A 6 month old baby means new discoveries and new stages of development in the life of a growing baby. During this period, the toddler is not only emotional and friendly, he learns to play both independently and with the help of his parents, and he may develop his first “adult” sign - the first tooth. The baby is becoming more and more demanding, he needs more attention and affection from mom and dad, moreover, the child tries to observe the actions of his parents and even repeat them. A child of 6 months is the boundary between the newborn stage and the time of acquiring useful skills.

You need to spend as much time as possible with the baby, because at this stage the basic mental functions of the small organism begin to be consolidated. Interest in exploring unfamiliar objects and toys must be encouraged in every possible way; you can also introduce some restrictions, say the words “no” and “impossible”, so that the child gradually learns to understand certain boundaries. Studying shapes, colors and smells, getting to know new tastes (complementary foods are common), learning movements, sounds and syllables - this is not a complete list of what is included in the life of a six-month-old child. The child can begin to learn how to play with blocks, put figures and pictures out of them, roll a ball, string rings onto the rod of a pyramid. It’s okay if, in the process of vigorous activity, a little researcher bends or breaks a toy, the main thing is his interest and desire to learn about the world around him. During this period, parents are required to have patience, participation and cooperation, and prohibitions should only concern possible dangers, such as falls from the height of the bed, sharp corners of furniture, and so on. The six-month-old toddler begins to pronounce quite meaningful syllables, perhaps for the first time a happy mother will hear something similar to the word “mother” or “give”. Voiceless consonants are difficult for babies. His speech apparatus has not yet developed, so dad should not be offended that a 6-month-old child does not say the desired “dad” among the first words. Of course, at six months it would be absurd to expect coherent speech from a child; the baby is still babbling and humming, but more and more often in his sounds one can trace coherent syllables and the semblance of quite adult exclamations. Parents need to remember that as soon as a child is born, he begins to “mirror” everything he sees, hears and feels. This applies to the entire long period of upbringing, so rude expressions, loud swearing and other negative family manifestations in the presence of the baby are absolutely unacceptable.

Child 6 months – height, weight and skills

During the sixth month of life, the little man grows by 1.5-2 centimeters and gains body weight by 550-600 grams. These indicators are not universal, each child is individual and his growth may differ from the data provided. However, there are generally accepted frameworks by which one can navigate how quickly a child is developing, and whether there are any deviations in his nutrition, upbringing and health. It is generally accepted that a six-month-old baby should weigh about 7-7.5 kilograms and reach a height of 65-70 centimeters. In pediatrics, there is the concept of a centile corridor, which denotes the statistical average indicators of a baby’s body weight and height according to his age. If the measurement indicators of a six-month-old baby do not fit into the centile corridor, this may indicate hidden problems in the condition of the baby’s body that need to be identified and eliminated.

Baby 6 months – sleep and diet

A six-month-old baby sleeps a lot and for a long time; in general, his sleep should last about 15 hours. During the day, he needs to be put to bed two or three times so that the baby sleeps for 1.5-2 hours, and at night the child needs 11-12 hours of sleep. The diet may vary, but pediatric nutritionists advise leaving five meals a day every four hours. New foods and complementary foods are gradually introduced into the baby’s diet. Mother's milk, of course, remains the most valuable nutritious food, but you should take care of new microelements that are not in it. An option for a complementary food dish can be selected together with the treating pediatrician, most likely it will be fruit puree and juice. The baby is introduced to a new dish literally drop by drop, which is how the juice should be introduced. Puree can be given a quarter teaspoon at a time, so the child will get acquainted with a new way of eating - from a spoon, and will also get acquainted with a new taste. It is better to introduce complementary foods during the day; over time, they will replace breast milk or formula. If the child has responded normally to the new diet, you can add juice or puree to the norm described below. By the end of the sixth month, the baby can receive the supplement not only in the form of fruit, but also vegetable puree. This is how a complete lunch is prepared, the weight of which can be from 150 to 200 grams. Each new dish or product should be introduced once a week, this way you will give the baby the opportunity to get used to complementary foods; in addition, the digestive tract will also get used to unfamiliar food. Boiled carrots are perfect as a vegetable supplement; you can gradually introduce cereals - rice or buckwheat. It is mandatory to add the yolk of a boiled egg, which is ground in a small amount of breast milk or formula. If the baby does not suffer from allergies, the yolk is simply necessary for him, as it contains vitamins D, A, phosphorus, calcium and iron. A little later, the yolk can be ground together with vegetable puree, enriching its composition.

Sample menu and diet for a six-month-old baby:

If a child begins to gain weight excessively quickly, it is worth reviewing the diet and reducing the calorie content of foods, for example, replacing milk porridge with fruit or vegetable puree. If a 6-month-old child is slowly gaining weight, you can add a drop of refined vegetable oil to the menu, for example, in vegetables or cereal porridges, or give higher-calorie juices with pulp. Each child’s body is individual, just like their appetite; it is quite possible that insufficient weight gain is not a deviation from the norm for a particular baby. It all depends on the anthropometric indicators, which are recorded in a special diary or medical card; if their dynamics are steadily increasing, then the baby is developing normally. The main thing is that the baby is physiologically ready to accept more solid and rich food than mother's milk. This is evidenced by the increased interest in adults’ food, when the child tries to reach for the “adult” plate, and by the cutting of the first two teeth.

A 6-month-old child is a toddler who begins to show activity and curiosity. Perhaps this is the last relatively calm month, when babies sleep for a long time, covered with warm blankets, giving the mother the opportunity to rest. Willingness to explore the world around us, interest in everything we can reach with our hands, attempts to independently crawl from place to place - this is just the beginning of a child’s active life. The six-month period is a wonderful time when positive changes in the baby’s development are clearly visible, which brings considerable joy to happy parents.

Child 6 months – skills and abilities:

• The baby can play for more than half an hour with rattles, a ball, and toys. He actively knocks them, throws them, and takes them out with pleasure if he drops them near him.
• The child knows how to use both hands in play and transfers the rattle from one hand to the other.
• The baby knows how to transfer toys from a larger container to a smaller one; for this it is worth purchasing special nesting molds.
• The child continues to walk and babble, but is actively trying to imitate the sounds and exclamations of adults, copying their intonations.
• A 6-month-old child is able to listen to speech and music for quite a long time.
• The baby can find the specified object with his eyes.
• The child begins to differentiate people according to the principle of “friends” and “strangers”.
• The child tries to explore the territory of the room by crawling, and may crawl to an object that interests him.
• The baby makes attempts to rise, stand up, leaning on his hands, holding the rails of the crib.

You can check how developed a 6-month-old child is by using the following steps:

• Move an object, a bright toy and watch how the child moves his eyes after the bright spot. The distance from the baby’s face should be 25-30 centimeters and the object should not be taken too far away.
• The child must distinguish a game item from a food item. You need to show your child a toy and at the same time a bottle with a nipple. He will pull the pacifier into his mouth and play with the toy. This is how the ability to distinguish objects by their purpose is formed.
• You can check how a 6-month-old child is trying to get up with help. A bell or a bright toy that you need to either bring closer to the child’s face or move them away. You can offer your baby help in the form of your hand or finger, which he grabs with his hand to get up and sit down.
• You can check your baby’s emotional reactions by reading nursery rhymes and books, changing the intonation and facial expressions of your face.
• You can test the grasping reflex and the ability to “defend” your opinion and your objects this way: try to jokingly take away a toy from the baby. The child should hold the object tightly for at least two to three minutes, expressing dissatisfaction.
• A 6-month-old child must respond to his name, he must be called and monitored for his reaction - turning his head, smiling, babbling.
• Check how well the baby can roll over from back to tummy and vice versa. This can be done in a playful way.
• You can check the sound reaction by reading nursery rhymes, which assume endings in the form of syllables: “geese, geese - ha-ha-ha, if you want to eat - yes-da-da.” The child should try to pronounce syllables that correspond, if not to the text, then to the rhythm of the nursery rhyme.
• The child should be gradually weaned from eating through a bottle with a pacifier, and begin feeding with a spoon and drinking from a cup. The baby should show interest in new dishes, which should be purchased in advance, even if they are bright and colorful.
• Check how the child recognizes himself in the mirror, bring and hide the mirror, ask who it is, help him speak, call the baby by name.

