Your baby may go beyond "ah-goo" this month, and actually start making sounds you recognize. Keep up your conversation with her this month as her babbling lays the groundwork for speech. Also this month, she's becoming more aware of you as a separate person. You can help her with this by playing "peekaboo" — go away and come back before the fear gets too strong. Then have fun watching the ecstatic look on her face when you return. And this month, find tips for:
Helping Your Baby Feel Secure
Helping your baby feel secure and engaged in the world now can help her achieve emotional health and mental aptitude as she grows. Try these tips:
- When you soothe and calm your fussy baby, the message she gets is: All is well with the world. It's a message that stays with her as she grows.
- Before bedtime, sing to your baby or rock her quietly so she associates bedtime with peaceful time.
Back to Top >Stepping Up Playtime
This month, your baby's playful side may come out in full force — and it's a great time to reconnect with your inner child. Help her learn while she's playing with:
- Activity boards that encourage her to push, pull, turn, and poke bells, wheels, and dials
- Cloth, wood, or plastic blocks that help show your baby how to build towers (and how to knock them down!)
- Toy telephones, spoons, and measuring cups that introduce her to common household objects
- Hand games, such as the classic "pat-a-cake," that help her practice her fine-motor skills
You may also want to:
- Run a shallow bath of warm water, and watch her splash, kick, and enjoy (while you stay near, holding her tightly and keeping her safe).
- Ensure that she always has a good view — sit her in safe positions where she can see everyone and everything going on around her.
- Encourage baby vanity, and spend some time mirror-gazing.
Helping Your Baby Sit Tall
Your baby has been working for months to sit up on her own. She's been strengthening her muscles by sitting in her infant chair and by sitting propped up against pillows.
The first time she sits tall, she'll be leaning on her hands for balance. And in the next two months, she will sit completely by herself and use her hands to play.
At this stage you can help her sit up by herself by setting her squarely on her bottom, and spreading her legs into a V. At six months, she'll probably be able to hold herself steady — and she'll love her new view of the world.
Back to Top >Where Did You Go? Baby Separation Anxiety
Last month, your baby's first fear may have emerged — the fear of strangers. This month brings a new one — separation anxiety. This fear typically begins at 6 to 8 months of age, when your baby becomes aware that you're separate from her, which means you can walk away at any time.
If your baby cries when you leave the room, she may be suffering from separation anxiety.
Because your baby's real fear is that you're going to leave and never return, the best way to calm her fears is to leave, then return, repeating the pattern, until she realizes you'll always come back.
For tips on dealing with nighttime separation anxiety, see Waking Up With Baby Separation Anxiety.
Your Baby's Sleep Patterns
Once your baby is 6 months old, she'll probably be sleeping through the night. But she may still occasionally wake up during the night. At this age, if she still wakes up several times a night, talk with your health care professional about possible causes and solutions.
During the day, your baby will be wide-awake and active for extended periods, and should be taking two or three short naps totaling three to four hours.
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