It's probably hard to believe your little one is already 6 months old. Where did the time go!? Before long she will be reaching, crawling and climbing everywhere. Only a few, short months ago she was a sleepy newborn. Now she's more active, more alert. And definitely more amusing. Your newborn is becoming a little person.

Growing bigger. Every day.

Your baby will grow more in her first year than at any other time in her life. Has she doubled her birth weight yet? Expect her to gain another pound (454 g) this month. And as she gets chubbier, she will get bigger too. Her head is growing ½ inch every month - plus she will probably grow another ½ inch (1.3 cm) in length by month's end.

Your social 6 month old

Life for baby is changing. She's becoming more sociable - and entertaining. In this month your baby:

• Can balance her head well



• Sits with support



• Rolls front to back



• Moves objects from one hand to the other



• Begins sleeping longer at night (six to eight hours consistently)

What can you do?

Help encourage your baby's sense of emotional security. Laugh with her and encourage her to laugh, too. Making funny faces, sounds and tickling her tummy are all tried and true ways to get baby to giggle. Now's a great time to start making play dates. Introducing your baby to other children and parents will help build her self-confidence and social skills. The best way to stimulate baby is through play. So spend time playing together everyday.

Remember: There is no strict schedule for baby's development. Every child is different and develops according to her own unique timetable. Be patient. Where some babies seem to lag behind, they'll make up for it in other areas. But if you have any concerns, be sure to discuss them with your healthcare professional.