6-month-old milestones: the CDC checklist

Wording from the CDC.

Most children (75 in 100) do these things by 6 months; mark what your child does and take the list to your child’s doctor.

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Social/Emotional Milestones

Knows familiar people
Likes to look at self in a mirror
Laughs

Language/Communication Milestones

Takes turns making sounds with you
Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
Makes squealing noises

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Puts things in her mouth to explore them
Reaches to grab a toy she wants
Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Rolls from tummy to back
Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
Leans on hands to support herself when sitting

Other important things to share with the doctor

CDC suggests these questions; the wording is CDC’s.

  1. What are some things you and your baby do together?
  2. What are some things your baby likes to do?
  3. Is there anything your baby does or does not do that concerns you?
  4. Has your baby lost any skills he/she once had?
  5. Does your baby have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely?

What to ask the doctor

Talk with your child’s doctor. You know your child best. If you have a concern, don’t wait for the next visit: call your child’s doctor, share it, and ask about developmental screening.

Screenings at checkups. Doctors are advised to screen every child’s development with a standard questionnaire at the 9-, 18- and 30-month visits, and to screen for autism at the 18- and 24-month visits. You can ask for a screening at any visit.

If your child loses a skill. If your child stops doing something they used to do, at any age, call the doctor. Losing a skill is always worth a call.

You don’t need a referral. If your child is under 3, you can contact your state’s early intervention program yourself. From age 3, contact your local public school district, even if your child doesn’t go there. Find early intervention (CDC)

If you have concerns, talk to your child's doctor.

Sources: Zubler et al. 2022, Pediatrics 149(3) (the 2022 checklists); Lipkin and Macias 2020, Pediatrics 145(1) (the screening schedule); CDC’s early intervention pages.

Act early

If you or the doctor are still concerned

  • Ask for a referral to a specialist who can evaluate your child more; and
  • Call your state or territory's early intervention program to find out if your child can get services to help. Learn more and find the number at cdc.gov/FindEI.

From CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” page for this age.

Questions parents ask at 6 months

Answered from CDC’s 2022 checklists, quoting CDC’s wording exactly.

Should my 6-month-old be sitting up?

CDC’s 6-month list says “Leans on hands to support herself when sitting”. Sitting alone is on the 9-month list: “Sits without support” and “Gets to a sitting position by herself”. If you have a question about sitting, talk with your child’s doctor.

Should my 6-month-old be crawling?

Crawling is not on any of CDC’s 2022 checklists, from 2 months to 5 years. The movement items CDC does list at 6 months include “Rolls from tummy to back” and “Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy”. If you have a question about how your baby moves, talk with your child’s doctor.

Is my 6-month-old babbling yet?

CDC’s 6-month list has “Takes turns making sounds with you”, “Makes squealing noises” and “Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)”. Strings of the same sound come on the 9-month list: “Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa””. If you have a question about your baby’s sounds, talk with your child’s doctor.

What comes before and after 6 months

Show CDC’s 4-month and 9-month lists

CDC’s checklists for the checkpoints on either side of 6 months, word for word, by area of development. They are here to compare; the checklist to mark is the 6-month one above.

Social/Emotional Milestones

At 4 months

  • Smiles on his own to get your attention
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

At 9 months

  • Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
  • Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
  • Looks when you call her name
  • Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

At 4 months

  • Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice

At 9 months

  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

At 4 months

  • If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
  • Looks at her hands with interest

At 9 months

  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
  • Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

At 4 months

  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
  • Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
  • Uses his arm to swing at toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

At 9 months

  • Gets to a sitting position by herself
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
  • Sits without support

Tips and activities for 6 months

From CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program. The tips and activities below are CDC’s, word for word. CDC’s page for this age

What You Can Do for Your 6-month-old

As your baby's first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development. Try these simple tips and activities in a safe way. Talk with your baby's doctor and teachers if you have questions or for more ideas on how to help your baby's development.

  • Use "back and forth" play with your baby. When your baby smiles, you smile; when he makes sounds, you copy them. This helps him learn to be social.
  • "Read" to your baby every day by looking at colorful pictures in magazines or books and talk about them. Respond to her when she babbles and "reads" too. For example, if she makes sounds, say "Yes, that's the doggy!"
  • Point out new things to your baby and name them. For example, when on a walk, point out cars, trees, and animals.
More Parenting Tips and Activities (13)
  • Sing to your baby and play music. This will help his brain develop.
  • Limit screen time (TV, tablets, phones, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
  • When your baby looks at something, point to it and talk about it.
  • Put your baby on her tummy or back and put toys just out of reach. Encourage her to roll over to reach the toys.
  • Learn to read your baby's moods. If he's happy, keep doing what you are doing. If he's upset, take a break and comfort your baby.
  • Talk with your baby's doctor about when to start solid foods and what foods are choking risks. Breast milk or formula is still the most important source of "food" for your baby.
  • Learn when your baby is hungry or full. Pointing to foods, opening his mouth to a spoon, or getting excited when seeing food are signs that he is hungry. Others, like pushing food away, closing his mouth, or turning his head away from food tells you that he's had enough.
  • Help your baby learn she can calm down. Talk softly, hold, rock, or sing to her, or let her suck on her fingers or a pacifier. You may offer a favorite toy or stuffed animal while you hold or rock her.
  • Hold your baby up while she sits. Let her look around and give her toys to look at while she learns to balance herself.
  • Hold your baby with both of your hands securely under her arms and let her stand. Look around with your baby and name what you can see while she is standing.
  • Introduce your baby to different sounds and voices. For example, whisper, clap, or make funny noises. See if your baby looks or is curious and see which sounds she prefers.
  • Playing on the floor or play mat with your baby every day helps him to move, learn, and explore.
  • When he drops a toy on the floor, pick it up and give it back. This game helps him learn cause and effect.

On CDC’s site

The checklist on this page is CDC’s, word for word. CDC’s site already has an online checklist for each age. What this page adds: a corrected-age calculator and a list for the doctor that prints without an email step.

More for parents

Milestone checklist: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”, 2022 revision. Source: CDC. Read this checklist on cdc.gov

Use of CDC material on this page does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.

Prepared by MyTestAtlas from CDC materials.