The first 6 months of your baby's life were spent with some exciting firsts. Their physical development allowed them to hit milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, and starting to support their own body weight.
By 6 months, your baby's eyes have become stronger, and they can now track moving objects. They're also becoming more aware of the world around them and will turn toward voices and sounds.
The6-month stage is when many babies are becoming more interactive. They're beginning to express their emotions more clearly, laughing at familiar faces and sometimes showing stranger anxiety. It's an exciting and eventful time as your baby begins to discover that they can influence the world around them!
To help you know what to expect during this stage of your baby's development, we've compiled a list of 6-12 month milestones.
You can also take our free screener to help determine if your child could benefit from developmental therapy, and if so, what type!
6-Month-Old Baby Milestones
At 6 months, most babies are rapidly developing both mentally and physically. For instance, your baby can now understand simple words and gestures, like waving "bye-bye" or responding to their name.
Physically, your baby is becoming stronger and may be learning to sit up with less support. They're also becoming more coordinated and may be trying to grab objects with their hands.
Here's the checklist of developmental milestones for a 6-month-old baby:
Speech and Language
- Responds to their name
- Makes babbling sounds (such as "ba," "da," "ma")
- Looks for sounds when they hear voices
- Turns their head toward sounds
Movement
- Rolls from back to front and front to back
- Begins to sit up without support or with minimal support
- Begins to support some weight on legs
- Rocks back and forth on their stomach
Sensory
- Looks at objects with curiosity and reaches for them
- Shows preferences for certain people or objects
- Laughs at familiar faces
Feeding
- Can start eating solids (if recommended by pediatrician)
- Brings objects to their mouth
Strength
- May start to transfer objects from one hand to the other
- Uses raking grasp (using fingers and palm to grab)
Independence and Self-Help
- May show stranger anxiety (wariness of unfamiliar people)
- Shows interest in looking at their hands and feet
Play and Behavior
- Smiles at familiar people
- Watches and follows moving objects
- Shows interest in activities and toys
- Recognizes familiar faces from a distance
- Enjoys games like peek-a-boo
6-Month-Old Developmental Red Flags
Speak to your pediatrician if your 6-month-old shows any of the following:
- Doesn't respond to sounds or their name
- Doesn't babble or coo
- Doesn't smile or engage with caregivers
- Seems stiff or very floppy
- Doesn't push with legs or support any weight
- Has difficulty tracking objects with eyes
- Reaches with one arm more than the other
- Doesn't roll over in either direction
7-Month-Old Baby Milestones
By 7 months, your baby's personality will really start to shine through! They're developing stronger emotional attachments and may show more obvious signs of stranger anxiety or separation anxiety when you leave the room.
Your 7-month-old is also becoming more mobile. They may be starting to scoot, rock back and forth on their hands and knees, or even begin to crawl.
Here's the checklist of milestones for a 7-month-old baby:
Speech and Language
- Babbles and strings syllables together ("ba-ba-ba," "da-da-da")
- Listens to speech and tries to respond to words
- Makes sounds to get attention
Movement
- Sits up without support or with minimal support
- Supports weight on legs (when held)
- Rocks back and forth on their stomach or back
- May scoot or begin crawling
Sensory
- Shows strong preferences for colors and shapes
- Reaches for objects with both hands
- Follows moving objects with their eyes
Feeding
- Eats a wider variety of foods (with guidance from pediatrician)
- May start to feed themselves finger foods
Strength
- Uses a raking grasp to pick up objects
- Transfers objects from one hand to another
- Uses thumb and fingers to grasp (pincer grasp emerging)
Independence and Self-Help
- Shows awareness that they're separate from other people
- Shows excitement or fear in response to people or situations
Play and Behavior
- Looks for partially hidden objects
- Plays games that involve back-and-forth interaction
- Enjoys playing peek-a-boo
- Recognizes familiar faces and voices
7-Month-Old Developmental Red Flags
Reach out to your pediatrician if your 7-month-old:
- Shows no interest in games of peek-a-boo or back-and-forth play
- Doesn't reach with both hands
- Doesn't babble
- Shows no interest in toys
- Doesn't respond to their name or sounds
- Doesn't sit up with support or cannot bear weight on legs when supported
- Seems stiff or overly flexible
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a 6-12-month-old baby be able to do?
By 6 months, most babies roll over, sit with support, babble, and show stranger anxiety. By 12 months, most babies crawl, say 1-3 words, and understand simple instructions. Development varies widely, but persistent delays in motor skills, speech, or social engagement warrant evaluation.
When should I worry about my baby's development?
Early signs of developmental delay include: not rolling or sitting by 6 months, no babbling or response to name by 9 months, not crawling or standing by 12 months, extreme fussiness or difficulty calming, or seeming stiff or very floppy. Early evaluation and intervention make a significant difference.
How often should a baby get a developmental screening?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental screening at 9, 18, 24, and 30 months. However, if you have concerns about your baby's development at any point, it's worth mentioning to your pediatrician. Many early intervention services offer free evaluations for children under 3.
What are 7-month-old baby milestones?
By 7 months, babies typically babble more, sit with less support, scoot or begin to crawl, and show stronger emotional responses. They'll recognize familiar voices and faces and enjoy interactive games like peek-a-boo and back-and-forth play.
Is it normal for a 6-month-old to not sit up on their own?
Yes, 6-month-olds sitting with support is normal. Independent sitting typically comes around 6-8 months. However, if your baby isn't sitting with any support by 8 months or shows no progress toward sitting, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician.
What are the signs of cerebral palsy in babies?
Signs in babies under 12 months include: excessive stiffness or floppiness, asymmetrical movements (favoring one side), difficulty with feeding or swallowing, poor head control, delayed motor milestones (rolling, sitting, crawling), and unusual postures. Early detection and therapy significantly improve outcomes.
Is Your Child Hitting Their Milestones?
Every child develops at their own pace — but if something doesn't feel right, early support makes a meaningful difference. Coral Care connects families with in-home pediatric therapists — speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists — who come directly to your home.
Not sure if your child would benefit from therapy? Take our free 5-minute screener — designed by pediatric specialists to help you understand your child's development and whether an evaluation makes sense.