Big Changes Babies Make Around 6 Months

Having a newborn can be a roller-coaster experience, especially for first-time parents. By the time your baby is six months old, though, you may feel as though you’ve finally hit your stride. Then, change happens. Suddenly, it’s like you have to start the learning process all over again — only faster this time to keep up with your growing baby.

At Nevada Pediatric Specialists, we understand the developmental milestones and growth spurts that typically occur around the six-month mark, and our team is ready to provide parents with expert newborn care. We offer support, guidance, and information to help you handle the big changes babies make with confidence.

Time for solids — but go slowly

Around six months of age, most babies are ready to begin solid foods. That doesn’t mean they’re giving up formula or breastmilk; it simply means it’s time to start adding new foods to the mix to help your baby transition to a toddler diet. 

Introducing solids is an important part of your baby’s growth and development, and it’s also an interesting time to be an observer, watching as your baby experiences and explores new textures and tastes and learns new skills like chewing.

Remember, this stage isn’t about filling up on solid foods — it’s about learning to eat them. Ideally, begin with soft foods, like mashed banana or cooked (and cooled) carrots. Single-ingredient fruit or vegetable purees are good choices, too.

At your baby’s six-month well child exam, ask about what other foods you can introduce. Most babies do well with iron-fortified cereals, pureed meats, or even lentils to provide additional nutrients. 

Again, it’s not about cleaning their plate — it’s about gaining experience managing the solid-food process, so be patient and continue to offer solids even when your baby seems disinterested.

On the move

By now, your baby has mastered the art of rolling over. It’s time to switch gears and move on to sitting and even pre-crawling movements, like rocking back and forth on their hands and knees. Spending time on their tummies helps strengthen the muscles they’ll need when they start to crawl in the weeks ahead.

The six-month mark is also when eye-hand coordination gets a big boost. Your baby may begin transferring toys from one hand to another and reaching for other objects — so it’s time to make sure you’ve baby-proofed your home. Play mats, soft toys, and games like peek-a-boo are great ways to interact with your baby and help them build social skills.

Changing sleep patterns

By six months, many babies adopt a more regular sleep pattern, both at night and for daytime naps. That means it’s a great time to set bedtime routines if you haven’t already, like an evening bath, a gentle lullaby, and even reading a simple book before turning off the light and saying good-night.

Don't be surprised if your baby fusses at bedtime — six months is also a time of stronger emotional bonding and attachment. Many babies recognize and show preferences for specific people, and they may begin to demonstrate separation anxiety, too. Provide reassurance that nurtures independence so your baby begins to understand that although you may leave for a bit, you’ll be back.

Along with emotional bonding comes social awareness. You might notice your baby mimicking your expressions or sounds or laughing and giggling more often. Use this time to engage in interactive play, read simple picture books, and respond to your baby’s own expressions and vocalizations to strengthen social and emotional development.

Marking the milestones: The six-month checkup

The six-month mark is also time for a wellness checkup — and time to learn a little about important developmental milestones that help identify potential issues early on. 

During this well child visit, we measure and weigh your baby and perform other simple examinations while spending plenty of time asking about your baby’s movements and behavior, as well as helping you understand what to expect in the coming months.

We also track your baby’s progress and development using established milestones — but don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it. There’s a wide range of “normal,” and babies grow and develop at different rates. Our team keeps careful track and monitors any potential concerns as your child grows. 

Most importantly, enjoy your child

Those first six months go by in a flash, and the next weeks, months, and even years may seem to fly by, too. Spending time bonding and connecting with your newborn lays the foundation for healthy social and emotional development to help them navigate the challenges as they grow up.

For all of your newborn care needs or to set up your child’s six-month well child exam, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada.