their vision, reach out, explore, and learn about the things that are around them. Cognitive, or brain development means the learning process of memory, language, thinking, and reasoning. Learning language is more than making sounds (“babble”), or saying “ma-ma” and “da-da”. Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all a part of language development. During this stage, babies also are developing bonds of love and trust with their parents and others as part of social and emotional development. The way parents cuddle, hold, and play with their baby will set the basis for how they will interact with them and others.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, dial 1-800-505-7000 to speak to a Care Coordinator at Child Development Infoline.

SOURCE: CDC – Learn the Signs. Act Early.