So, your baby is six months old now. With six months behind us, what more expectations should you look out for with your baby? The period of six months to a year is quite the thrill. You see your baby say their first word: crawl, stand, and walk. You have a lot of milestones to look forward to.
Attaining these major milestones is endearing to watch; you might want to keep memories of some of them. It can get pretty emotional when they say their first words. The good old 'dada' and 'mama' sound like fun and games, but it can be hectic. The job begins when they start moving around. It would be best to take caution so they don't get hurt.
You might want to baby-proof your house in preparation for a moving child. Or better still, you can get extra hands. But more on that later. This period in a child's growth can be very demanding of parents. They learn and grow from many activities, like crawling, which helps them stand and walk.
They may put themselves in harm's way, but you shouldn't restrict them too much, or you could hamper their development. It's a thin line.
Let's start with the milestones to look out for in your baby, month by month.
Types Of Baby Milestones
Each milestone your baby achieves indicates development in certain aspects of their personality. They can be classified into five categories.
Gross Motor Skills: These include skills that involve the trunk, neck, arms, and legs, as well as other big muscles in the body. Sitting, standing, walking, and head control are only a few.
Fine Motor Skills: These abilities require dexterous finger and hand motions. Picking up objects, writing, and painting are some of them.
Language Skills: These are foundational skills for your infant to begin speaking. They include facial expressions, bodily gestures, crying, and laughing.
Social Skills: As your child grows, they will require these skills to engage with others. Giving, taking turns, and playing with others are among them.
Cognitive Skills: These abilities allow your youngster to solve issues and adapt to new situations. These are concerned with thinking.
Let’s get to the milestones, shall we?
Changes in the 6th to 7th Month Old
At six months, your baby is now pretty aware of its environment. For example, they can tell mummy's voice from a stranger's. They are interested in your kind of food and might aim for the spoon while you eat carrying them.
Your baby's ability to turn its head in a direction is improved. There's better coordination of motor skills. They can clap both hands when happy and excited.
Changes in the 7th to 8th Month Old
As the days go by, your baby gets bigger before your eyes. They can sit comfortably without any aid now. When you call their name, they can respond with a turn in your direction—following your movements and cooing at you.
You can interact with your baby, and they respond in gibberish. This practice is pretty good for enhancing their communication skills. Speaking to them and responding to their coos have been proven to help them speak faster.
Changes in the 8th to 9th Month Old
Many babies can crawl, sit independently, and even stand without help at eight months. But don't pressure your child to do all that. Instead, just let them grow at their own pace.
At this stage, they're ready for a change of meal type. You may have noticed your baby chewing away at their toys.
They might also have said their first words by now. It must be delightful to hear your baby's voice.
Changes in the 9th to 10th Month Old
Movements around the nursery should be getting intense now, as your baby should now be able to crawl. They should also be able to help themselves by standing with an object for support.
As they begin nibbling on cereals and mashed foods, you can start weaning them off breast milk by now.
Changes in the 10th to 11th Month Old
As we gradually approach toddlerhood, your baby will start behaving like one. For example, some babies begin holding the spoon up to their mouth, losing many grains on the way.
They can now participate in bedtime stories as they pay attention to pictures more and are fascinated by color blends.
They get busier with their hands, dismantling toys and tugging at anything they can touch.
Changes in the 11th to 12th Month Old
Approaching the first year, we expect to see attempts at walking if they haven't taken the lead already. Next, they should begin flipping through pages of books, exploring the different images and colors.
Their vocal skills now are improved as they may be able to make easy sounds. However, words like 'no' or 'yea' are prime examples of the baby's limited vocabulary.
Final Thoughts
Giving your baby the best care is your priority at this early stage of childhood. It seems daunting, but you shouldn't let the stress take your joy away. Feeling overwhelmed is standard for most parents, but you can always ask for help.
At The Elite Nanny Team, we are here to help you provide the best care to your baby through our nanny services. These will give you more time, so you can rest assured that your baby is excelling.
Reach out today! We're ready to help.
References