GUIDE
Half a year. Your baby is sitting, eating real food, and developing opinions about everything.
Six months is one of those stages that hits parents with an unexpected wave of emotion. Your baby is becoming so unmistakably themselves — with preferences, reactions, and a personality that's uniquely theirs. Developmentally, this is a massive month.
Sitting is the headline. Many six-month-olds can sit independently for short periods — propping with hands ("tripod sitting") or sitting unsupported for several seconds. According to the WHO Motor Development Study, independent sitting typically develops between 4–9 months, with 6 months near the median. Rolling is old hat — most can go both ways.
Pre-crawling movements are starting — rocking on all fours, scooting on the belly, pivoting in circles. Fine motor skills are refining: your baby can reach, grab, and transfer objects between hands with ease. According to Pathways.org, this is the age when babies start intentionally dropping and throwing objects — maddening for you but excellent practice for them.
The CDC's 2022 milestones for 6 months include looking at things nearby, showing curiosity, and trying to get things out of reach.
Object permanence is solidifying — hide a toy under a blanket and your baby will look for it in the right place. Memory is getting stronger: they recognize familiar toys and routines, and get excited when they see something they know. They're starting to understand basic concepts like big versus small, cause and effect in more complex situations.
Your baby has favorite people and isn't shy about it. According to Zero to Three, this selectivity is a healthy sign of secure attachment. Early separation anxiety may appear — as object permanence develops, they understand you exist when you leave but don't yet understand you'll come back.
Babbling is becoming speech-like with consonant-vowel combinations. They respond to language meaningfully — looking at familiar objects when you name them. Communicative gestures are emerging: raising arms to be picked up, reaching toward things they want, pushing away things they don't.
Solid food is the big change. The AAP recommends introducing complementary foods around 6 months. Popular approaches include traditional purees, baby-led weaning, or a combination. The key principles: introduce iron-rich foods early, offer variety, watch for allergic reactions, and let your baby set the pace.
Sleep at six months is typically more consolidated — many babies sleep 10–12 hours at night, some without waking. Daytime naps have organized into 2–3 per day. The third catnap may be dropping or becoming optional.
Track new foods and reactions without relying on memory. tinylog lets you log feeds with notes, so you can spot patterns and share them at your 6-month checkup.
There's something about your baby eating actual food that hits differently. It's exciting and also a little bit sad — they're one step less dependent on you. Many parents feel a mix of pride and unexpected grief, especially if breastfeeding has been a big part of your routine.
Six-month-olds want to do more than their bodies can manage. They can see a toy across the room but can't crawl to it. This frustration is normal and actually productive — it motivates the development of new skills. But it can make for a cranky baby.
After the rapid weight gain of the first months, growth typically slows around 6 months. Your baby might not look like they're getting bigger as fast. This is normal — the growth curve flattens slightly in the second half of the first year.
The 6-month well-child visit is a big one — developmental screening, growth check, and discussion about solids and sleep.