Now this is not a helpless toddler, but a little person who has learned a lot and can already understand a lot.

Physiology

Child development at 6 months and nutrition The baby starts feeding. If new food is spat out, it means that the child is not yet ready for the new menu. The mother's task is to understand this and introduce innovation later.

Overweight children should start with pureed vegetables. And for thin people, porridges made from rice, buckwheat and corn, cooked in water without salt and sugar, are best suited. From the first feeding, the baby should be accustomed to a spoon. Use bottles with nipples only when necessary (on the road).

The appearance of complementary foods in the diet does not exclude, because mother's milk, rich in antibodies, is still needed by the baby at this age.

Psychology

In the sixth month of life, a serious breakthrough occurs in psychological development. The baby turns around when his name is pronounced, he recognizes his close surroundings, and may react negatively to a stranger. This cannot be called a complex; the body’s defense mechanisms come into play.

A child may show friendliness towards a stranger, but the main people for him will be those whom he knows well. And only mom and dad can calm a crying baby.

A small family member, as always, is the center of the universe, around which relative planets revolve. He listens carefully to everything, looks closely and tries to imitate the actions of adults. So, over time, his sounds form syllables, but the real words will not be pronounced soon.

What can we do?

• Crawl
• Use both hands, throw toys and clap hands
• Pronounce syllables while trying to explain yourself
• with the help of adults
• Sleep all night long. A child at six months is very active, so his sleep is deeper and longer.

You can start reading books to your baby and amusing him with funny rhymes and songs. If a child smiles at the beginning of reading a poem that is already familiar to him, this indicates that the child is successfully developing memory.

Nutrition

Can sit up independently and even crawl baby at 6 months, development and nutrition at the same time, it should be increased (complementary feeding is introduced).
At the age of 6 months, the baby should eat the 7th or 8th part of his body weight (approximately 1000 g) per day.

From 6 to 7 am - feeding with milk (breast) or formula (adapted)
From 10 to 11 in the first half of the day - complementary feeding, which is a good idea to start with lean kefir and cottage cheese.
Kefir. We start with 3-4 spoons per test (washed down with breast milk or formula). Until the next day, observe the reaction of the child’s body and stool. Everything is quiet? We continue feeding, only we give twice as much, bringing it up to 150 ml per feeding. You can sweeten it a little with sugar. Then add a little low-fat cottage cheese (1 teaspoon) to the kefir. We watch the reaction. Increase to 30 g. On average, a 6-month-old baby will receive 180 g of kefir-curd mixture at a time.
From 2 to 3; 6 to 7; 10 to 11 afternoon - no change (formula or breastfeeding).

This is quite enough for 6 month old baby development and nutrition does not burden parents to create children's culinary masterpieces.

Motor development

Now manipulations with toys have become much more diverse than a month ago. The baby learned to transfer objects from one hand to another, throw them away, and knock on the crib. Vision makes it possible to see very small objects; the baby will even try to grab with his fingers a square drawn on a pillow that he had not noticed before, or a speck of dust flying in a ray of sunlight.

Child development at 6 months continues to improve in flips from back to tummy. This gives him great pleasure, because now he can reach the desired toy and grab it. These movements involve not only motor skills, but also the functioning of the brain.

Games

At a younger age, the baby tapped an object with his hand to feel new sensations. Then he grabbed it and put it in his mouth. Now the toy is picked up for the purpose of immediate examination and study.

Especially at this age, children are attracted to new and unusual things. For example, the doll “Vanka-Vstanka” (or “tumbler”). The kid watches, enchanted, as the doll gets up on its own after falling.

By six months, the child becomes a little tracker. He wants to touch, twist, feel everything. Therefore, toys must have lids to open, a specific button to squeak, and that can be squeezed or stretched.

Initial speech development

By six months, the baby can babble for a long time and loudly, repeating the same syllables. Thus, he remembers acquired

If the parents support him, expressing joy and approval, the baby repeats these words again and again. This is how the chain from children’s chattering to conscious speech is built. And although the baby does not yet understand what he is saying, his speech exercises are absolutely necessary for future mastery of speech.

Over time, a little person accumulates information about his surroundings; he is very attentive to the sounds that surround him. It is very important for him to learn to distinguish people by their voices.

When the baby's mother enters the room, he begins to smile joyfully and enthusiastically wave his arms and legs, making it clear that he recognizes her by her voice. If a stranger appears in the room, he will become wary and make an incredulous face.

A child at this age really likes games - with his mother, with some water, with a toy. Many children enjoy bathing in a large bathtub because they can splash with water. They are especially delighted by clapping with both hands at the same time, when the splashes fly out like a fan and flood his face. At this moment, the baby seems to recognize his own reaction to water getting into his eyes, nose and ears. And, apparently, he really likes it!

The child not only enthusiastically plays with water, but also learns about the parts of his body. For example, if you support him under the back, he can lift his leg and touch his toes. And while wiping, he suddenly discovers his navel or touches his nose and ears. And if you lean closer, your little fingers will immediately feel your mother’s face, trying to “compare” it with your own.

All about child development: month six

Sixth month of life baby marks a round date: half a year of its growth and development. Already at the end of the fifth month child is becoming more and more active. He has learned to roll well on his side and then on his stomach, looks at you with great interest, as if expecting your participation, and “calls” you to communicate.

If at 5 months. the baby learned to turn well on his side and then on his stomach, then at the 6th month of life the child masters turning from stomach to back. Thus, his locomotor development (change in body position in space) receives the status of greater independence. This is very important for the further development of the baby. Now child without your help, it makes turns in the horizontal plane in all directions, almost 360°C. That's why The baby should not be left unattended at heights, in a space not limited by the sides.

Having mastered turns, the child “practices” his skills. It is very good if the mother encourages the baby to move and, rejoicing at his success, supports him with a smile and a joyful voice.

The sixth month brings another action, or rather, a motor reaction to behavior baby. The child begins to pull his body up in his arms. No, this is not crawling yet, but only preparation for it! That's why it's called crawling. What does it look like?

The baby's arms have become so strong that he can, turning from his back to his stomach, spread them and, leaning on his palms, lift his body high. If child sees a bright toy or some interesting object in front of him, then he makes an effort to pull himself closer to it with his arms. The child may get tired, but, having rested a little, he again pulls himself in the direction of the object that interests him.

In order for the baby to start crawling, you should help him: roll up a cushion, for example from a flannelette blanket, and place it under the baby’s feet, thus creating a situation of pushing away from the support. It is necessary to organize a space in which to kid comfortable to turn and move, fill it with toys that encourage movement.

Third achievement baby becomes an amazing ability take objects (toys) independently from any position.

