🍼 Age-based baby guide

Month 6: Many babies are half-birthday explorers – they sit with support in the highchair, pull everything to their mouth for a test chew, roll or pivot to grab toys, shout with new babbles, and then suddenly melt into cuddles, milk, and sleep when their busy brain needs a pause.

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Around six months, many health organisations advise starting to offer first solid foods alongside breast milk or formula, so mealtimes often turn into short tasting sessions full of new textures, funny faces, and very enthusiastic mess.
Lots of babies at this age can sit with support in a highchair or on a lap and may lean forward, open their mouth, or reach out when they see a spoon or soft finger food coming towards them.
Many babies are stronger movers now, rolling or spinning on the floor, pushing up on their arms, and grabbing toys with both hands, sometimes passing them from one hand to the other before giving them a good shake.
Babbling often becomes louder and more varied, with strings of sounds like “ba-ba” or “da-da”, and babies may turn quickly when they hear their name or a familiar voice, as if they are joining in the chat.
Sleep is still very individual at this age, but some families notice more of the longer stretches at night and more predictable daytime naps, even though night waking for feeds or comfort is still very common.
Once solid foods begin, many parents notice nappies becoming smellier, thicker, and more colourful, so nappy changes can feel like a whole new adventure in baby care.

Feeding

Guide

By month 6 many babies still get most of their energy from breast milk or formula, and in many countries parents are often advised to begin introducing simple solid foods at around this age when babies can sit with support, hold food, and bring it to their mouth, while continuing regular milk feeds.
At the start of this weaning stage, how much your baby eats is usually less important than exploring tastes and textures, so first meals can be short, relaxed chances to lick, squash, and spit out soft foods while you stay close and calm.
Parents are often encouraged to keep offering responsive milk feeds around or between these early meals, and to contact their midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or family doctor if they are unsure about when or how to begin solid foods.

Sleep

Guide

At around six months many babies sleep for many hours across each 24-hour period, often including one to three daytime naps, but patterns vary widely and it is still usual for babies at this age to wake at night for feeds or reassurance.
Safer sleep advice continues to recommend placing babies on their back in a clear, flat sleep space in the same room as an adult, with no pillows, duvets, soft toys, or loose bedding near their face and in a smoke-free environment.
Some families find a simple, repeated bedtime routine helpful – for example a short bath, pyjamas, a calm feed, a quiet story or song, and dim lights – so that even when sleep times shift, the steps before sleep stay familiar and soothing.

Pee and Pooping

Guide

When solid foods begin, many babies’ poos slowly become thicker, smellier, and more varied in colour, and parents often see small bits of undigested food in nappies as their baby learns to handle new textures.
Some babies still poo several times a day, while others poo less often but in larger amounts, and families usually get used to what is typical for their own baby as long as poos stay fairly soft and the baby seems generally well and active.
Contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or local emergency service if wet or dirty nappies suddenly become very rare, or if you notice very pale poo, blood, very watery diarrhoea, or very hard poos that worry you.

Learning

Guide

Around six months many babies are practising big body skills such as rolling both ways, pushing up on straight arms, and trying short sits with support, which helps them see more of the room and join in family life from a new angle.
A few times a day, for a few minutes when your baby is calm and awake, you might sit them on the floor with cushions or in a supported seat, offer one or two safe toys to bang, shake, and pass between hands, and chat about what they are doing using simple, warm phrases.
Short, supervised tummy time and floor play – including games like rolling a soft ball, singing action songs, looking at simple books, or copying your baby’s babbles – give them daily practice with movement, coordination, and early communication.

Sources

This content is general information only and is not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, or local emergency service.