A talkative, curious, cautious and ever-changing adventure.
As a parent of a child who is at least 4 months old, you have learned thisesit can bring your child a new sign of growth and development, not to mention every new month. In months 4-6 you can expect more of the same, with some interesting new differences.
your baby's world
Feeding schedule from 4 to 6 months:Your baby will likely drink 6 to 7 fluid ounces of formula or breast milk 4 to 5 times a day.
New fun food:Grains and cereals will be part of your new eating experience.
Doubly cool:Your baby's weight will be about twice its birth weight.
Your baby's world at 4 months: laying a fabulous foundation
You will find that your baby's personality will become even more pronounced. By the end of month 4, he may be laughing out loud and experimenting with his babble skills while you interact with him vocally.
They more or less speak your language.
Your baby is now developing language and understanding skills and will seek help from you. Here are some ways to encourage your breakthroughs:
- Talk to your baby often while dressing, feeding, or bathing.
- Offer quiet times (switch off the radio and television)
- Encourage your baby to turn their head towards the sounds.
- Repeat the sounds often and try to get your baby to imitate them.
This little body needs a lot of nourishment
Once you've decided to breastfeed or formula feed, it helps to understand the value of the various nutrients that work together to strengthen your baby's immune system:
- carbohydrates, proteins and lipidsThey are macronutrients that provide energy, structure the cell membrane and promote growth and development.
- vitamins and mineralsThey are essential for many important metabolic processes in our body. For example, zinc plays an important role in the normal growth and function of many cells and tissues, including immune cells.
- nucleotideare important substances that help build and repair cells. They are particularly important in times of rapid growth and development, such as B. in childhood.
The importance of oligosaccharides in breast milk*(HMO)
Babies need prebiotics to feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut, and the gut is home to 70% of the immune system. Breast milk oligosaccharides are a group of unique prebiotics that are the third most common solid component in breast milk. HMOs are important immunonutritive prebiotics and have been implicated in immune support and digestive health.
Whilst breast milk is the best nutrition for your baby, Similac 360 Total Care is our newest infant formula containing 5 HMOs if you choose bottle feeding, a blend of prebiotics previously only available in breast milk.
Sleep behavior at 4 months
- Your baby may sleep around 12 to 15 hours a day, including naps.
- You can start rolling over and waking up. If possible, give your baby a few minutes to see if he goes back to sleep on his own.
IMPORTANT: Keep thick blankets, comforters, pillows and stuffed animals away from your baby's crib.Learn more about infant sleep safetyRecommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Your baby's world at 5 months: stronger every day
They use both hands to touch and two-syllable sounds to communicate. By the end of month 5, your child will likely have the strength to sit up with some support and transfer toys from one hand to the other.
At this age, your baby may start being wary of strangers. Although they recognize familiar faces, they may show distrust and fear of new people. This is normal and will pass over time.
Make sure your diet is more balanced than theirs.
Your 5 month old baby needs proper nutrition to grow strong. If you are breastfeeding or using formula, you need protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to support bone, muscle, immune system, brain and eye development. The following are some important components for the growth and development of the immune system:
- Vitamin Chelps form collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscles, blood vessels and other connective tissues. Helps maintain capillaries, bones and teeth. In addition, vitamin C is important for wound healing and helps the body resist infection, as well as aiding in the absorption of iron.
- Humanes Milch-Oligosaccharid* (HMO)It is a prebiotic previously only found in significant amounts in breast milk. There are many HMOs in breast milk and they are the third most common solid component,†for fats and carbohydrates. Similac 360 Total Care is our newest infant formula containing 5 HMOs, a blend of prebiotics previously only available in breast milk.
- footballIt plays an important role in the development of bones and teeth, blood clotting, and maintaining healthy nerves and muscles.
- Ferroit is necessary for proper growth and formation of healthy blood cells and is important for brain development. Iron is part of hemoglobin, a protein involved in the transport and storage of oxygen.
- ProteinHelps build, maintain and repair new tissue throughout the body, including muscles.
Breastfeeding is the best way to help your baby grow. If you decide to formula feed, it is something to considerSimilac 360 all-round care, as it is a diet designed for immune system support, brain development and digestive health.
Show off your brawn and intelligence
Your baby's muscles and brain cells are in overdrive at this age. Here are 5 exercises to help your 5-month-old stay on top of things:
- Encourage your baby to raise their head and stretch out their arms to observe what is happening in the world around them.
- Hold your baby upright under your arms. Slowly lower him until his feet are touching the table, bed, or your lap so he can get a feel for where he should stand going forward.
- Help your baby to sit up independently. Start by propping it up against the corner of a sofa or chair to keep it from tipping over.
