Developmental Milestones and Behaviour: 4 to 6 months
By 4 to 5 months your baby will have doubled his birth weight and from time to time your baby will have growth spurts - one around 6 weeks and another around 3- 4 months.
You will notice that he or she or she will demand extra feeds at these times.
By 6 months his weight gain will be slowing down to about 150 g per week.
Growth
By 4 - 6 months:
Your baby will have good head and neck control and be able to hold up his head. By 6 months your baby will be able to sit up in a high chair.
He or she will recognize familiar people especially his mum!
He or she will smile in response to your voice.
He or she will play with his hands and will watch them as well as chew on them.
He or she will be able to hold a rattle and enjoy watching things and people move.
Teeth may appear, usually sometime after 6 months, but your baby will be able to chew very well even without teeth because his gums will be very hard.
Swallowing
For the first few months of life your baby can only suck. This is a reflex that your baby is born with. Your baby's tongue pushes forward so if any food is placed on the front of the tongue it is pushed out. This is called the extrusion reflex and disappears after 4 months. Food can only be offered once the extrusion reflex has disappeared.
Some parents think that their baby doesn't like food because he or she pushes it out of his mouth when in fact the baby is unable to swallow it until the extrusion reflex disappears.
Sleeping
By 6 months your baby will have a good routine of meals, sleep times and bedtime. Some babies cope better when in a regular routine, others are more adaptable. Your baby will need 2 day sleeps – in the morning and in the afternoon. The amount of sleep a baby of this age has varies, but he or she should be sleeping through the night unless he or she is unwell.
Bathing
Baby will be able to sit in the bath with assistance. Be careful that he or she doesn’t slip. Always hold him secure with your arm around his back and holding on to his upper arm. He or she will enjoy splashing about in the bath so watch out!
* NB: Every baby is different so don’t be concerned if your baby is slower at reaching some of these guidelines.