Let us remember, in the fifth month of life child learned to “intercept” from your hands a rattle handed to him with a convenient handle for gripping. Now the baby, seeing the object in front of him, reaches out and takes it. He can perform this action while lying on his stomach, on his side, or on his back. At the same time, the hand begins to perform sliding, circling movements in order to reach and grasp the object.

With the development of independent actions with objects (toys), the position changes baby in relation to the surrounding world. Now leading in development baby becomes subject activity is an introductory game with objects: manipulative in form and indicative and exploratory in content . Let's explain what was said.

At six months, the baby reacts sharply to the world around him. His curiosity is limitless. The child discovers new properties of objects in the process of interacting with them. All sense organs (analyzers) are included in the work - vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste. You see that the baby puts every object or toy in his mouth, no matter how hard you try to counteract this. Turns out, child With the tongue (the tongue is especially sensitive) it examines the surface of the toy and recognizes its taste. That's why during this period vibrant sensory activity to kid You should not put environmentally hazardous items into your hands. Any toy intended for a baby must have a medical quality certificate. And one more very important information. The child should not be given small objects into his hands. The volume of the rattle should be at least 5-6 cm. If you want to give to kid items are smaller in volume, then secure them carefully on a thin, smooth ribbon. The baby performs all actions with objects and toys in the presence of the mother and with her active participation. A child will benefit from rattles that have handles of different shapes for gripping and interesting main parts that captivate with color, shape, unexpected “hidden” properties, and sound. These can also be geometric toys, i.e. having the shape of a ball, cube, cylinder, and plot ones, for example, a bunny, a fox, a cat.

Another great achievement baby by the end of the sixth month of life are vivid speech reactions. If by the end of the fifth month the baby was walking, delighting you with roulades of vowel sounds like “aua”, “uau”, “au”, “ioa”, then now you can clearly hear: “wow-wow-wow” or “boo-a-a” ", "bu-bu-b", "va-va-va", "m-m-ma". This is a new stage of speech development, which is called babble. Babbling includes combinations of consonant and vowel sounds, i.e. syllables. This stage of speech development is very important, because the baby begins to master the sounds (phonemes) of the native language and their articulation.

Such significant innovations in the motor, sensory, speech spheres have a positive impact on the development of the first vital skills arising with your participation. If you begin to form them in time, then in the future the baby will be able to eat well, removing food from a spoon with his lips, drinking from a cup, etc.

In conclusion, I would like to mention the pace of development baby. Usually at the end of each month the results are summed up - what the baby has learned over the past period. In pediatrics normal developmentbaby at this age is confirmed by the formation of skills with a deviation from the average period of no more than 15 days. If a baby at six months does not perform certain actions characteristic of this age, he still has time left (14-15 days) to master the necessary skills. And this is a long time for early childhood. Skills developed 16 days or more ahead of schedule indicate accelerated or early development. Mastery of actions with a delay in one or more indicators by one month (i.e. below the permissible degree of deviation) indicates slowing down pace of development. The reasons for this phenomenon should be established. This may be due to the baby’s personality, but it may also signal some kind of illness. If the reason is parental ignorance or pedagogical neglect baby, we advise parents to reconsider their positions. A baby who is developmentally delayed within one month needs to increase the number of educational and training influences.

The formation of skills with a delay of two months is classified as lag, and for three months or more - like significant developmental delay, which can be classified as a state bordering on pathology or pathology. In these cases, the baby requires immediate consultation with specialists: a neurologist, pediatrician, psychologist, teacher, etc. to identify the causes of developmental delay, as well as to determine methods for eliminating them. The table below will help you correctly assess the progress of your baby. And even if he hasn’t succeeded in something yet, don’t be sad: he and you still have everything ahead.

Development and education baby. 6th month of life

LEADING LINES OF DEVELOPMENT

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SPEECH DEVELOPMENT

MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

Pedagogical focus

Sensory education and development of actions with objects

Emotional education in the process of communication with adults

Preparatory stages of development of active speech and thinking

Development of general movements and actions of the hand

Mini-program 6th month

1. Continue to develop the objectivity of perception, encouraging baby to examining identical and different toys, placing them at closer and further distances from the baby, bringing them closer and further away from him.

2. To consolidate the experience of visual perception of objects (toys) from different positions: lying on the stomach, on the side, on the back, in a vertical position in the arms of an adult.

3. Form more complex manual skills, enriching actions with objects (toys) with more complex motor tasks.

1. Enrich the emotional life of the baby, enhancing the meaningful side of communication between an adult and a child.

2. Hygiene procedures, feeding, games, activities, etc. should be carried out against the background of an emotionally positive state baby.

3. Accustom to basic independence in everyday life.

1. Develop understanding of adult speech addressed to to kid, using all possible moments of playing with objects and special speech classes.

2.Create situations that encourage baby to speech activity: develop humming, promote the emergence of babbling.

1. Create conditions conducive to the baby’s motor activity. Continue to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder girdle, neck, abdominals and leg muscles.

2. Carry out further locomotor development (turns).

3. Continue to develop hand actions.

Tasks

1. Continue to form simple indicative and exploratory actions with objects (toys): introduce them to their color, shape, size, weight, texture and physical properties.

2. When grasping, holding and squeezing an object, encourage a simple effective action (for example, by squeezing a rubber squeaky toy, produce a sound; by turning the rattle ball, detect changes in its color; by pulling up some toys - pendants, change the position of others, etc.) .

3. Develop the ability to take an object (toy) from any position: lying on your stomach, on your side, on your back, etc.

1. Stimulate a joyful mood by creating play situations that encourage the baby to smile, laugh, and have emotional contact with an adult.

2. Along with affectionate address to to kid(for example, “sunny”, “bunny”, “berry”, etc.) you must call him by name, and also ensure that the baby accepts this call.

3. Gradually enrich emotional communication with the child with “business” contacts regarding actions with objects and toys.

4. Pay attention to individual manifestations of personality baby, reaction to the presence of a loved one, a familiar voice, the sight of a favorite toy, a sounding melody, etc. Consider the baby's preferences.

5Support manifestations of basic independence.

1. Continue to develop speech hearing baby, encouraging him to listen to the voice of an adult.

2. Create situations that promote the development of understanding of an adult’s speech (introducing the question “where?”, calling by name, etc.).

3. Create situations that promote the development of active speech - the manifestation of baby babble. Note which sounds (close to speech) are heard in his babble.

4. Enter into a “roll call” with the child, repeating his speech sounds after him.

5. Promote the emergence of intonation-expressive vocal reactions based on imitation of an adult.

1. Strengthen the ability to lie on your stomach for a long time, raising your head high and resting on the palms of your straightened arms.

2. Encourage baby to turns from back to stomach, and then from stomach to back.

3. Promote movements that prepare the appearance of crawling. At this stage - pulling up on your hands: crawling (towards the toy).

4. Strengthen the support of the legs, causing repulsion from the support (table surface, adult’s knees).

5. Promote locomotor development by helping to kid independently change the position of your body in space (turns, crawling, etc.)

6. Learn to take toys from different positions, in different ways (pulling, grabbing, etc.).

Implementation of the mini-program and educational objectives baby 6th month

LESSON 1

Target. Develop orientation towards objects located in a horizontal plane in front of the child. Improve tactile sensitivity (the feeling of touching something) of the palms when in contact with objects.

Material. A flat pillow made of foam rubber (40x40 cm, thickness 1-1.5 cm), which is accompanied by a set of covers of the same size made of bright fabrics of different textures (terry, flannelette, chintz, silk, jute, etc.). The sides of the covers can be decorated with large convex appliqué (flowers, berries, various patterns).

