Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş- September 10, 2026
- 2 min read
- Growth and Development
- — reads
The sixth month is the clearest turning point in a baby's first year: the move to solid food begins this month.
What to expect this month
Movement
- Sitting unsupported for short periods
- Moving about by rolling while on the tummy
- Holding an object with both hands and passing it hand to hand
- Taking weight on the legs when held standing
Social and language
- Babbling: consonant-vowel combinations such as "ba", "da", "ma"
- Responding consistently to their name
- Laughing at their reflection in a mirror
- Clearly telling familiar people from strangers
Moving to solid food
Solids begin this month. The basic rules:
- Start with a single food in a small amount
- Try each new food on its own for 3 days; if there is an allergic response, the cause is clear
- Choose midday, so you can watch for a reaction during the day
- Breast milk is not stopped; solids are added alongside it, not instead of it
- No salt or sugar is added; honey is not given before the age of 1
Sleep and teething
Total sleep is 12-15 hours, with 2-3 daytime naps. The first tooth usually comes through in these months, most often a lower front incisor. Teething can cause irritability, more drooling and a wish to bite; a high fever and diarrhoea should not be put down to teething — those are assessed separately.
This month's vaccinations
| Vaccine | Note |
|---|---|
| 6-in-1 (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) | 3rd dose |
| Oral polio (OPV) | 1st dose |
| Rotavirus | 3rd dose on a three-dose schedule |
When to see a doctor
- If the baby cannot sit even when supported
- If there is no babbling at all
- If they do not reach for or hold an object
- If they do not make eye contact
- If solids are persistently refused and weight gain has stopped
Previous month: 5-month-old baby development · Next: 8-month-old baby development
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a single food, in a small amount, at midday. Try each new food on its own for 3 days; that way, if there is an allergic response, it is clear which food caused it. Breast milk is not stopped — solids are added alongside it.
The third dose of the 6-in-1 vaccine (which includes hepatitis B) and the first dose of the oral polio vaccine are given this month. On a three-dose schedule, the third dose of the optional rotavirus vaccine is also completed this month.
Some babies sit unsupported for short periods this month; in others the skill takes until month 8. Both are within the normal range. A baby who still cannot sit unsupported at 9 months should be assessed.
Usually between months 6 and 10, most often starting with the lower front incisors. In some babies the first tooth may not appear until month 12; on its own that is not a sign of a problem.
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