What is baby development like at 6 months

Many parents feel that when their child turns six months, a new chapter begins, made exciting by two-way communication and playing together. Your baby now connects much more with their surroundings and deliberately tries to make themselves understood. They look for your response to their signals. “Chatting” is becoming a real need, and they want to draw people into it.

They are awake for longer stretches and sleep is likely to have evened out. Teething may arrive and bring a few bumps in the road. Complementary feeding opens up fresh experiences and challenges, but curiosity is high, so babies are keen to try varied first purées.

Movement is now so practised that you will need to watch more actively, as they change position quickly. Offer a fully baby-safe space. Tiny things on the floor catch their eye, so beware of small objects that could go straight into the mouth. Little fingers might explore sockets, or leaves may be tugged from houseplants and nibbled. Make home baby-proof, so you can keep them safe each day.

At 6 months they notice details and depth 

Your baby clearly sees the environment, movement and small details. They feel tiny holes on objects with a fingertip, poke a finger into them and happily explore little bumps on toys with the mouth. It is intriguing when they realise one toy will fit inside another.

They recognise familiar objects, judge distance and depth, and more in the home draws their attention. To help them feel free, place harmless items within reach so curiosity can spark and hands can explore. Still take care, depth is not judged perfectly yet, so a baby can roll off a raised surface. In this stage it is best to let them move on the floor and provide low items such as a small cushion or baby-safe kit that helps them sense depth.

They look for where sounds come from 

They turn towards people or objects to the side when they hear them. Sounds from behind are harder to notice because balance control is not mature yet. They do not just search, they make noise too, happily banging almost anything together to hear what sound it makes.
Talk to your baby. They now listen, and even pick out their own name in your flow of words. They begin to wait and take turns, and try to imitate your sounds.

When might hearing be a concern?
If, during a “chat”, baby rarely waits but often talks over you, it may be that they are not hearing when it is their turn. Recurrent ear infections can also cause temporary or longer-term hearing dips.

Babbling is the start of communication 

Cooing gives way to babbling, with recognisable sounds and sound chains. Babies deliberately form the sounds of the native language, combining them into syllables (papapa, tetete), and may even greet parents like this, kicking with a huge grin. They will also show negative feelings. Keep communicating in all situations, so they feel heard, experience reciprocity, and feel safe. Support should be there for them even when they are grumpy or have a need to be met.

Motor development is moving fast 

On the back, limbs move in harmony, with legs slightly bent. Movements of arms, legs and fingers become more deliberate and refined. When reaching a toy they can pass it to the other hand, so two items can be held at once, then gleefully banged together.

Tummy time is now well practised and back, shoulder and arm muscles are stronger. Propping on both hands, they lift the chest high, especially when reaching for a toy with the other hand. They can roll both ways, tummy to back and back to tummy.

A six-month-old holds the head like an adult. Head control can tell you a lot about development and the nervous system because by six months head posture is established. It is often a more reliable guide than rolling or early commando-crawling, which vary in timing.

Starting solids develops new mouth movements. Babies learn to bite, chew, accept a spoon, and drink from a cup. The tongue moves food on more skilfully and less ends up on the face or clothes. Finger foods encourage pincer grasp and early independence.

Around this age it is important that commando crawling and crawling are not skipped and that phases appear in a helpful order. If your baby dislikes tummy-lying, or you sense difficulty, see a baby movement specialist who can assess and give tailored exercises. This helps avoid later learning difficulties. Do not follow random online exercise videos, a professional must personalise any programme.

A six-month-old is more socially tuned in

They understand more of what you say, watch you closely, communicate, smile and vocalise to you. They enjoy shared play and reinforce it with sounds. Dad plays a key role in emotional development. We covered why in our previous article. Play together and make room for one-to-one dad time too, parents often engage in different, complementary ways.

Create games that build object-focused attention. For example, ask for a toy with “please”, then hand it back with “thank you”. Your baby will soon realise they can let go of a toy and get it back straight away.

A six-month-old learns with delight 

With complementary feeding, new tastes and the process of eating are explored. Babies learn to co-operate, watching the spoon, opening the mouth and showing interest in food.
Bath time becomes a familiar, enjoyable routine and is usually calm.

Object permanence is developing. Peekaboo is a classic hide-and-seek game that helps babies learn objects still exist even when unseen. Offer household items you have chosen as well as shop-bought toys.

Make your baby an active partner in care

This is how independence forms. With supervision, offer soft, solid finger foods such as small cooked vegetable pieces that they can grasp and bring to the mouth. They recognise and look forward to mealtimes, just as they do changing and bathing.
Babies co-operate with dressing and lift their legs to help.

One of the loveliest parts of this age is how your baby turns towards the world, the shared chats, and rich verbal and non-verbal communication.

References:

NHS Start for Life – Listening and learning: 6 to 12 months.

NHS – Your baby’s first solid foods