Progress of the lesson. The child lies in the playpen on his stomach, leaning on his forearms, the mother takes the baby’s palm and runs it over the surface of the object, allowing him to feel it. An adult should pay attention baby on the drawing, name what is shown on the case. Next, the pillow turns over, and the baby gets acquainted with a different type of texture.

LESSON 2.

Target. To teach how to perform two interrelated actions that lead to a certain result (for example, pulling up one object sets another in motion).

Material. A hanging device (module) to which various toys are attached. It allows you to create a situation of simple effective actions that arise when alternately grabbing and pulling toys.

Progress of the lesson. Mom encourages baby extend his hand to an object hanging in his field of vision (a ball, a bell). Pulling one toy changes the position of the second and third, located next to the second. ACTIVITY can have many options, and a different selection of toys helps to enrich the sensory experience baby.

LESSON 3

1. An adult selects 23 bright toys, different in physical properties. For example, a rubber squeaker, a soft toy, a plastic rattle (horse, parrot, etc.). Mom shows each toy, drawing attention to their sound properties. Then he places the toys in front of the baby, to the left or right, about 30 cm from him. The child first lies on his back, looking at the toys that his mother shows. Then, seeing them from the side, near him, he turns from his back to his side, and then to his stomach. Raises himself high with outstretched arms, slightly tightens his body (crawls). He reaches out and takes the toy. He examines it and listens to the sound. Performs a turn on the side, then on the back. Manipulates a toy. He acts similarly with other toys, transfers them from hand to hand. Thereby child gets acquainted with the physical properties of objects made of various materials.

2. An adult places a musical toy in front of the child, for example, a bright Parsley. First, he wraps the toy with a ribbon (width 3-4 cm, length 60-80 cm), in two or three turns, at the end of which a ring is sewn (for example, a teether). The ring is placed in front of the child, at arm's length.

The baby reaches out, grabs the ring and pulls the ribbon. The toy swings and rings. The child practically establishes a connection between the intensity of his actions with the object (ring) and the movements and ringing of Parsley. Strives to pull himself closer to the toy or to pull it towards himself by the ribbon (action and result).

Note: Lessons with tape are carried out only in the presence of an adult. If the baby is not interested in the subject, the mother “helps” him discover the interestingness of Parsley.

3. An adult uses hanging toys-modules.

The child performs simple effective actions, pulling up one toy or another. Takes objects from any position.

1. An adult, starting to feed, change clothes, wash, etc., creates a baby preliminary emotional attitude. So, for example, before feeding, the mother shows to kid bottle. Next comes the question: “Who will eat?” The mother smiles at the baby, helps him take the “feeding” position and waits for a response.

The child comes into emotional contact with the mother and “internally” prepares for the upcoming meal. “Responses” with a smile, humming, and general physical activity.

During feeding, he keeps his hands on his mother's breast or bottle.

Note:

“Game” communication ensures a general good mood.

2. The adult helps the child respond to being addressed by name.

Mom checks baby's reaction: out of sight baby, names a name that does not sound similar to the name baby. Repeats it twice. After a pause (10 seconds) calls the name twice baby and after the next pause (10 seconds) - another name.

The child, hearing his name, rejoices, quickly turns around and looks at the adult.

1. An adult, while caring for a child, talks to him and briefly explains his actions and activities. baby. The words of an adult and his actions synchronously coincide with sensations baby.

2. The adult listens to the baby’s speech reactions. If baby Basically, humming (vowel sounds) is heard, sometimes babbling: “v-va”, “ba-ba”, “m-ma”, etc., the mother enters into a “roll call” with her baby on the basis of those sounds (phonemes ), which have already appeared in his speech reactions.

The child listens, then expressively echoes the adult. If something doesn’t work out for him, he tries to repeat it. Situations are created that contribute to the emergence of baby active babble.

3. At 6 months, the adult introduces to kid the question “where?”

To do this, place a toy (dog) or some object (watch) in a certain place in the room.

Mom asks several times a day: “Where is the dog?” Shows a dog that always stands in the same place. Similarly: “Where is the clock?”

When asked by an adult, the child gradually begins to turn his head towards the “memorized” object.

LESSON 1.

Target. Learn to pick up a rattle from any position, as well as from the hands of an adult. Hold it in your hand for at least 2-3 minutes. Strengthen the ability to change the position of your body, focusing on an object lying on the side. Turn from back to stomach and from stomach to back.

Material. Bright rattles with handles of different shapes: in the form of a stick, flat or thickened downwards like a mace, in the form of a loop, in the form of a ring, in the form of a dumbbell, as well as shaped rattles (parrot, monkey, crocodile, etc.). Their lower part (the tail of a parrot, a crocodile) serves as a handle for gripping.

Progress of the lesson. The child lies on his back. Mom offers him a rattle with a stick-shaped handle. Places it at a height of 20-30 cm above the chest baby. An adult holds the toy by the tip of the handle, leaving the middle part free, i.e. creates conditions convenient for intercepting a rattle from an adult’s hands. The child takes it. It is desirable that he be able to hold the toy in his hand for 1.5-2 minutes. Mom excludes all distractions, steps aside, creates all the conditions so that the baby hears the sound of the rattle when shaking.

In the second part of the lesson, mother encourages baby take a different type of rattle from her hands, for example with a ring-shaped handle. The further course of the lesson is similar to its first part.

In the third part of the lesson child must make a turn from the stomach to the side and to the back. For this to kid lying on his stomach, the mother shows the toy and gets him to concentrate on it. Then mom moves the object in a circle behind her back baby.

He follows the toy, turns his head and quickly rolls over onto his back. To call you baby crawling, objects are placed in front of the baby at a distance slightly greater than his outstretched arm.

The child looks at them and tries to get them. Pulls himself up with his arms and crawls forward. Can change direction, moving sideways or backwards depending on the movement of toys. The adult also creates play situations with objects that encourage baby not only take the toy from different positions, but also contribute to learning (passive exercise method) various techniques for grasping them. An adult performs with his hand baby sliding, covering, looping, etc. actions. The adult continues to teach how to distinguish between toys of different textures,

Development indicators baby by the end of the 6th month

1. Follows the object (toy) on display for a relatively long time to kid adults, quickly moves on to practical contact with him (manipulation).

2. Confidently takes toys from different positions, transfers them from one hand to another, performs indicative actions that reveal their properties: pats, knocks, squeezes, shakes the toy, etc.

3. Able to study one subject for 1-3 minutes.

1. Responds to the actions of an adult, willingly makes contact. 2. Reacts sensitively to the mood of an adult: smiles, laughs, hearing a gentle tone, and frowns, catching strict intonations.

3. Rejoices at the appearance of a loved one. He reaches out with both hands to his mother, expressing a desire to be picked up.

4. Experiences tension when seeing a stranger, in a new environment or a situation that is incomprehensible to him.

5. Reacts differently to his own and someone else’s name: he does not respond to someone else’s name or calmly looks at the adult and is distracted. He responds emotionally to his name.

6. Needs active interaction with an adult and his help in mastering new actions with objects (toys) and manipulating them (“business communication”).

8. Begins to master the first social skills in everyday life: he is good at removing food from a spoon with his lips, eating semi-liquid and thick food. Drinks from a cup held by an adult.

1. Pronounces individual syllables (beginning of babbling).

2. Pronounces one syllable once or rarely (“ba”, “ma”, “ga”, etc.).

3. Repeats after an adult some sounds and syllables from his babble that he has already mastered.

4. In babbling, phonemes of the native language are clearly heard. At will, he pronounces syllables (babble) while awake.

