Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each of their milestones will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to interact with them to stimulate their awakening.
Already half a year since the birth of your little one… In 6 months, your fragile newborn has transformed into a joyful baby, chatty and curious about the world around them. Fully enjoy this cheerful and heartwarming period, during which everything is an excuse to laugh, communicate, discover, and experiment!
Their weight and height
At 6 months, babies generally weigh between 6 and 9 kg. Their growth slows down a little compared to the first few months, and most measure between 62 and 72 cm. Even if your baby is not within these figures, everything is fine as long as their growth curve remains regular, without any drops.
Their awakening
Your baby is fascinated by their reflection in the mirror, although they do not yet understand that it is themselves they are looking at. They spend a lot of time manipulating their toys, and they particularly enjoy those with bright colors, soft textures, or those that combine music and light games. But their favorite game remains peek-a-boo: by hiding an object (or your face) under a cloth and then making it reappear, you will invariably provoke their enthusiasm!
More generally, your baby loves to interact with you. They try to attract your attention, multiply laughter, facial expressions, and small cries of joy. They coo and gurgle to their heart's content, and take great pleasure in repeating syllables ending in "a": "dadadada", "papapapa", "mamamama"... These sounds do not have a precise meaning in their mind: it is you who will gradually give them meaning by responding to them. What joy for them to see you arrive saying "Mommy is here" when they string together "mamamama"! They thus discover the symbolic dimension of language : a sound corresponds to an object.
Their motor skills
Very active, your baby controls their movements better and better. They are now able to hold their toys firmly, and they let go of one if you offer them another. They can also grasp objects around them and if you take away a toy they like, they protest by crying. When you approach them, they reach out their arms to you so that you pick them up.
Lying on their back, they play with their feet and bring them to their mouth. Placed on their stomach, they manage to roll over to get back on their back. When you support them in a standing position, their legs perform flexion-extension movements like springs: this is the "jumper" stage.
Soon sitting up!
Sitting up is your baby's big challenge for the coming months! For now, if you place them on their back, they lift their head and torso to try to sit up by themselves, but they haven't succeeded yet. However, if you help them reach this position, they manage to stay seated without support for a few moments, and they love it! This new posture offers them a new perspective on the world and multiplies their possibilities: they can see everything that is happening and grab objects scattered around them.
To make it easier for them to enjoy, you can prop their back with a nursing pillow or a bolster. But no more than a few minutes! Their still fragile spine should not be stressed for too long beyond its capabilities. In a month or two, they will be able to sit up by themselves, with a straight back.
The age of the first teeth
If you observe your baby biting their toys hard, constantly sucking their fingers, and drooling profusely, the first little tooth is probably coming soon! 6 months is often the age of its appearance, and the first tooth to erupt is generally a lower central incisor.
However, don't worry if you don't see anything coming: the age of the first tooth varies greatly from child to child. It can appear as early as 4 months in some, or even at birth in exceptional cases. Conversely, it happens that a 12-month-old baby still has no teeth, without this being a sign of poor development if no other anomaly is associated with it.
Their sleep
After the broken nights of the beginning, most babies sleep soundly between 3 and 9 months approximately. If yours still wakes up at night, don't lose patience! They simply need a little more time to establish their sleep... Teething can also wake them up at night. Don't be afraid that they will develop bad habits: go see them when they wake up and help them fall back asleep with a cuddle, a feeding, or a small bottle. This will give them the serenity necessary for good long-term sleep. And in a few months, these night wakings will be nothing more than a distant memory!
6 months, symptoms related to their 1st teeth
The 1st teething remains a stage often long and difficult for baby to get through. The appearance of baby's first teeth is obviously an important change in baby's development and life. Especially since at 6 months, your baby begins to diversify their diet and taste foods. The eruption of baby's first teeth is generally accompanied by oral discomfort, pain, and swelling.
