Developmental milestones record - 6 months
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 bear almost all weight
when supported in a standing position
- Able to hold own bottle (but
many babies won't do it, or will do it only for short
periods)
- Able to lift chest and head
while on stomach, bearing the weight on hands (often occurs by 4
months)
- Able to pick up a dropped
object
- Able to roll from back to
stomach
- Able to sit in a high chair with
a straight back
- Beginning of teething
- Increased drooling
- 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
- 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
- Prefers more complex sound
stimulation
- Recognizes parents
- Starts to imitate
sounds
- Vision is between 20/60 and
20/40
Play recommendations:
- 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
- Provide paper to
tear
- Speak clearly
- Start naming parts of the body
and the environment
- Use body movements and actions
to teach language
- Use the word "no"
infrequently
Review Date: 2/27/2008
Reviewed By: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University
Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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