- Try to get your baby to follow bright faces or objects with their eyes.
- Help your baby pick up small toys like 1 inch blocks. (Keep minor choking hazards out of baby's reach and mouth.)
Sleep behavior at 5 months
- Your baby can sleep 12 to 15 hours a day, including naps.
- They can wake up at night to feed and sleep no more than 5-6 hours at a time.
- You may start to sit up and wake up in the process. If possible, let her try to go back to sleep on her own instead of immediately trying to comfort her.
The world of your baby at 6 months: half a year, new adventures
Your baby lays the groundwork for language with every coo and gag she makes. Keep talking to him.
Your baby's growing awareness of you as a separate person may now manifest as some separation anxiety. A good way to reassure them that being out of sight doesn't mean getting out of control is to play cuckoo games.
Time to play, time to learn
Every baby develops at a different time, but by the end of 6 months your baby will likely be able to sit up unaided and use this new ability to explore their world:
- Explore textures and shapes by finding objects and putting them in your mouth. (Keep minor choking hazards out of baby's reach.)
- Pick up objects by "gathering" them with your fingers. (You should now be even more careful about what you leave in the house.)
Give them a solid start.
Check with your baby's doctor to determine if they are ready to include solid foods in their diet. When introducing solid foods, do so gradually and one at a time to check for allergic reactions. If you have a severe reaction to a specific food, contact your doctor.
At this age, in addition to breast milk or baby formula, you can consider these solid foods:
- Iron-fortified baby cereal(rice, barley, oats)
- meat puree(Fully cooked beef, pork, chicken)
- Puree or colada fruit(banana, pear, apple sauce, peach)
- Pureed or coladas vegetables(avocado, well-cooked carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes)
For more information, seeStart with solid food.
Sleep behavior at 6 months
- At this age, your baby is likely to sleep through the night and wake up from time to time.
- If you're not waking up multiple times each night, talk to your doctor about possible causes and solutions.
- During the day, a 6-month-old is awake and active for long periods of time. Two to three short naps for a total of 3 to 4 hours should be enough.
Do you have questions about SIDS?
Do you know the SIDan der American Academy of Pediatrics.
Next Month Developments: Grow with a Smile per Minute!
get the wholedenteabout teething, new eating habits and your 7-month-old's development in next month's article.mes 7.
*No breast milk.
†Without water.
Our biggest formula breakthrough yet!
Find out more about our infant formulas that are as close as possible to breast milk.
Are you thinking of supplementing?
Discover products that offer an easy entry into the formula, like our Pro Series with 2'-FL HMO, an immune nutrient prebiotic.
FAQs
What should a 4 6 month old be doing? ›
From ages 4 to 6 months, babies become more aware of their surroundings. Infant development milestones include rolling over, clapping hands and babbling. The newborn days are behind you. As your baby becomes more alert and mobile, each day will bring exciting new adventures.
What should a 4 5 month old be doing? ›At 4-5 months, babies often start reaching, grabbing and rolling. There are also new emotions and sounds from babies at this age. Simple activities like talking, singing and reading are good for baby learning and development.
What should my baby be doing at 4 and a half months? ›Your little one is growing more social and moving more purposefully. Babies at this age love to babble, coo, play and mimic the sounds they hear and movements they see. You'll start to notice that her/his cries will start to sound different as she/he learns to communicate hunger, frustration, discomfort and sleepiness.
What should a 5 6 month old be doing? ›At 5-6 months, babies might show new emotions, be fearful of strangers, babble, move their hands and bodies and much more. Babies can start eating solid food around now if they show signs that they're ready. Simple activities like talking and listening, singing and reading are good for baby learning and development.
What are the signs of autism at 4 months? ›4 months: Doesn't try to get things in reach, respond to sounds around him, make vowel sounds (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”), roll over in either direction, or laugh or squeal. Pays no attention to caregivers. Has difficulty getting things to his mouth. Seems stiff or floppy.
What age do babies crawl? ›At 6 months old, babies will rock back and forth on hands and knees. This is a building block to crawling. As the child rocks, he may start to crawl backward before moving forward. By 9 months old, babies typically creep and crawl.
How many naps should a 4 5 month old take? ›Most babies this age need 3 - 4 naps per day. Babies who are already taking longer naps can typically stay awake longer, so they tend to do well on a 3-nap schedule.
How many ounces should a 4 5 month old drink? ›At 4 months, your baby may drink about 4–6 ounces (120-180 milliliters) at each feeding, depending on how often they eat. By 6 months, your baby may drink 6–8 ounces (180–230 milliliters) about 4–5 times a day.