1. Can perform a full turn: from back to side, from back to stomach, from stomach to back.

2. Performs crawling forward, backward, and to the side.

3. Stands straight and stable with support under the arms.

4. Confidently picks up a toy from any position.

5. Can study objects for a relatively long time (3-5 minutes).

6. Transfers the toy from one hand to the other.

7. Waving a rattle, repeatedly repeating successful actions. Waits to sound again when operated with a rattle.

8. Distinguishes his (familiar) toys by sound and appearance. Able to search for an object that has disappeared from sight, making turns in all directions.

At birth, a small person does not have a lot of skills and knowledge. Parents are capable of forming a physically, mentally and morally developed personality. It is useful to rely on the guidelines of the baby’s evolution and contribute to his future ourselves. This way you can multiply what nature has bestowed on your child.

From this article you will learn:

At a scheduled monthly appointment in the pre-doctor’s office, a mini-test is carried out to determine whether the baby’s development at 6 months corresponds to his age. The toddler is assessed according to a number of parameters:

• throws toys;
• babbles;
• holds objects, transferring them to one hand or the other;
• puts toys from one container to another;
• crawls towards a toy nearby;
• listens to others;
• distinguishes “us” from “strangers”;
• laughs loudly;
• directs his gaze to the objects being talked about at the moment;
• sits independently;
• tries to rise, grasping the support;
• changes the position of his body.

Changing positions involves the ability to stand on your legs, leaning on your foot with support, turning over on your side, from your back to your stomach and back, pulling your body forward with outstretched arms, and then back. When the child lies on his back, he tries to pull himself forward and stretches out his hands to be helped to sit up.

Some 6-month-old babies are already able to walk with support or even without it. This is not recommended if there is an unnatural bend in the knees and ankles. The child uses the adult as a partner for sports support. Pushes off, grabs, hangs on it. The baby attracts and repels objects. She practices these skills, including with her mother’s breasts.

Irregularity or skipping steps

The development of a 6-month-old baby may follow slightly different scenarios. For example, he begins to sit earlier than crawling or skips the crawling process. Parents often try to speed up their child’s development by introducing him to walkers and jumpers.

Orthopedists are against these devices. They do not teach a child to walk or jump, but they can cause unnecessary stress on the musculoskeletal system. At this age, it is acceptable to sit and stand for a short time with support. Long-term physical exercise has a negative impact on the development of new motor skills.

Most anticipated skill

This, of course, is the ability to sit without support. The baby also sits in the high chair, but leans on the back of the chair. And when a child can independently raise his body and sit on his butt, this is a great achievement. By this time, children, as a rule, already know how to crawl. From the age of 5 months, crawling backwards and in circles is practiced, and by six months - forward. There are cases when babies climb on their bellies.

If, for example, you have not yet sat down without support, but fall to one side or bend your back, then it is too early to be horrified. Perhaps within a week this fortress will be taken.

When the situation does not change within a month, an examination by a neurologist and orthopedist will be required. Often problems come from decreased muscle tone. The situation can be corrected by massage and physiotherapy.

Norms of weight, height, head and chest circumference

The development parameters of a six-month-old baby, proposed by WHO, expand the boundaries of indicators compared to the data of our pediatricians. The normal development of a baby at six months includes an increase in height by an average of 15-17 cm, and a weight increase of 4 kg 100 g - 4 kg 600 g in relation to a newborn. Over the past month, a child can grow by about 1.5-2 cm and gain 300-600 g. Boys’ indicators are usually higher than those of girls, with the exception of chest circumference.

Dream

Children whose waking hours include proper hygiene measures, games, massage with gymnastics, feeding, sleep 14 hours a day. During the day they can sleep no more than 2-3 times. The duration of each rest period is from half an hour to two. Now the baby sleeps longer at night without waking up. He is already able to sleep for six hours without a break, then feeding may be required. And then the continuation of dreams.

Teething

Half a year is usually marked by the fact that the child’s teeth begin to bother him. The first incisors may appear after 8 months or older. Some children acquire teeth before reaching six months of age. The milestone of 4.5 months is quite common.

Vaccination day

Have you followed the recommended vaccination schedule up to this point? Then, when you go to the children's clinic with your six-month-old baby, be prepared for vaccination day. The time has come for DTP (a single vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus), vaccination against polio and viral hepatitis B.

All these vaccinations are being done for the third time. But until this time, only a couple of vaccines were performed simultaneously, counting DTP as one unit, including three components. Now the child’s body will have to withstand the onslaught of an increased number of microbes.

Therefore, it is now worth treating the post-vaccination period with increased responsibility.

For some reason, have you previously missed vaccinations? This means that now the baby will receive a smaller amount. As a rule, 6-month-old babies whose development is slightly delayed are exempt from certain vaccines. Of course, if you initially provided a written refusal to be vaccinated, then you will not be invited to the treatment room. You weigh the risks from the consequences of real diseases and possible ailments after vaccinations yourself.

Psycho-emotional improvement

Noticeable by the following signs:

• strengthening awareness, ingenuity, independence;
• recognizing yourself in the mirror;
• positive reaction to the voices of loved ones.

The baby conveys an expanded range of emotions, not just joy and unhappiness. You can even trace irritation to anger if you take actions that go against children's expectations. As a result, babbling will improve. A child distinguishes himself from another person. He realizes that when he hits himself, it hurts, but when he hits another child, he doesn’t feel any pain.

Communication

Looks like this:

• knows and responds to his name;
• repeats syllables (if you repeat after him, the baby is happy and says them again);
• able to make some of his desires clear;
• smiles often;
• remembers words spoken by those around him;
• holds attention for a long time;
• imitates the sneezing, coughing and laughter of adults.

The development of a 6-month-old child suggests dissatisfaction at the sight of a new person, especially if a stranger comes to visit. When the baby finds himself in a public place and transport, he reacts more calmly to unknown faces.

Games

Should be aimed at fine motor skills. While playing, the child loves:

• examine objects in detail;
• feel new things with interest;
• use toys for their intended purpose;
• clap, knock and shake;

Children love songs and nursery rhymes. They are waiting for the “resolution,” especially if it is expressed in action. For example, when saying “they arrived and sat on the head,” the adult places his palms on the baby’s head. And he is already expecting this action, being delighted with what happened. The child first studies the toys, examines them, twirls them in his hands, and then puts them in his mouth. The range of interests of a six-month-old child expands significantly. After all, before he only wanted to taste everything.

Complementary feeding stage

If regurgitation has occurred, it becomes less frequent and less abundant or disappears. Until this age, the child should be taken with you during family meals. So he will be interested in what adults do, what manipulations they perform when they eat, and that this process is pleasant for them. The child knows how to open his mouth slightly if you bring a spoon to him. Removes food with lips, eats pureed food from a spoon.

It happens that, according to most signs, the child is ready for the introduction of complementary foods, but refuses to eat. Some people don’t like the new object – a spoon. Others are put off by the appearance of pureed food. Still others prefer to eat from a bottle, as the liquid porridge drips from the spoon onto their chin. So you will have to look for an approach to unraveling gastronomic preferences. Lack of appetite may be associated with painful teething.

Most parents expect their six-month-old baby to be able to sit without support. An evolutionary leap during this period is the introduction of complementary foods. The emotional manifestations of the baby become more diverse. Along with improving attention, research instincts appear.

