Baby development from birth to 6 months

Baby’s progress from 0 to 6 months

The evolution of the baby in the first month  

At this point, none of your baby’s archaic reflexes have transformed yet. Your baby is moving his limbs in a disorderly fashion and he is unable to change his position : it remains as it was placed. At birth, your baby’s muscle tone is very low in the head and trunk. His head does not stand alone. When he is lying on his back and you want to lift him, you absolutely have to support him. On the other hand, lying on his stomach, he manages to straighten her up stealthily.

Baby at 2 months: his head gains in tone

At 2 months, his movements are less jerky and more flexible. Lying on his back, his limbs are always flexed or semi-flexed but his hands often remain open. Moreover, his head is more toned. He keeps her more and more upright thanks to the increase in tone of her neck. The transition from a nodding head to an upright head is a gradual process over the first few months, but your baby’s neck will need to be supported for up to 6 months.

Baby at 3 months: the grabbing reflex disappears

At this stage, some archaic reflexes, such as that of gripping, disappear. Your baby’s hands no longer close at the slightest touch on the palm. The objects escape him. He has not yet acquired what is called “the thumb-index clamp”. When you place a rattle in his hand, he opens it and closes it on him but only holds the object for a few seconds. At 3 months, your baby observes and follows with his eyes everything around him, especially colored objects and those that make noise. Its movements are also more ample. On the back, your child moves his legs briskly, alternating flexion and extension. Lying on his stomach, he lifts his upper body by leaning on his forearms and if you keep him seated, he manages to keep his head upright. However, his back is rounded and cannot be left in this position yet.

Baby is 4 months old: he rolls over on his side

At 4 months, your baby almost rolls over. He finally begins to change position on his own. When lying on his back he can now lay on his side. His head and limbs are toned. On his stomach, your child sits up on his forearms and can keep his head upright. His limbs extend to full extension and his abdominal muscles are developing. At this point, he also grabs the toys you hand him: he grabs it, shakes it but does not keep it in his hands for long.

Baby is 5 months old: he communicates more and more

At this point, your baby grasps the objects. Still a little clumsy, he only uses the palm and the last fingers of the hand but he finally catches what he has been craving for weeks. Lying down, he is also making progress. When you attract him to you, he participates. At this age, some babies can also crawl. Others move from the prone position to the dorsal position. On the back, your child loves to pedal, it is one of his favorite activities. He also communicates more and more. The sounds he emits are diversified: he shouts, growls, hisses, stammers, he chats in his own way. He expresses his impressions and feelings of pleasure or discontent.

Baby is 6 months old: he can grab objects  

That’s it, at this age, your baby catches objects placed within his reach, including his feet! He sometimes takes them with his left hand, sometimes with his right hand (he will remain ambidextrous for at least 3 years), and holds them firmly. He manipulates them from hand to hand while looking at other objects. At 6 months, your child wants to recover. Sometimes he may ask you to stand him up. He loves to hop and crouch on his little legs. He is still seated. Your baby can now sit up with his back supported. He therefore makes the most of his deckchair before being too restless to stay there. It gives him the opportunity to observe all of family life.