Your baby's growth and development - 6 months old

By 6 months old, your baby is stronger and more active. They may sit with support and make lots of sounds.

Your baby is more social and aware of people and surroundings. They may turn when you say their name and enjoy games like peek-a-boo.

Your baby will start moving more. If you haven't already, this is a good time to make your home safe for a baby on the move.

Your baby is due for scheduled vaccinations at 6 months old. Babies who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may be offered an additional vaccine.

Introducing solid food

At around 6 months old, it's recommended to introduce solid food.

Offer small amounts of smooth, pureed or mashed food once a day. Start with iron-rich foods and gradually introduce more family foods. Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding. You can also give small sips of cooled boiled water from a sippy cup.

If you have a family history of allergies, talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse before introducing common allergy foods.

Read more about balancing solids with milk feeds.

At 6 months old, your baby is growing steadily but usually not as fast as in the early months.

Every baby grows at their own pace. Some babies grow a little faster, while others grow more slowly.

Your baby's weight and length will be checked at regular health checks. These measurements are compared with standard growth charts to check that your baby is growing steadily.

While every baby develops at their own pace, there are things that babies and children are generally expected to be doing at each age. These are called 'milestones'.

Physical development

At 6 months old, your baby is much stronger. They can push up on straight arms during tummy time. Many babies can sit with support and take some weight on their legs when held standing.

Your baby may pass toys from one hand to the other, bang or shake toys and look closely at their hands.

Many babies can roll over by 6 months. This means you need to be careful not to leave them alone on a change table or bed. They may also make early crawling movements.

Cognitive development

Your baby is learning how things work and is curious about their surroundings.

They may:

• try to turn pages in a book
• explore toys by banging or shaking them
• enjoy games like peek-a-boo

Your baby also explores objects by putting them in their mouth. Make sure small objects are kept out of reach to avoid choking.

Social development

Your baby is more aware of people and places. They may turn their head when you say their name and smile or make sounds when looking in a mirror.

Your baby may clearly prefer familiar people and may feel unsure around strangers. They may look to you for comfort and reassurance.

Over the next month or 2, your baby may also:

• react with excitement when they see another baby or young child
• smile or show excitement when they see you prepare food or run a bath
• stretch out their arms to be picked up

Emotional development

Over the next month or 2, your baby may begin to seem more settled in their eating and sleeping patterns. They can laugh and giggle out loud, especially during play.

They may need to 'check in' with you using their voice or by looking for you. This is a normal part of emotional development.

At this age, some babies may cry when you leave the room. This is also known as separation anxiety. When you respond and soothe them, your baby usually settles easily.

Language development

At 6 months old, your baby is using more sounds to communicate. They may cry to show needs like hunger, tiredness or wanting comfort.

They may also make new sounds, such as:

• squeals
• growls
• blowing 'raspberries'

As your baby settles into a daily routine, they are often awake more during the day. This gives you more time to interact and bond with them.

Talk and listen to your baby. Use different tones and facial expressions and respond to the sounds they make. Reassure your baby when they are with people they don't know, to help them feel safe and secure.

Play with your baby by:

• reading books
• singing
• making funny sounds
• playing with toys

By 6 months old, many babies enjoy tummy time more and can stay on their tummy for longer. Tummy time helps build strength for rolling, sitting and early movement. Try short periods that add up to at least 30 minutes a day. Always stay with your baby during tummy time and place them on their back for sleep.

Talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse if your baby:

• does not respond to familiar faces or interact with them
• is not starting to make sounds
• is not trying to roll when playing on the floor
• is not playing with their hands or feet
• is not holding objects or passing them between their hands
• has sleeping patterns that worry you or isn't feeding well
• seems very uncomfortable during teething

At any age, it's important to speak to your doctor if your baby has stopped doing something they had already learned to do. This is sometimes called 'regression'.

Read more about common worries and fears for parents.

If you are worried or would like to discuss any issues with your baby's development, speak to your doctor or maternal child health nurse.

You can also reach out to these support groups:

• Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority has information about your child's development from 4 to 8 months old.
• Australian Breastfeeding Association has information about weight gain and growth patterns in breastfed babies.
• Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service has a fact sheet on development skills and activities from 4 to 8 months old.
• Tresillian has information on baby milestones and development.
• Child Health Info has a child development guide from birth to 12 months old.