I tend to read everything on babies pretty religiously. I have my collection of baby books. I have a few textbooks on baby development, baby care and baby health.
I also read articles everywhere I can. I get tons of baby magazines in the mail. And I post on messageboards quite a lot. All baby, all the time.
Today I was looking over the developmental stages that a 6 month old has usually reached by this time.
These are a few of the big ones:
Exploring with his hands
By the time he's about 6 months old (though sometimes it takes a little longer), your baby's hand control is developed enough that he can rake an object toward him. Once he's learned to grab a toy, he'll start to practice moving objects from one hand to the other. He may also discover that letting go of something is as much fun as picking it up. Once he understands the concept of cause and effect, your baby's world will become more interesting — and yours a good deal messier.
Leah has figured this out. I think she did almost a month ago. She also knows to loko for the things she drops. She tries to move stuff from one hand to another but has not quite mastered this yet.
Yesterday we were in Walmart and she kept whining about being in the carseat so I gave her a toy to play with. And then the cause and effect game began. We would move along, she would take the toy, drop it and I would pick it up, all the while she sits there looking at me smiling. Then I give it back to her, she giggles and proceeds to throw it back on the floor. She was quite amused and needless to say I didn't give it back to her much after that.
Is he a lefty or a righty?
At this stage, most babies seem to favor one hand for a while and then switch to the other. But you can't really tell whether your child is a lefty or a righty until he's about 2 or 3.
Leah doesn't have a preference at all. Does everything with one hand one day and switches to the other the next. Should be interesting to see if she does turn out to be a lefty. Though I suspect she'll be right handed.
Learning to roll over
Most babies this age have learned to roll over in each direction, a milestone that will probably awe and amuse you. Of course, while rolling over is fun for your baby, it can also be nerve-wracking for you. Keep a hand on your baby during diaper changes, and never leave him unattended on a bed or any other elevated surface.
Leah will roll over from her back to her stomach if you give her a reason to. Otherwise she is perfectly content being on her back. And don't you dare think of laying her on her stomach. Within 30 seconds she begins to cry. I play with her on her tummy but it takes a lot of patience on my part and hers. This is a side effect of having to lay her on her back to go to sleep. Doctors have found that since the back to sleep directions they give parents, babies just don't crawl as soon, or at all or enjoy being on their stomachs as much as they used to.
It is recommended that the baby play on it tummy for at least 15 minutes a day, surpervised of course. I do this with Leah. And it seems to be working. She minds being on her tummy a lil less than she used to.
Your little social animal
At this age babies not only tolerate attention from others, they often initiate it. Though you may soon notice the beginnings of stranger anxiety, 6-month-olds are still fairly indiscriminate: Anyone who approaches your baby with raised eyebrows or a grin delights him and becomes an instant friend. But don't worry — he still needs and craves lots of TLC and attention from you.
Leah has some anxiety with people, but it tends to be with people who are being serious or who she senses aren't really playful. Right now if you walk up to her smiling, she is likely to like you right away. I have also noticed that if I don't particurly want someone around her, Leah picks up on it pretty quickly.
Your baby is also learning that his behaviors, both the ones you like and the ones you don't, engage you, so starting now (and for years to come) your child will do just about anything to get your attention. Right now almost everything he does is endearing, but as he gets older, he's more likely to get into mischief to provoke a reaction from you. Just don't forget to lavish attention on him when he meets with your approval.
Leah is well aware of the fact that I think its funny when she takes the food in her mouth and razzes it out. I have since stopped laughing when she does it, though its not easy. She is just too cute.
One thing will become clear: Your baby is beginning to vary his attention-getting repertoire beyond crying. So expect him to work hard to get you to notice him by wriggling, making noises, and so on. Over the next three months, he'll develop a uniquely personal way of letting you know what he thinks, wants, and needs.
I have noticed the above with Leah. She talks a lot when she wants your attention. And her whines no longer sound non-verbal. They include a lot of different sounds when she really wants you to play with her. She is definitely developing her signals.
Playing turn-taking games
Six-month-olds love turn-taking games, especially ones that involve sounds and language. Let your baby be the leader sometimes, and mimic his vocalizations. When it's your turn to lead, a good way to teach — and amuse — your child is to make animal noises ("quack-quack," "bow-wow").
I've been playing this types of games with Leah since she was born. She loves it when you mimic her. I can do it for hours at a time if she let me.
I have two things that I do with Leah that I love more than anything in the world.
Singing and playing music for her. I also dance with her. And the other is reading to her. I can't get enough of doing it.
Getting a kick out of story hour
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading aloud to your child daily starting this month, as it's about now that he'll really begin to enjoy looking at books with you. No matter what your child's age, of course, reading provides an opportunity for cuddling and socializing that both you and your baby can appreciate. You'll also improve his language skills and prime him for a lifetime love of reading.
I think its pretty obvious that Leah is read to everyday. She eats books up, literally. I do it in the morning and most of the time at night. I read everything aloud to her. Newspaper, books I read, her baby books (which Ruth has gotten her plenty of and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Reading is such a big part of Matt's parents' lives and mine. I love that Leah is taking part in it already)
I would say Leah is right on target with her progress.
I love her so much and I worry immensely that I am not doing right by her. But when I look at all this information and I see that she is perfectly okay. Well I feel just a little better (for about 5 minutes) before I start worrying again :P
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