6-Month-Old Baby Development
Summary
Average weight
7.3 kg
Average height
66 cm
Daily sleep
12-15 hours
Feeding interval
4 hours + solids
Skills Gained This Month
Sitting without support begins this month. Babbling becomes distinct: repeated syllables like ba-ba and da-da. First teeth may come through. Your baby notices distant objects and tries to move towards them, and recognises their own name.
Feeding
The month solids begin. Milk is still the main food; solids are added alongside it, not in place of it. A typical pattern is 4-5 milk feeds plus 1-2 solid meals. Give each new food on its own for three days and watch for allergy. Iron-rich first foods are recommended.
Sleep
Most babies give unbroken stretches of 5-6 hours. Two to three naps in the day. The awake window extends to 2-2.5 hours. Starting solids can temporarily disrupt sleep in the first few days.
Vaccines This Month
Around six months most schedules give the third dose of the combined primary series, and in many countries a polio dose. A first influenza vaccine also becomes possible from six months. Check your local schedule.
Foods To Avoid This Month
As you start solids, three things should never be given: honey (it carries a risk of infant botulism before 12 months), cow's milk as a main drink (not suitable before 12 months, though yoghurt and cheese can be used in cooking) and food with added salt or sugar. Keep unpasteurised milk, cheese and juices away too. Fruit juice is not recommended in the first year.
When To Call The Doctor
Not getting anywhere near sitting unsupported
No babbling or vocalising at all
Consistently refusing solids alongside stalled weight gain
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a 6-month-old baby feed?
A 6-month-old usually feeds every 4 hours + solids. The month solids begin. Milk is still the main food; solids are added alongside it, not in place of it. A typical pattern is 4-5 milk feeds plus 1-2 solid meals. Give each new food on its own for three days and watch for allergy. Iron-rich first foods are recommended.
How many hours a day does a 6-month-old sleep?
Total sleep at 6 months is usually 12-15 hours. Most babies give unbroken stretches of 5-6 hours. Two to three naps in the day. The awake window extends to 2-2.5 hours. Starting solids can temporarily disrupt sleep in the first few days.
How much should a 6-month-old weigh?
The average weight at 6 months is around 7.3 kg, with a height of about 66 cm. These are medians; clear differences between babies are normal. What matters is steady progress along the percentile curve rather than any single measurement.
What can a 6-month-old baby do?
Sitting without support begins this month. Babbling becomes distinct: repeated syllables like ba-ba and da-da. First teeth may come through. Your baby notices distant objects and tries to move towards them, and recognises their own name.
Which vaccines are given at 6 months?
Around six months most schedules give the third dose of the combined primary series, and in many countries a polio dose. A first influenza vaccine also becomes possible from six months. Check your local schedule.
Log your baby's development
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Related Guides
When To Seek Care Immediately
Whatever your baby's age, seek medical care without waiting for: a fever of 38 °C or above in a baby under 3 months, a persistent fever above 39 °C at any age, laboured or rapid noisy breathing, blue lips or face, difficulty waking or marked lethargy, inconsolable persistent crying, complete refusal to feed, repeated projectile vomiting, bloody stools, fewer than 6 wet nappies a day, seizure-like movements, or the loss of a skill already gained. In these situations reach real medical care rather than an app or a web search.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your doctor or midwife about your own or your baby's health.