How to Stimulate a 6-Month-Old's Physical Development

At 6 months old, your baby may be sitting unsupported, starting to try solid foods, attempting to crawl and showing off her first tooth. This alert, active and increasingly mobile infant bears no resemblance to the newborn you first brought home from the hospital. It's a great age -- for both of you. She's better equipped to satisfy her growing curiosity about the world around her, and you're able to witness her developing personality as she moves closer toward her first birthday.

Things You'll Need

  • Age-appropriate toys

Instructions

    • 1

      Hold your baby in a standing position, either on your lap or with you standing beside him. Hold his hands in yours or support him underneath his arms. This lets him bounce up and down, which strengthens those little leg muscles in preparation for a big adventure -- walking.

    • 2

      Give your baby a wide range of age-appropriate toys to pick up, throw down, manipulate with her fingers and chew. These actions help to develop her hand-eye coordination, work her jaw muscles and may even provide relief from teething discomfort.

    • 3

      Lay your baby on the floor and let her roll around to her heart's content. She is likely to favor rolling over to one side, due to her stronger neck and arm muscles. She may like to roll onto her front and try to push herself up on her hands and knees. However she chooses to move, encourage it. Whether she progresses to crawling, bottom-shuffling or rolling from one side of the room to the other, it's all about mastering new skills and being able to explore her surroundings independently.

    • 4

      Let your baby use whichever hand he likes to pick up objects. It's possible that he will favor one hand for a while before switching to the other. Your baby's hand preference is determined before he's even born and won't really become apparent until he is a toddler, says BabyCenter. Don't try to influence the hand he uses, as it could cause problems with dexterity and hand-eye coordination in the future.

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