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Info Centre - Your baby's age: 3-6 months
Your baby's age: 3-6 months
Development
You will see a lot of changes in your baby at this age. She will have grown a lot – by about four months, she will probably have doubled her birth weight.
Babies develop at very different rates, but generally by six months your baby will be able to:
- Roll onto her front
- Push up on her forearms and look around
- Sit up if propped up with pillows or a cushion
- Pick objects up and bring them up to her mouth
- Laugh.
See "Growing and moving" and "Communicating with babies and toddlers" for more information.
Feeding
Until six months, your baby will not need any food apart from breastmilk or formula milk. Some breastfeeding mothers are tempted to give their baby water during hot weather, but it is not necessary and can be harmful. There is plenty of water in breastmilk to keep the baby hydrated, you may just notice that your thirsty baby will want to feed more often on hot days. If your formula-fed baby is thirsty, you can give her cooled boiled water, either from a bottle or a cup.
Usually your baby will require fewer feeds at this age than she has been taking up to now. If you are breastfeeding, you may be able to leave her with another adult for a couple of hours between feeds while you have a rest. You can also try expressing milk so that another adult can give her a bottle while you do something else. See "Expressing and storing your milk" for more information.
Sleeping
Your baby will probably need less sleep than she has been having, though three-month old babies still sleep for about 14 to 16 hours a day. She may be getting into a more settled pattern of sleeping for longer periods at night. You can encourage this by developing a set bedtime routine, doing the same bedtime activities each night, such as a bath, a breastfeed and a story. Many parents find it helps to introduce a regular bedtime, such as eight o’clock, so you can spend the rest of the evening together.
Playing
Your baby will start to enjoy a wider range of games at this age. You can try the following:·
- Put her in front of a mirror – babies love to look at their reflections
- Look at picture books with her. There are plenty of board or cloth books designed especially for babies
- Play peek-a-boo by covering up your face with your hands or a cushion, and then taking them away and gently saying “boo!”.
See "Play" for more information.
Vaccination
At four months old, your baby will be called for the following booster vaccinations:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib (booster)
- Meningitis C
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Safety
As your baby gets older and more mobile, you need to be extra careful that she can’t injure herself:
- Keep small objects that she might choke on out of the way (babies love to put things in their mouths).
- Don’t leave her unattended on a bed or other surface that she could roll off.
Taking care of yourself
Hopefully, you will be starting to feel less tired and to have more energy. If your baby has colic, or still isn’t sleeping through, it can be hard and you may feel that it is still an uphill struggle.
Try to get as much help as you can, whether it’s from your partner, relatives or friends. Looking after a baby is exhausting work for one person. Make time for yourself, if you can – whether it’s reading a book, going out for a meal or simply having a rest.
See "Life with your 'settled' baby" for more information.
