Everything you need to know about your six-month-old!

By now your baby's growth chart might look like they’re on their way to being a skyscraper and it won’t be showing any signs of slowing down!

According to WHO growth charts, your little one will weigh around 15 to 18 pounds (6.8 to 8.2 kilograms) and measures about 25 to 27 inches (63.5 to 68.6 centimetres) in length by the end of this month. However, remember that every baby's growth journey is unique, and some may be a little above or below these averages. That’s perfectly fine and nothing to worry about.

You might also see thicker, more noticeable hair growth on your little one, even if they’ve not had much hair up until this point. Some parents opt for a gentle trim or a first haircut around this time, but remember, there's no rush – your baby's hair will continue to evolve as they do.

Many babies start showing off their toothy grins a lot more often at this stage, as for many their first teeth begin to emerge.

If your little one is sitting up, you’ll notice this skill develop even further in this month. If they’ve already mastered sitting up for a short period, you’ll see them looking much steadier and sitting up for longer periods. Or, if they haven’t quite mastered it yet, this might be the month they do!

Have you noticed your little one's eyes lighting up when certain songs start playing? Music is more than just a joyful experience – it's amazing for their cognitive development. Those catchy nursery rhymes and lullabies you've been singing are like brain food, nourishing your little one’s mind.

The rhythm and melody help their brain process patterns, supporting their memory and language development. So, go ahead and have those dance parties and sing-alongs with your little one!

Your little one will also be reaching for any object they can get their little hands on. So, don’t take it personally when they make a bee line for your phone at any given opportunity. They don’t know the difference between objects that are toys and those that aren’t, so they aren’t intentionally doing it. 

And, as objects go, your phone is a pretty perfectly manageable size for them to latch onto and swing around (or, push straight into their mouth!). Try to clean your phone daily with anti-bacterial wipes to keep it as clean as possible.

As your little one approaches the seven-month milestone, you're in for a treat. Social development takes the spotlight during these next few months, as your baby's personality starts to really shine. From imitating your speech to displaying a range of new emotions, your baby is embarking on an emotional rollercoaster.

Mimicking Your Sounds 

Throughout this stage of your little one’s life, prepare to be charmed by their newfound ability to imitate the sounds around them. Around this time, they're like little parrots, attempting to mimic all of the new sounds they hear, particularly those that come from their favourite person in the whole wide world – you! 

You probably already do it without thinking about it, but try to speak to your little one throughout the day and talk them through your daily routine. They’re listening and learning every step of the way.

New Emotional Expression 

Remember when your baby's expressions seemed to revolve around hunger, sleepiness, and general curiosity? Well, it’s time to get ready, because a whole host of new emotions are about to make an appearance! 

Your baby's newfound emotional expression is certainly a cause for celebration but bear in mind that they might not all be happy emotions. As they become more aware of their surroundings and the toys that might be just out of reach, it's perfectly normal for them to begin to express their annoyance. 

Developing Unbreakable Bonds

Have you experienced a time when you're about to leave the room and then suddenly your smiley bundle of joy is now teary-eyed and clinging onto your leg? If they can crawl now, you aren’t escaping that easily! While it might tug at your heartstrings, take this as an indication of the bond you've nurtured with your little one. 

Your baby's response to you leaving them is a clear sign that they love you and feel safe in your presence. While it can be a bit tricky to manage, remember that it's a temporary phase that your little one will grow out of as they get more used to being in the care of other people and spending time apart from you.

Throughout this month, your little one’s fine motor skills will be getting better and better. For more on what fine motor skills are, head to month one here.

They can now grasp objects using their whole hand rather than just their reflexive grasp. You might notice them reaching for toys, fingers, and even your own hand, wanting to try out their newfound skills. With grasping now being a more meaningful action, now is the time to teach them that your hair is a no-grab zone!

As well as picking objects up with much more meaning, your little one is also becoming more aware of their surroundings and how things exist amongst one another.

Your baby might engage in actions like banging objects together or patting surfaces to produce different sounds. This is not only an exploration of their environment but also a way to develop control over their hand movements and recognising the abilities of their magical little hands.

As your little one continues to grow and explore the world around them, you'll be amazed at the rapid development of their gross motor skills. From sitting unassisted to engaging in playful activities, this month is full of remarkable milestones that showcase your baby's emerging physical capabilities. 

By this month, some babies have developed enough strength in their core muscles to sit up without any support. While their balance might be a bit wobbly at first, you'll be amazed at how quickly they become more stable and can look around and move while sitting up.

This newfound skill not only allows them to have a better view of their surroundings but also paves the way for more engaging play sessions with toys.

With all of this sitting time for extra play, and as your baby's coordination improves, you might notice a growing fascination with ‘cause-and-effect’ relationships.

