Should be able to sleep 6 to 8 hour stretches at night
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 and sounds
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 (example: da-da, ba-ba)
Prefers more complex sounds
Recognizes parents
Vision is between 20/60 and 20/40
Play recommendations:
Read, sing, and talk to your child
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 (avoid toys with small parts)
Provide paper to tear
Blow bubbles
Speak clearly
Start pointing to and naming parts of the body and the environment
Use body movements and actions to teach language
Use the word "no" infrequently
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. CDC's developmental milestones. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/. Updated March 31, 2022. Accessed April 14, 2022.
Goode R, Lawrence A, Reimschisel T. Global developmental delay and regression. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 8.
Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.
Review Date:
2/24/2022
Reviewed By:
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
