What should a baby be able to do between 4 and 6 months?
[mme_highlight] The majority of infants aged 4 to 6 months can lift and support their heads without help. Most infants can recognize their own name at this stage and understand the permanence of objects. The infants in this group can babble repeatedly. [mme_highlight]
Though children develop at different rates, each child’s development follows the same basic pattern. Development moves from simple to complex. Once a skill is mastered, the child moves on to the next skill eventually integrating all the different skills and using them spontaneously and appropriately.
In this age group, the baby is now more alert and and continues to grow and develop at its own unique pace. Development between 4 to 6 months includes overall development of motor, cognitive and social skills. Between 4 and 6 months, babies can lift their head up 90 degrees, laugh out loud, follow an object in an arc about 6 inches above the face for 180 degrees from one side to the other, roll over, pay attention to a raisin or other very small object, squeal in delight, reach for an object, smile spontaneously, keep head level with body when pulled to sitting and say goo-goo or similar vowel consonant combinations.
In the age group of 4 to 6 months, the baby is likely to develop motor skills, improve hand eye co-ordination, clearer vision, and develop social skills by babbling, squealing, gurgling and laughing.
Cognitive development
Most infants can recognize their own name at this stage. They also understand the permanence of objects and pay attention to a very small object such as a raisin and stay awake for 1 & ½ to 2 hours at a and may sleep through the night.
Motor development
It has been found that an infant’s ability to stabilize the head and balance the trunk is a prerequisite to sitting without support and using hand and arm movements in self feeding process. The majority of infants aged 4 to 6 months were reported to lift and support their heads without help. About 68% of children were studied to be able to grasp food with their hands.
Some of the features of gross motor skills in this age group are:
[mme_databox]
- 98 % of babies can lift and support head;
- 78 % of babies can roll over on purpose;
- 65 % of babies can roll from front to back;
- 62 % of babies can roll from back to front;
- 50 % of babies can roll from back to front and front to back;
- 33 % of babies can sit alone without support;
- 10 % of babies can crawl when left lying on the stomach.
[/mme_databox]
Social and emotional development
The majority of infants between 4 to 6 months can turn towards a voice, react to and even imitate the intonation in other’s voices, particularly the voice of the mother. They may make wet razzing sound, shows signs of personality development, cries when family or caregiver leaves and demands attention.
Language development
The infants in this group can babble repeatedly when excited and can even say ah-goo or other vowel consonant sound.
What are the alarm signs parents should be aware of?
- If the baby’s muscles seem very stiff;
- If the baby’s muscles seem very floppy;
- If the head is controlled when body is pulled to a sitting position;
- If the baby reaches with one hand only;
- If the baby refuses to cuddle;
- If the baby does not seem to enjoy people around;
- If the baby shows no affection for the mother or care giver;
- If one or both eyes appear to be consistently turned in or out;
- If the baby does not respond to sounds;
- If the baby does not smile spontaneously by the end of 5 months;
- If the baby cannot sit with help at the end of 6 months;
- If the baby does not make squealing sounds or laugh by the end of 6 months;
- If the baby does not actively reach for objects by 6 months.
What should parents do to encourage the development of babies at this age?
Parents should provide opportunity to the baby for learning large motor skills, therefore baby’s position should be frequently changed and parents should force baby to stand or to sit in a frog position, fly through the air and lift up on all fours.
Blocks, soft dolls and stuffed animals, real or toy household objects, balls and finger games help in the development of the dexterity of baby’s little fingers and hands.
Parents should speak more slowly, more clearly with their baby, focus on single words and emphasize imitation. Sing songs to your baby and use books to read to him/ her.
Caregivers should encourage socialization; therefore, children must be exposed to a variety of people of different ages and be taught simple greetings and other basic social graces.
Play games that stimulate intellect, continue sharpening the auditory perception of the baby, encouraging imitation and ultimately encouraging language development. Introduce concepts such as “soft teddy”, “car goes fast”, “tea is hot” and so on. Encourage curiosity and creativity from this age. Give the baby a chance to experiment and explore. Encourage a love for learning.
You should provide quiet time to your baby – cuddling, kissing and embracing him/her gives him/her love and a sense of security.
Summary and Recommendations
- Between 4 and 6 months, your child will show developmental progresses every day. Knowing what to expect makes it easier for you to recognize the progresses and help the child to achieve them.
- Cognitive Development: Babies can recognize their own name and acquire the notion of object permanence.
- Motor Development: Babies can support their head without help, roll over and some can sit with support and grasp food with hands.
- Social/Emotional Development: The baby turns head to voice and shows initial personality development; cry is frequent whenever a loved one leaves.
- Language Development: Babbling and vowel sounds are the main features of this period.
- Your child moves more and more, so parents must ensure safety of the environment where the baby stays, preventing falls, shocking, poisoning and drowning.
- Each child has her/his own pace, but if you think your child is not developing adequately, seek for medical advice.
[mme_references]
References
- Academy, N. C. (n.d.). Child Developmental Milestones. Northern California.<7li>
- Carruth, B. R., Ziegler, P. J., Gordon, A., & Hendricks, K. (2004). Developmental Milestones and Self-Feeding Behaviors in Infants and Toddlers. Journal of American Dietic Association, S51-S56.
- Eisenberg, A., Murkoff, H. E., & Hathaway, S. E. (1996). What To Expect The First Year. NewYork: Workman Publishing.
- Mayo, S. C. (2011, JUne 17). Infant and toddler health. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-development/FL00099
[/mme_references]