What does a 6 month old baby do | Newborn development

Welcome to the Newborn Tips blog, today we invite you to discover together the progress of your little ones, going to understand what a 6 month old baby does! Stay tuned until the end of this interesting article to stay updated on the wonderful journey of newborn growth. Happy reading!

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Children’s curiosity: exploration and discovery

At 6 months, newborns experience a phase of great discovery: they begin to explore the world with more curiosity, develop motor skills such as rolling over and sitting with support, and show more and more social interaction.

So for children every day is a new adventure and they also begin to recognize familiar faces, sounds and objects.

Indeed, every new movement, sound or expression is a small great achievement, because they are discovering the pleasure of interacting, playing and even communicating in their own way.

Psychomotor development of newborns 6 months

The psychomotor development of newborns 6 months is characterized by important progress on both a motor and cognitive level. Here are some key stages:

1) Motor development:

More controlled movements: The newborn begins to coordinate movements better, managing to hold his head straight. He is also able to kick vigorously and try to support part of his weight on his legs if held upright.

Rolling: Many babies begin to roll over onto their backs and vice versa, exploring new positions.

Support and sitting: Some babies can sit with some support, while others begin to do so independently for short periods.

Manipulating objects: Hands become essential tools for grasping, shaking and putting objects in their mouths.

2) Cognitive and sensory development:

Increased curiosity: Infants show interest in sounds, colors and people, actively exploring their surroundings.

Hand-eye coordination: Begins to develop with greater precision, allowing babies to reach and manipulate objects.

Recognizing people: Babies can distinguish familiar faces and may show discomfort with strangers.

3) Communication and social interaction:

Sounds and vocalizations: Babies begin to produce more complex sounds, such as repetitive babble (“ba-ba“, “da-da“).

Smiles and laughter: Social interaction increases, with laughter and smiles in response to pleasant stimuli.

Then it is good to keep in mind that each child follows his own growth rate, but if you notice significant delays it is always useful to consult the pediatrician.

Cognitive development of a 6-month-old newborn

The cognitive development of a 6-month-old child is characterized by an increasing ability to explore, learn and interact with the world around him.

The following lines list the main aspects of this phase:

Curiosity and discovery: At this age, the newborn shows a greater interest in what surrounds him. He observes objects carefully, grabs them, shakes them and brings them to his mouth to explore them through the senses.

On the other hand, if solid foods are introduced, the little one could begin to explore new flavors, even if milk (breast or formula) remains the main source of nutrition.

Developing memory: He begins to remember people, objects and familiar routines. For example, he can recognize his parents’ faces and anticipate events such as mealtime or playtime. In addition, he can respond to his name by turning his head or showing attention.

Cause-effect recognition: The little one begins to understand the relationship between his actions and their effects. For example, he can shake a rattle to listen to the sound or drop an object several times to observe it falling.

Early communication: Although he has not yet developed verbal language, the newborn uses babbling (“ba-ba“, “da-da“) and gestures to communicate, showing an initial understanding of turns in communication.

Attention and concentration: The ability to concentrate on an object or a person improves. He can look at a toy for several seconds, follow a moving object with his gaze or listen carefully to a familiar voice.

Social interaction: The unborn child begins to distinguish emotions on the faces of others, reacting with smiles, laughter or amazement. He shows preferences for familiar people and may show discomfort with strangers. In addition, he is able to imitate facial expressions or simple gestures.

In short, this phase is full of stimuli and discoveries that lay the foundations for the subsequent cognitive development of a 6-month-old newborn.

It should be noted that the aspects listed above are only general guidelines, so if you have doubts or concerns about your baby’s development, it is always a good idea to consult your pediatrician.

What does a 6 month old baby do?

Since 6 month old babies are curious and eager to explore the world around them, there are many activities and stimuli at this age that capture their attention and make them happy. So now let’s talk about some things that 6 month old babies usually like.

Toys and colorful objects:

They love brightly colored objects with sharp contrasts
They prefer toys that make sounds, such as rattles, musical puppets or objects that squeak
Objects to grasp, chew and manipulate, such as teething rings or soft toys

Interaction with people:

Smiles, laughter and funny faces made by parents or familiar people
Playing “peek-a-boo” or other activities that involve surprise and direct interaction
Hearing familiar voices: They love being spoken to, sung to or read to

Sensory exploration:

Touching materials with different textures, such as soft blankets, fabric toys or rough surfaces
Listening to different sounds, such as music, songs or nature sounds
Exploring objects with their mouths, one of the main ways of discovery at this age

Movement and physical play:

They love being lifted into the air, swung or made to “fly” gently
Repetitive gestures such as clapping or tickling the belly
Playing rolling around or being helped to sit up

Mirrors and reflections:

Looking in the mirror and observing their reflection, even if they don’t yet understand that it’s themselves
Routine and cuddles:

Quiet moments with their parents, such as cuddles, caresses and massages
Routine rituals, such as bathing or lullabies, which make them feel safe and loved

Therefore, these simple pleasures help stimulate their development and create a strong emotional bond with their caregivers.

How to stimulate a 6-month-old baby?

Stimulating a 6-month-old baby is essential for their cognitive, motor and social development! Take note of some fun and engaging activities that you can do with your little one:

1) Stimulation Activities:

Colorful Toys: Offer toys of different shapes and colors to attract their attention.

Safe Exploration: Allow them to touch different materials such as a soft sponge or a smooth fabric to stimulate their sense of touch.

Music and Sounds: Listen to soft music or the sounds of musical instruments, encouraging curiosity.

Tummy Time: Promote tummy time to encourage strengthening of the neck and shoulder muscles.

Picture Books: Read books with large and colorful pictures, to develop attention and visual comprehension. For example, you can also use tactile books with soft, wrinkled or fabric pages for greater sensory stimulation.

Mime Game: Make funny faces and encourage the baby to imitate you, stimulating non-verbal communication.

2) Social Interaction:

Talking and Singing: Talk and sing to your baby, using different expressions and tones to attract his attention.

Describing Often: Describe what you are doing, such as “Now let’s change the diaper” or “Look at the beautiful sun outside!”.

Visual Interaction: Look him in the eyes and smile. He will learn to recognize facial expressions.

Games of Recall: Play peek-a-boo or other games of recall to stimulate socialization and joy.

Fun Bath Time: Add floating toys during bath time to involve touch and sight.

3) Additional Tips:

Daily Routine: Maintain a routine to give your baby security.

Observation: Observe your baby’s reactions and adapt the activities to his preferences.

To conclude our interesting insight into what a 6-month-old baby does, remember that the important thing is to have fun and keep the activities simple and appropriate for his level of development. Observe his reactions: if he is happy and interested, you are going in the right direction.

Newborn Tips, The Editorial Team