Your baby is 5 months old. Another 4 eventful weeks will pass, and he will cross the cherished mark of six months. Observing the development and training of your little one, you have already noticed that he has changed dramatically. This is no longer that clumsy fool you brought from the maternity hospital, but an active, intelligent, sometimes even cunning little person. Yes, he doesn’t speak, crawl, or even sit yet, but his skills and mental development have stepped far forward.

What does a 5 month old baby look like?

The baby’s movements are conscious and clear, his voice is loud and emotional, his desires are clear, his daily routine is established. A little more, the baby will crawl and sit up, consciously say “mom” for the first time, rise to his feet and walk. Each child does this in his own time and at his own speed. Your task is to support him in mastering the necessary skills.

Every day you will observe how quickly the child learns new things, every day he reaches small but peaks of perfection. A baby in the sixth month of life performs the same exercises several times in a row, training his muscles and realizing how this or that movement is performed. Due to the improvement of the nervous system, the child can already be aware of his actions and strive for new skills.

A pleasant feature of this period is the filling of the house with babbling and children's laughter. The baby needs communication and actively participates in dialogue with adults. A little more time will pass and the first words will begin to appear instead of babbling.

Physiological changes

The baby's body becomes strong and strong. The baby can already do a lot, strives to move and change position, rolls over from his stomach to his back and back. The child grabs toys, shakes them, brings them to his eyes and mouth, and knocks. The abdominal and back muscles become developed, and soon the baby will sit down and laugh joyfully.

Depending on the characteristics inherent in nature, temperament, and character, children learn to sit down at different times. Some cope with the task at 5.5 months, others have already exceeded the 6 month mark. No matter how much you would like to help your little one, you should not force things. You can offer muscle training, massage, and take him to the next level with toys, but don't force him to do anything he can't do yet.

With insufficient development of the back muscles, the load to support the body falls on the spine, which is fragile and easily bent. This is especially true for girls. It's all about the formation of the reproductive system. The girl’s uterus and ovaries are located directly at the bend of the torso and are protected from external factors by the abdominal muscles that hold the internal organs. The effect of early placement of babies on the formation of infertility has not been proven, but such suspicions exist. Of course, if your daughter sits up on her own before 6 months, having developed her muscles sufficiently, you shouldn’t stop her, but you shouldn’t force her either.

In the sixth month, the desire to move after an object appears. The stronger this desire, the faster the little one will crawl. The basis for the future ability to crawl is constant rollovers from the stomach to the back and back, lifting the body up while lying on the stomach. Every day the muscles of the arms and legs become stronger, allowing the baby to crawl without raising his stomach, spin, and crawl away. To help master this skill, offer to reach for toys more often, stimulate the desire to change their location.

By six months, the baby can easily stand for several minutes, holding onto a support. The development of the muscles of the legs and arms allows him to hold himself upright. But you shouldn’t offer him such entertainment too often. Everything has its time. First, the baby needs to master the ability to sit or crawl, only after that can he move to a standing position.

The ability to stand upright when parents hold the armpits appears as a consequence of the complete attenuation of innate reflexes. Now the baby, being in this position, does not move his legs or try to bend them, but straightens them completely at the knees and hips.

Physical development

The rate of weight gain is still quite high. For the next 4 weeks, the goal is 600 grams. Height increases by an average of 1-3 cm. The head grows by 1 cm, and the chest by 1.5 cm. The baby has grown to the age when the chest circumference should gradually become larger than the head circumference.

The most active children, who learned to crawl and sit early, may gain slightly less than the established norm by the end of the 6th month of life. This is due to increased waste of energy and physical activity. If the baby is slowly gaining weight, but is actively moving, playing, eating with pleasure, cheerful and cheerful, then there is no reason to worry. At your monthly pediatrician appointment, tell the doctor about your progress.

Boundary indicators of a child’s physical development at 5-6 months depending on gender

Psycho-emotional development

Along with the emergence of new motor skills and increased daily activity, progress in improving the nervous system is noticeable. The toddler is already responding to his name, reacting to the presence of strangers, and trying to imitate speech. If you work on speech development, then already during this period the baby can repeat some syllables quite well and pronounce sounds accurately.

To stimulate speech development during this period of life, it is necessary to talk to the child as much as possible, read books to him, and sing songs. Between 5 and 6 months, active speech perception is formed. The more your baby hears, the better he will understand you.

When talking to your baby, you should try to use his name as often as possible. You shouldn’t constantly call him a bunny or a cat. The perception of one's own name is an important stage in the formation of personality. The use of affectionate nicknames is possible, but several times less common than the child’s own name.

The baby enjoys communicating with familiar adults, attracts attention with a variety of sounds, and babbles. New emotional manifestations of joy appear. The baby may scream at the sight of his mother or his favorite toy. The child really likes the expansion of sound capabilities and during the waking period he constantly improves this skill.

The baby behaves warily with strangers. Basic instincts of self-preservation begin to work. He understands intonation, distinguishes sound, associates the voice with a person. If just 2 months ago anyone could pick up the baby, now it can end in crying and attempts to return to the mother’s arms. The baby's memory of faces is still short-term. The person whom the baby saw 2 weeks ago becomes a stranger and stranger. If grandparents want to play and communicate with the baby, then they need to take care of frequent visits.

Normal development is impossible without a calm atmosphere. The baby needs a daily routine, the absence of an excess of emotions, and consistency. Until six months, you should refrain from having a large number of guests, and do not take the baby with you to noisy events. With excessive nervous stress, babies become capricious, sleep and eat poorly.

Motor skills

The period between 5 and 6 months of life is filled with many different changes in the baby's motor skills. Some children master them a little earlier, others closer to six months, and others after exceeding the 6-month mark. Among the most striking motor skills of a 5-6 month old baby are:

• Confidently lifting the body from a supine position to a sitting position with the help of parents. Some children by 5.5 months master the ability to independently perform this exercise. Keep the body in a sitting position for some time. Raising the body from a position on all fours is considered correct, but in most cases, children first learn to sit down by lifting the body from a lying position, leaning on their hand.
• Trying to crawl or mastering this skill. Depending on muscle development, the baby may begin to crawl or may only attempt to move its body. Quite often this skill begins with moving backwards. The baby backs away because the mechanism of moving the body backward is easier for the baby to understand. You can help your toddler master this skill by showing him the position on all fours. Holding your belly at some distance from the surface, move your baby's arms and legs, imitating the movements. In order to move the toddler’s limbs correctly, it is worth remembering that crawling is achieved if the arm moves together with the opposite leg. If you move your right arm forward, then you need to move your left leg along with it.
• Strong arching of the body while lying on the stomach. The baby confidently raises his shoulders, resting on his hands. May lift one hand from the rest to reach a toy. During this exercise, the spine bends, giving the baby the opportunity to rise higher and see more. Being in such a stance, the child turns his head to the sides in search of interesting objects. Carrying out such exercises involves placing bright objects and toys on all sides.
• Quickly and confidently rolls over from back to stomach and back. Can perform this action while holding a toy. The maturation of the psycho-emotional sphere gives the baby an understanding of a comfortable body position. Depending on the desired manipulations with the toy, the baby can choose a position lying on his back or stomach. During this period, you should give him small rattles for independent study so that turning over is easy.
• Lying on his back, he raises his legs high and pulls them into his mouth. The flexibility and plasticity of the spine, the development of the back muscles make this pastime accessible to the baby. It is necessary to monitor the length of the toenails and the cleanliness of the baby’s feet so that germs do not get into the mouth and it does not scratch the delicate body.
• Makes confident grasping movements. Holds the toy, moves it from hand to hand, pulls it into the mouth and examines it. Copying the behavior of adults, he can knock, shake, and pat it. Can find a rattle hidden under a diaper. Developing basic fine motor skills is very beneficial for the brain. It’s good when the baby has several small, light toys that fit comfortably in his hand. On them he will hone his skill in manipulating his hands.
• When raised to a vertical position, the baby fully extends his legs at the knees and strives to find support.

