By this stage, the baby has adjusted to the initial shock of life outside the womb. If a bond of trust was established in the new-born phase, the baby will now feel much more at ease in its surroundings. It may have developed a more regular routine, making life a little more predictable—not just for the baby, but also for the parents. However, movement is still quite limited, and the baby remains fully dependent on caregivers to get from place to place.
Physical Development
During these months, the baby’s neck muscles strengthen, and by around 3 months, it can hold its head up without support. Around 4 months, the baby may begin to roll over, and by 6 months, it might be able to sit independently and support itself. Babies start to bounce, rock, and practice fine motor skills, learning to grasp and hold toys, exploring them through touch, observation, and by putting them in their mouths.
Vision becomes more focused, and colour perception develops. By the time the baby reaches 6 months, its vision is almost adult-like. The baby can recognize caregivers and respond to facial expressions, turning its head toward sounds and beginning to babble. At 6 months, babies can differentiate between phonemes and tones in their native language, laying the foundation for language skills.
Feeding and Sleep Patterns
Milk remains the main source of nourishment, though some babies might start trying out additional supplements. As the baby begins to take more filling meals at night, night-time sleep periods may become longer. Still, most babies in this stage will continue to sleep a lot during both the day and night.
Social and Cognitive Development
By 6 months, the baby has begun to form strong bonds of love and trust. It enjoys playing with others and starts to develop a sense of humour, often laughing and smiling at anyone and everyone. Babies begin to understand the effects of their actions and some basic principles of the world:
- “If I smile at a face, it smiles back.”
- “When I let go of something, it falls, and someone picks it up.”
- “When I cry, someone comes and soothes me.”
This is the dawn of logic, as the baby starts to connect actions with responses.
Babies love to hear sounds and feel different textures. Both are essential for cognitive development, stimulating their senses and helping them understand the world around them. While the sphere of experimentation remains limited due to their restricted mobility, this will soon change in the next stage!
What was your baby’s favourite game at this stage?
Click here for Infant Phase
or read about any other Blob:
Spring: 1-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-24
Summer: 25-30, 31-36, 37-42, 43-48
Autumn: 49-54, 55-60, 61-66, 67-72
Winter: 73-78, 79-84, 85-91, 91-…
Life Stages in Six-Year Blobs – Personal Growth by Age 