Your little one banging on toys to create noise is not only entertaining but also serves as a way for them to understand how their actions lead to reactions. So they aren’t just making noise for the sake of it!

While not all babies will start showing any crawling at this stage, this is a crucial time for building skills such as these, which will be super helpful when they do crawl. Some babies begin to scoot on their bellies or shuffle on their bum, inching their way towards objects that capture their interest. 

This "pre-crawling" stage is exciting to watch, as it’s a new level of mobility they’ve never experienced before. But with this comes a newfound freedom. Make sure to get your house baby-proofed as soon as possible.

As you enter the world of weaning, you should aim for your baby's diet should consist of three milk feeds a day, in addition to any solid foods you’re introducing to them. Hopefully your little one is enjoying the new foods they’re experiencing for the first time!

Aim for 24 to 30 ounces of milk across the day to ensure they're receiving the essential nutrients for their growth and development. At this stage, the weaning journey is still largely for fun, but you should aim to be introducing more food to them throughout this month. 

To encourage their biting and chewing skills, introduce simple finger foods. Soft fruits like bananas or cooked vegetables like carrot sticks are excellent choices. Toast and thin strips of meat also help them develop their self-feeding abilities. 

At this stage you can also start to introduce plain tap water for your baby to drink. The need to boil water before offering it to your baby is no longer necessary. But don’t worry if your baby doesn't drink much water – they're still primarily getting hydration from breast milk or formula. 

While there are lots of amazing new foods that you can introduce to your little one, avoid giving them any honey or cow’s milk. Honey can occasionally contain bacteria that produce toxins in your baby’s tiny intestines, which can quickly become dangerous.

Make sure to also avoid any foods that could be a choking hazard, such as grapes or crunchy raw vegetables like carrots.         

As your baby enters this month of their life, you could be in one of two stages. You might find yourself experiencing a mix of joy and exhaustion, still struggling to navigate your little one’s sleeping pattern.

You might even be yet to have a full night’s sleep since they were born, which can definitely take its toll. Or you might have a little one who’s already sleeping through the night.

Either way, by now, you've come to know your baby's patterns and preferences and are likely used to whatever routine they’ve adopted. Around this month, most little ones will sleep for around 11 hours at night.

Many will be sleeping through at this point, but if your little one isn’t, don’t be too hard on yourself. Each baby is different and one in four babies don’t regularly sleep 8 hours through the night until they’re over one-year-old. So, you’re certainly not the only one and you’re not doing anything wrong.

Nap Schedule 

Typically, at this age your little one will have two daily naps, with the total nap time adding up to about three to four hours. We’re sure you’ve realised by now, but babies can be pretty grouchy if they don’t get their nap in!

Try to maintain a consistent nap schedule to establish a routine that helps your baby distinguish between day and night. 

One of the keys to ensuring better nighttime sleep is to keep your little one engaged and stimulated during the day. Offer interactive play, tummy time and exposure to natural light.

This helps your baby establish a natural circadian rhythm that encourages wakefulness during the day and promotes better sleep at night. 

Transitioning Your Baby Into Their Own Room 

Around this time, you might be considering the big step of transitioning them from your bedroom to their own room and cot. It's important to approach this transition carefully to ensure a smooth adjustment for you and your little one. 

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to when you should transition your baby to their own room but between 6 and 8 months is a good time to consider it. By this age your baby has likely established some sleep patterns and will be ready for a more independent sleep environment.

However, trust your instincts and only make the move if you feel both you and your baby are ready. 

Before making the transition, take the time to create a cosy and safe sleep environment in your baby's own room. Ensure that the cot meets safe sleep guidelines, with a firm mattress, fitted sheets, and no loose bedding or pillows. 

Remember that transitioning your baby to their own room doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing change. It can be difficult for both of you, so consider a gradual approach by starting with daytime naps in their own room before moving on to nighttime sleep.

While this month is an exciting step as you introduce weaning, it’s easy to assume that they’re getting all of the vitamins and nutrients they need in the variety of new foods they’re trying. But, it’s important to note that until your child turns five years old, they need to be taking daily vitamin drops containing vitamins A, C, and D, unless they consume a pint (500ml) or more of formula each day. These vitamins are crucial for their healthy growth and development. 

When to Call Your Doctor  

Your baby's health is a top priority, and while it’s not something to obsess over, it’s important to be attentive to any signs of concern. Especially with your little one on the move, exploring new spaces, and picking more objects up, there’s a lot more for them to get a hold of!

If your little one seems excessively stiff or floppy or has difficulty holding their head up in a seated position, you should always speak to a doctor. You know your baby more than anyone, so make sure to trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right. 

Observe how your little one interacts with family members, and you’ll likely be able to spot anything out of the ordinary. If they appear disinterested in affection, cuddles, or don't show their usual smiles, laughter, and babbling, speak to your GP to ensure nothing is wrong.