Hearing, vision, reaction to sounds

The capabilities of the senses increase. They play a critical role in building the knowledge base, so they continue to improve. The eyes can distinguish primary colors and several shades. The baby with pleasure carefully examines the faces of adults who take him in their arms, touches his cheeks and nose, and hair. During the dialogue he tries to touch his lips.

The child actively reacts to changes happening around him and babbles joyfully when replacing toys. It is recommended to completely change the rattles once a week. Don’t rush to buy new ones; just hide the items you’ve already studied from your little one for a week and they’ll become interesting again. This happens for several reasons. Firstly, the predominant use of short-term memory, and secondly, the formation of a knowledge base. Every day the amount of information received about the world increases, the baby masters new movements. If today he used his entire arsenal of research skills on a rattle, then in a week he will understand that he did not perform new exercises with this object.

Hearing becomes more perfect. The little one constantly listens to the sounds around him and reacts to them. The usual measured sound calms him, new sharp sounds frighten him. The need to see an object making a sound is growing. Now the baby demands to see what he hears. The reason is the development of the brain. It requires more and more audio-visual information to expand the knowledge base.

The formation of connections between visual and auditory information in the first year of life is the basis for future mental success. Do not try to create complete silence in the room or exclude natural sounds. The more of them the baby hears and relates to certain objects, the better. White noise from TV and radio is still undesirable. It is advisable to reduce the time spent with these items to a minimum.

Being in the same room with a TV, the baby will look at the screen, trying to understand what is making the sound, and will try to understand the changing picture. The fragile nervous system, vision and hearing will be subject to information attack, which can affect the baby’s calmness and comfort.

Hair and nails

Already in the previous month, hair and nails began to grow faster, making adjustments to hygiene procedures. In place of the bald patches on the back of the head and the sides of the scalp, new smooth hairs appear, and the fluff with which the baby was born gradually disappears.

If you haven't bought a brush for combing yet, then you should take care of it. It is recommended to use a special comb-brush for babies. It differs from items used by adults because it has soft, thick fibers. It is better not to use an adult comb. The comb can scratch the head, the massager is too bulky, and it is inconvenient for it to tidy up the child’s head. It is recommended to carry out the combing procedure twice a day as part of morning and evening hygiene procedures.

Using hair shampoo is not yet required. The baby is still in minimal contact with the outside world, and excessive use of soap solution on the scalp can lead to excessive drying of the hair and reduced growth.

Your baby's nails require weekly monitoring. You should carefully monitor their length and trim the protruding parts in a timely manner. This must be done with special scissors with rounded ends. It is not recommended to use tweezers or items from an adult manicure set. The child must have his own scissors, intended only for cutting nail plates. It is not recommended to perform other actions or use them on another person.

Nails should be trimmed straight, without rounding the shape of the nail. This way, you will maintain the shape of the nail plate, and you will be able to avoid improper growth and the formation of hangnails. The ideal time to carry out this procedure is the hygiene block after an evening swim.

First tooth

Children who did not acquire their first teeth earlier will definitely do so at the age of 5-6 months. They will experience increased salivation and noticeably swollen gums. Babies react to this process differently. Some pass through it quite calmly, almost unnoticed. Others become moody and have trouble sleeping or eating. Still others experience the appearance of teeth very hard. Among the most common difficulties accompanying the appearance of teeth are:

• Disturbance of night and daytime sleep. Children on breastfeeding often ask for the breast and cry while eating. Babies receiving artificial feeding have difficulty falling asleep and sleep restlessly.
• Diarrhea. Often, on the eve of the appearance of the top of the teeth, babies begin to defecate, the structure of the feces becomes more liquid.
• Temperature. On days of active teething, the baby’s temperature may rise to 38.5 degrees, which does not require the use of antipyretics. If teething and infection are combined, the temperature may be higher, so you should have a suitable antipyretic and pain reliever on hand.
• Runny nose and increased salivation. Some children experience nasal congestion and itching in the gums.

Usually the most difficult process is the appearance of the first teeth, and then the manifestations will be less intense.

The following help reduce the intensity of negative symptoms:

• Frequent breastfeeding. Mother's milk has an analgesic effect. If the baby changes the frequency of eating during teething , let him do it.
• Using teethers. Pharmacies and children's departments sell special toys made from materials that allow you to scratch itchy gums. They often contain a gel that allows them to cool the inflamed skin, relieving pain to some extent. When using teethers with cooling gel, you should carefully read the instructions and use them correctly. Most require pre-chilling in the refrigerator. The duration of preparation for use is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging and can be from 10 to 40 minutes.
• Pain relief gels prescribed by your pediatrician. Typically, specially developed gels containing an analgesic are prescribed to facilitate teething. Their use is possible after consultation with a pediatrician and strictly in the indicated dosage and frequency.
• Suppositories prescribed by a doctor to reduce fever and pain. Most often they contain ibuprofen and are used when the temperature rises. Their use is possible only after consultation with a doctor, in the absence of an allergic reaction to the components.
• Manual mode. Many children, during the teething period, begin to intensively ask to be held in the arms of mom or dad. The increased need to be held is due to the discomfort experienced by the toddler. If you clearly know that the baby is not feeling well, then do not deprive him of the feeling of comfort and calm. Teeth will soon appear, and your baby will once again set off to explore the world on his own.

The appearance of teeth is the most difficult period for mother and baby. It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely get rid of unpleasant manifestations. You just need to get through this time.

Digestive system

By five months, the toddler’s digestive system is already fully formed. Left behind are the intestinal colics that accompany the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with beneficial microflora. The baby no longer spits up or does it very rarely. The body is ready to receive new, more varied foods.

Usually, in the sixth month of life, healthy babies who are on breastfeeding begin to receive complementary foods. Children who eat formula begin to become familiar with porridge. The volume of non-dairy food gradually increases and by 6 months it is advisable to replace the second feeding with it.

Social contact

The child needs communication more and more. Conversation and reading books become an important way to form a toddler’s sound base, contribute to the development of speech perception, and establish contact between the child and parents.

During this period, it is worth filling the baby’s life with various types of communication: dialogue, physical contact, joint dancing and singing. The more you communicate with your baby, the faster and better he will speak.

Care instructions

Child care in the 6th month of life remains the same. As before, in the morning it is necessary to perform a gymnastic complex, wash, clean the auricle and nose. During the day, do not forget to keep your groin area clean and clean your hands, feet, and body as they become dirty. In the evening, every day you need to bathe the baby in a bath or offer to swim in a bathtub with a special circle.

It is good to gradually wean your baby from constantly wearing a diaper. You can wear it for a night's sleep and for a walk outside. At home, it is advisable to keep it in panties. Early weaning from diapers will make it easier for you to potty train your toddler. The baby will not get used to the constant absorption of urine and feces, and will understand the difference between dry and wet panties. All this will quickly demonstrate the benefit of using a potty and the need to communicate to you when you want to pee.

