The First 6 Months: Essential Milestones and How to Support Them

From gurgles to giggles, the first six months of a baby's life are a period of incredible growth and change. It's a journey filled with new discoveries, from their first smile to rolling over. Understanding these essential milestones and how to support them can make the journey even more rewarding.

1–3 Months: Early Discoveries

Milestones: This is when you'll see your baby's first social smile, purposeful cooing, and a bit of head control. They'll also start to follow objects with their eyes and respond to your voice.

How to Support:

• Talk and Sing: Engage in lots of conversation and sing songs to encourage language development.
• Tummy Time: Start with short sessions to help strengthen neck and back muscles. A fun play mat or tummy time pillow makes it more engaging.
• High-Contrast Toys: Newborns are drawn to black-and-white patterns, so use toys with bold designs to stimulate vision.

4–6 Months: Growing and Exploring

Milestones: This is often when a baby learns to roll over from back to tummy and vice versa. They also start to reach for toys, hold their head steady, and may begin to "babble" with more complex sounds.

How to Support:

• Play Mats and Gyms: Encourage reaching and grabbing with engaging play gyms that have hanging toys.
• Introduce Solids: Around six months, or when signs of readiness appear, start purees or baby-led weaning. Have a high chair and feeding gear ready.
• Offer Teethers: Many babies start teething around this age. Soft silicone teethers help soothe gums.

Each baby develops at their own pace, so celebrate every milestone, big or small. At Nate’s Baby Shop, we have all the products and tools to support your little one's growth and development every step of the way.