Definition

This article describes the skills and growth targets for 6-month-old infants.

Alternative Names

Normal childhood growth milestones - 6 months; Childhood growth milestones - 6 months; Growth milestones for children - 6 months

Information

Physical and motor skill markers:

• Able to hold almost all weight when supported in a standing position
• Able to transfer objects from one hand to the other
• Able to lift chest and head while on stomach, holding the weight on hands (often occurs by 4 months)
• Able to pick up a dropped object
• Able to roll from back to stomach (by 7 months)
• Able to sit in a high chair with a straight back
• Able to sit on the floor with lower back support
• Beginning of teething
• Increased drooling
• Should be able to sleep 6 to 8 hour stretches at night
• Should have doubled birth weight (birth weight often doubles by 4 months, and it would be cause for concern if this hasn't happened by 6 months)

Sensory and cognitive markers:

• Begins to fear strangers
• Begins to imitate actions and sounds
• Begins to realize that if an object is dropped, it is still there and just needs to be picked up
• Can locate sounds not made directly at the ear level
• Enjoys hearing own voice
• Makes sounds (vocalizes) to mirror and toys
• Makes sounds resembling one-syllable words (example: da-da, ba-ba)
• Prefers more complex sounds
• Recognizes parents
• Vision is between 20/60 and 20/40

Play recommendations:

• Read, sing, and talk to your child
• Imitate words such as "mama" to help baby learn language
• Play peek-a-boo
• Provide an unbreakable mirror
• Provide large, bright-colored toys that make noise or have moving parts (avoid toys with small parts)
• Provide paper to tear
• Blow bubbles
• Speak clearly
• Start pointing to and naming parts of the body and the environment
• Use body movements and actions to teach language
• Use the word "no" infrequently

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. CDC's developmental milestones. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/. Updated June 6, 2023. Accessed February 21, 2024.

Goode R, Lawrence A, Reimschisel T. Global developmental delay and regression. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 8.

Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 23.