Bathing and hygiene

Bathing a baby in the 6th month of life remains a daily procedure. There is still no need to use soap. If desired or prescribed by a doctor, you can use herbal decoctions, but do not overdo it. Any herbs have side effects if used incorrectly; you should treat them wisely.

Bathing a child lasts 15-20 minutes and consists of completely washing and wiping the entire body. It is good to use cotton swabs to wash your face. Soak a cotton pad in separate water. Wipe your toddler's face from the nose to the ears.

You should be careful when cleaning your fingers. You need to not only rinse your palm, but also wipe the skin between your fingers.

The groin area requires special attention. Be sure to wash all folds. When washing a girl, do not spread the labia and rub the vaginal area. This area is very delicate and can clean itself. Simply rinse with water.

The water when bathing in a bath should be about 37 degrees, when swimming in a bath - about 27. The temperature difference for different types of bathing is determined by the purpose. In the bath you relax the baby, wash, and when bathing in the bath you stimulate muscle movement.

After any type of bathing, you should additionally rinse your baby with clean water not from a bathtub or tub. It should be prepared before swimming so that it is a little cooler than the water in which the little one swam.

Nutrition

Between 5 and 6 months of age, all children begin to introduce complementary foods. Babies on artificial feeding continue to increase the amount of fruit puree and juice they receive, and babies on breastfeeding begin to receive additional products during the second morning feeding.

During the second feeding in the first week of the 6th month of life, the baby receives juice for introduction. Parents usually prefer apple juice. If no reaction is observed, then during the first week the amount of juice offered is increased to a teaspoon. After a week, you can offer a different type of juice. By 5.5 months, you can invite the baby to get acquainted with fruit puree.

Table of ages for introducing new products depending on the type of feeding

Table of allowed foods for children under 6 months

When introducing complementary foods to your baby, you can prepare food yourself or buy ready-made foods. When using canned or boxed food, you should carefully examine the packaging for age rating. For different ages, food undergoes different degrees of processing, so you should not choose porridge for a 5-month-old baby that has a 7-month mark on it.

Sleep and daily routine

A child's nightly sleep reaches 10-11 hours and most children do not wake up for a snack. During the day the baby sleeps 2 times. Daytime sleep usually lasts 2-3 hours and coincides with a walk.

During the period of active teething, night and daytime sleep may become intermittent. It is worth consulting with your pediatrician about the use of painkillers to maintain your usual regimen.

Hardening

The hardening of a child in the 6th month of life remains the same. Air and sun baths must be carried out several times daily. Rubbing with water at room temperature can be done in the morning and evening after waking up.

How to develop a baby

Separately, in the sixth month of life, it is worth paying attention to the variety of developmental activities. Strengthening the cognitive function of the brain allows you to introduce the first games and educational activities into the life of the little ones. Adults can offer the child:

• Learn to throw toys, knock them on different surfaces.
• Exploration games. Offer your baby a bright toy and object. Let him look at it, touch it, taste it. Name the thing. Show what you can do with it, what sounds it makes.
• Games with a mirror. First, let your baby look at his reflection. Afterwards, you can wave to the baby and show him an articulation exercise. It’s good to sing in front of the mirror, recite poetry.
• Capture game. Try to train your child's fine motor skills by asking him to take objects of different sizes and shapes from your hands.
• Games with music. While listening to a musical composition, turn the sound on and off, knock and clap to the beat of the melody.
• Dance with your baby in your arms.
• Let's try the surrounding objects by touch. This greatly helps the child in developing a knowledge base.
• Smell different smells. Offer to smell a flower, perfume, fruit, etc. Name the subject proposed for study.
• Sensory development. It’s good to let your baby explore objects of different textures. Special soft rugs made from different types of fabric provide excellent development for the baby.

The development of a child in the 6th month of life involves a comprehensive study of the world around him using the senses. Logical and analytical operations are not yet available to the baby, but for them to arise, strong connections must be formed between the object, its name, sound, appearance, taste, and sensory qualities.

Toys for development

In the sixth month of life, in addition to rattles and garlands, you can offer your little one new types of toys. Increased motor skills allow you to play:

• A pyramid. Please note that the plastic from which the pyramid is made must be safe. Its structure should be smooth and uniform, the color scheme of the elements should be close to the main colors of the spectrum. For the first pyramid, it is enough to take a small one, up to 6 elements.
• Tumblers. Children aged 5 months really like this type of toy. They are happy to push them, touch them, make them sound.
• Soft earbuds. For babies, special sets of large mosaic inserts are sold, on which at the age of 5 months the baby can develop fine motor skills, and when older, study the depicted objects.
• Books for babies. There are many books on sale for children under one year old. They can be made of fabric, hard cardboard or even plastic. The main requirements for such products are safety, durability, brightness and availability of images.
• Educational mats. There is a huge variety of rugs for babies. To enhance the developmental and massaging effect, it is good to use options filled not only with soft materials, but also with small details. But when using them, you should carefully monitor the integrity of the item to prevent ingestion of small filler. Babies don't understand the danger, they just play with what they see and put it in their mouth.
• Sensory pads and cubes. To develop hand motor skills, you can invite your baby to touch special sensory toys filled with various small objects of different sizes. After each game, carefully inspect such toys for integrity. If holes, ties or tears appear, it is worth removing the item from permanent use or repairing it.

Do I need to go to the clinic every month?

By the age of 5 months, many parents are faced with the question of the need for monthly visits to the pediatrician. In the absence of developmental and behavioral problems, some adults consider this unnecessary. This is not a correct judgment. In the first year of life, the baby’s body goes through a difficult stage of development, requiring constant monitoring by specialists. It is imperative to monitor harmonious development, establish the normal operation of all systems, and the emergence and formation of basic skills. Parents are not always able to notice some deviations from the norm in time and choose the right sequence of actions.

Modern medicine makes it possible to promptly notice and eliminate a large number of unwanted manifestations, so you should not neglect the need for monthly visits to the pediatrician and be sure to see specialists. Monitoring by a neurologist, otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist and orthopedist is mandatory.

What should you be wary of?

In the sixth month of a child’s life, it is necessary to carefully monitor the timeliness of the development of skills. You should immediately contact your pediatrician if your baby has:

• innate reflexes have not disappeared;
• the skills of turning over from back to side have not appeared;
• there are difficulties in raising your body from a position lying on your stomach;
• decreased activity. While awake, he does not want to move or play, the reaction to the offer to exercise becomes sharply negative;
• there is no reaction to his own name, he does not turn his head towards the sound;
• There is a very noticeable decrease in the rate of weight gain and growth. His indicators differ greatly from the lower limit of the age norm;
• if outwardly everything is fine, but you feel unreasonably anxious.

Weaning off the pacifier

Many babies use a pacifier as a sedative from birth. If you are not weaned from using this item in a timely manner, undesirable consequences may occur. Using a pacifier does not give the baby enough jaw freedom and reduces the activity of the muscles responsible for speech. In addition, the pacifier can negatively affect dental health and jaw formation.

To avoid consequences, it is worth reducing the frequency of use of the pacifier by your child. It is optimal to completely get rid of this item by 6 months. If your child makes a request, you should offer him something to do and talk to him. Distract him and entertain him. Gradually, the child will get used to the new circumstances and will stop asking for a pacifier.

The sixth month of life is a wonderful period. The child has changed dramatically and is improving every day. The emergence of new skills, a gradual transition to a new plane, active socialization make it possible to introduce new options for spending time, coloring life with new activities. During this period, mother should think about herself, remember the need for rest and proper nutrition. The older your baby gets, the more strength you will need.