Infant and toddler health

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Appointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Request Appointment Healthy LifestyleInfant and toddler health Print Products and services Infant development: Milestones from 4 to 6 monthsFrom ages 4 to 6 months, babies become more aware of their surroundings. Infant development milestones include rolling over, clapping hands and babbling.By Mayo Clinic Staff The newborn days are behind you. As your baby becomes more alert and mobile, each day will bring exciting new adventures. Every experience, from cuddling before nap time to listening to a sibling's chatter, will help your baby learn more about the world. Expect your baby to grow and develop at your baby's own pace. But consider these general infant development milestones as your baby's personality appears. What to expect Most babies will become more aware of the world around them and want to explore. From ages 4 to 6 months, your baby is likely to enjoy: Evolving motor skills. Your baby's arms and legs probably wiggle and kick more purposefully now. Your baby is likely rolling over. Your baby's head control will get better as the muscles gain strength. Most babies this age raise their heads when lying facedown. They might even try to push themselves up or bear weight on their legs. Around age 6 months, many babies begin sitting alone after being positioned upright. Improving hand-eye coordination. Your baby will probably grasp your finger, a rattle or a soft object. Anything within reach is likely to end up in your baby's mouth. You might notice your baby pulling objects closer with a raking motion of the hands. Clearer vision. Your baby is starting to be able to tell the difference between shades of reds, blues and yellows. Complex patterns and shapes become more interesting at this age. You might notice your baby focusing on a toy or staring at their reflection. If you roll a ball across the floor, your baby will probably turn the head to follow the action. Babbling and other new sounds. Babies this age often start to babble chains of letter sounds, such as "ba" or "dee." Your baby might react to sound by making sounds and use the voice to express joy. Your baby also might be able to tell between emotions by tone of voice, and begin replying to "no." Some babies might even know their name. Promoting your baby's development At this age, learning and play go together. But it doesn't take expensive educational toys or intense effort to capture your baby's attention. To promote infant development: Talk to your baby. Ask questions and react to your baby's coos and gurgles. Describe what you see, hear and smell around the house, outdoors, and when you're out and about. Use simple words such as "baby," "cat," "go," "walk," "hot" and "cold." Remember that your tone of voice and facial expression can communicate ideas and emotions. Turn on the tunes. Music can help calm, entertain and teach your baby. Sing or play lullabies, upbeat children's songs or your own favorites. Change positions. Lay your baby on the tummy for a few supervised minutes. Many babies enjoy practicing their new rolling skills, and they may roll over quickly. Hold a colorful toy or make a noise to encourage your baby to pick up the head or practice rolling over. Hold your baby's hands while lying down and say, "Are you ready to stand up? Here we go!" Count to three as you gently pull your baby to a standing position. When your baby's ready, try a sitting position. Hold your baby or use pillows for support. Offer simple toys. Babies this age often enjoy colorful toys, especially those that make sounds. Try a musical toy, a mirror, a rattle with a handle. To help your baby focus, put out only one or two toys at a time. Place one toy slightly out of reach to encourage your baby to stretch and creep. Shake a rattle behind your baby's head so that your baby can turn and grab it. Babies may also like to watch their movements in a mirror. Read to your baby. Reading to a baby helps with speech and thought development. Most babies will soak in your words and might even mimic the sounds you make. Start with books that have large, brightly colored pictures. Describe what's happening on each page. Point to and name common objects. You might make this part of your routine before putting your baby to bed. Play favorite games. Cover your face with your hands, then remove your hands and say, "Peekaboo, I see you!" Play patty-cake. Ask, "Where are your toes?" Then touch your child's toes and say, "Here are your toes!" Hide one of your baby's toys with the corner of a blanket and encourage your baby to find it. Take time to cuddle. Balance new events with plenty of quiet time. Gentle caresses and tender kisses can help your baby feel safe, secure and loved. When you hold or rock your baby, talk quietly or sing soothing songs. Get to know your baby's personality. Start to notice how your baby reacts to new toys, people or situations. Figuring out your baby's behavioral style, called temperament, will help you both be less stressed. When something's not right Your baby might reach some developmental milestones ahead of schedule and lag behind a bit on others. This is common. But it's a good idea to be aware of the signs or symptoms of a problem. Consult your baby's health care provider if you're concerned about your baby's development or your baby: Has very stiff or tight muscles. Seems very floppy. Reaches with only one hand. Hasn't shown any improvement in head control. Doesn't respond to sounds, such as by startling to sudden loud noises. Doesn't reach for or bring objects to the mouth. Doesn't attempt to roll over. Has an eye or eyes that consistently turn in or out. Doesn't babble. Doesn't seem to enjoy being around people or spontaneously smile. Trust your instincts. The earlier a problem is found, the earlier it can be treated. Above all, delight in your baby's discoveries and abilities. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox. Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Click here for an email preview. Email Infant's First Year (0-1) Toddler (2-4) Elementary Children (5-10) Tween & Teen (11-17) Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Thank you for subscribing Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Something went wrong with your subscription. Please try again in a couple of minutes Retry ShareTweet March 13, 2025 Show references 3 to 6 months: Your baby's development. Zero to Three. https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/3-6-months-your-babys-development/. Accessed Dec. 5, 2022. Altmann T, et al., eds. Age 4 months through seven months. In: Your Baby's First Year. 5th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2020. https://shop.aap.org. Accessed Aug. 8, 2022. Cook WJ, et al., eds. Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years: Newborn to Age 3. Mayo Clinic Press; 2020. See more In-depth Products and Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Years See also Air travel with infant Babies and solid foods Baby fat Baby naps Baby poop: What to expect Baby sleep Birthmarks Breastfeeding and alcohol Breastfeeding nutrition: Tips for moms Breastfeeding positions Breastfeeding strike Common baby rashes Crying baby Infant constipation Infant development: Ages 7 to 9 months Infant development: Milestones from 10 to 12 months Infant formula preparation Infant growth rates Medicine concerns while breastfeeding Sick baby? Spitting up in babies Teething: Tips for soothing sore gums Vitamin D for babies Show more related content Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. 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Click here for an email preview. Email Infant's First Year (0-1) Toddler (2-4) Elementary Children (5-10) Tween & Teen (11-17) Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Thank you for subscribing Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Something went wrong with your subscription. Please try again in a couple of minutes Retry There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox. Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Click here for an email preview. Email Infant's First Year (0-1) Toddler (2-4) Elementary Children (5-10) Tween & Teen (11-17) Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Thank you for subscribing Our e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Something went wrong with your subscription. Please try again in a couple of minutes Retry