Developmental Milestones for 6 Months

Smiles on their own to get your attention

Social/Emotional

Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh

Social/Emotional

Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Social/Emotional

Knows familiar people

Social/Emotional

Likes to look at self in a mirror

Social/Emotional

Laughs

Social/Emotional

Makes sounds like 'oooo' and 'aahh' (cooing)

Language/Communication

Makes sounds back when you talk to them

Language/Communication

Turns head toward the sound of your voice

Language/Communication

Takes turns making sounds with you

Language/Communication

Blows 'raspberries' (sticks tongue out and blows)

Language/Communication

Makes squealing noises

Language/Communication

If hungry, opens mouth when they see breast or bottle

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Looks at their hands with interest

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Puts things in their mouth to explore them

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Reaches to grab a toy they want

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Closes lips to show they don't want more food

Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem-Solving)

Holds head steady without support when you are holding them

Movement/Physical Development

Holds a toy when you put it in their hand

Movement/Physical Development

Uses arm to swing at toys

Movement/Physical Development

Brings hands to mouth

Movement/Physical Development

Pushes up onto elbows or forearms when on tummy

Movement/Physical Development

Rolls from tummy to back

Movement/Physical Development

Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy

Movement/Physical Development

Leans on hands to support self when sitting

Movement/Physical Development

Turns head toward sounds or voices

Communication

Babbles with consonant sounds (ba, da, ga)

Communication

Holds head upright when held at shoulder

Gross Motor

Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back

Gross Motor

Sits without support for one minute

Gross Motor

Reaches for and grasps objects

Fine Motor

Passes objects from one hand to the other

Fine Motor

Looks at own hand or a toy for several seconds

Problem Solving

Looks for a toy that has fallen out of sight

Problem Solving

Smiles at own image in mirror

Personal-Social

Tries to get a toy that is out of reach

Personal-Social

Sitting without support — child sits up with head steady, without using arms or hands for balance

Gross Motor Milestones

Standing with assistance — child stands upright while holding on to a stable object with both hands

Gross Motor Milestones

Hands-and-knees crawling — child moves forward on hands and knees (creeping pattern)

Gross Motor Milestones

Walking with assistance — child walks upright while holding on to a stable object with one or both hands

Gross Motor Milestones

Shows distress when routine changes — indicates awareness of sequence and order in daily life

Order

Absorbs sounds and rhythms of language — the unconscious absorption of the 'mother tongue'

Language

Babbling and first words — spoken language emerges from immersion in a language-rich environment

Language

Explores objects with mouth and hands — using senses to learn about the physical world

Sensory Refinement

Developing gross motor control — rolling, crawling, pulling up, driven to move the whole body

Movement

Shows interest in what other children are doing — watches, approaches, or reaches toward peers during activities

Social Collaboration & Community

Shows sustained attention to an object or phenomenon — gazes at, reaches for, or manipulates something with focused interest

Investigation & Inquiry

Explores a space independently — moves through the environment, touching, looking at, and interacting with available materials

Environment as Third Teacher