Baby Development - 4 to 6 months

Expressive babies

By the time your baby’s six months old, he may be able to share his moods and feelings with you more clearly and be able to sit up, possibly with help and support.

Babies are great rollers by the time they get to six months. Your baby may be able to roll from his stomach to his back and then over to his stomach again, maybe with a rest in between. A few babies can get across a room this way, so you need to be watchful for hazards.

Your baby’s legs are strengthening, too. He probably loves to stand up, with you holding under his arms. He may be able to bounce up and down.

Some babies begin to learn how to sit up and cry out for help if stuck in an uncomfortable position.

Other physical developments

• babies can hold onto an object with one hand and transfer it to the other
• they enjoy turning an object round and round and looking at it
• they can reach out and deliberately touch something or grab something
• they watch when a toy drops (but they still won’t know it’s still there when they can’t see it)

they will begin putting toys, and anything else he can reach, into his mouth.

Social and learning development

• babies babble and experiment with sounds and the way their tongues and lips move and produce sound
• they copy certain sounds, like ‘raspberries’ and try to copy facial expressions
• you'll hear laughter, squeals and your baby will begin to experiment with two soundstogether, such as "ah-goo"
• If you sing simple songs or rhymes, it will soothe your baby at this age.
• they enjoy watching other people, especially other babies and children
• they may start showing signs of shyness, turning away from strange faces and looking for mum or dad for reassurance
• they may have a favourite toy or blanket that seems to offer comfort when they need it
• they turn to your voice when you come into the room
• they know when you are cross or irritated – they are beginning to understand human moods and human responses and how to show their own reactions to them

Teething

Teething often happens round about five to six months. You might observe your baby dribbling a little more than usual and, while the existence of teething pain is controversial, many parents report extra fussiness and crying when their babies are producing a tooth. If you think your baby's gums might be sore, you can offer a teething ring for him to chew on. Try rings that are cold or warm, smooth or bumpy, and different shapes.

Busy babies

Babies of this age are always active. Their increased head control means they can follow the action of anything that catches their attention, and their improved grasp and ‘holding on’ skills means they can keep an object in their hands long enough to study it well, visually and with their hands and mouth (bringing things to the mouth for further investigation starts about now). Unless they are asleep, they are moving their bodies, and learning, communicating, understanding and making connections the whole time.

Your baby will now be sleeping an average of 14 to 15 hours in every 24 hours with two to three naps during the day.*