Week 24: Half a Year of You
Twenty-four weeks. Six months. Half a year of knowing, growing, responding, and becoming.
This week marks a significant milestone — not just for your baby, but for you. You've shared half a year of feeds, naps, tears, giggles, cuddles, learning curves, and love. It’s worth celebrating, however quietly you choose to mark it.
Your baby is changing quickly now. Their movements are more purposeful, their communication more expressive, and their social understanding more sophisticated. This is the start of a new phase: no longer a newborn, not yet a toddler — but fully themselves.
Development
Many babies at this stage are sitting confidently with little or no support. They might reach out to grab toys, pivot to the side, or lean forward to investigate something interesting — all signs of improved balance and core strength.
Rolling is now often used as a mode of transport. You may find your baby rolls across the room or rotates themselves in circles during play. Their coordination is improving in leaps and bounds — expect grabbing, passing, dropping, and banging to be in high rotation.
Your baby is also developing socially and emotionally. They may respond to their name, smile at familiar people, and show stronger reactions to tone of voice — giggling at silly sounds or frowning when someone speaks sternly.
This is a baby who is learning through relationship. Their development is woven through the fabric of your connection.
Sleep
Sleep at six months remains variable. Some babies consolidate naps and stretch out overnight sleep. Others continue to wake often — especially those who are highly connected, breastfed, or working on new developmental skills.
Day naps may shift this week — your baby might begin to transition toward two longer naps and one shorter one, or resist one nap altogether. That’s normal. Sleep rhythms are not fixed, and many babies continue to fluctuate until later in the first year.
You don’t need a rigid schedule. Responsive rhythms — feeding when hungry, sleeping when tired, soothing when needed — remain the most baby-friendly approach.
Overnight, your baby may feed more frequently again as they navigate new milestones. Trust your baby. Trust yourself.
Feeding
This week often brings visible signs of readiness for solids — if you haven’t already started. Look for:
Sitting upright with little or no support
Bringing food or toys to the mouth with control
Showing interest in watching others eat
If you’re beginning solids, baby-led weaning offers a gentle, developmentally aligned way to introduce food. Your baby eats what you eat — in appropriate sizes and shapes — and at their own pace. Breastmilk (or formula) continues to be the primary source of nutrition through the first year.
Some babies will explore enthusiastically. Others will take it slow. That’s okay. Solids at this stage are about exploration, not replacement.
Play and Interaction
Play is now richly interactive. Your baby might:
Bang toys together
Shake something to hear the sound
Drop things on purpose (and look to see your response)
Mimic your facial expressions or sounds
They are learning that their actions have effects — that the world is responsive, and so are you.
Books with repetition, songs with hand motions, peekaboo, and floor play all support cognitive and physical development right now.
Try offering:
A basket of safe household objects
Soft blocks or stacking rings
A mirror for self-exploration
Time outside to feel grass, leaves, or wind on their face
Let curiosity lead.
Top Tip of the Week
“You’re not just meeting needs — you’re shaping trust. Every cuddle, feed, or smile tells your baby the world is a safe place.”
Real Life Reflections
Six months is a marker. And it can stir up a lot. Maybe you're feeling proud — or exhausted — or surprised by how far you’ve come. Maybe it still feels messy, blurry, or not what you expected.
There’s no right way to feel at six months. But you are doing it. Day by day, feed by feed, wake by wake. That matters.
If you’re starting solids, or changing routines, or noticing sleep shifts — it can feel like everything’s new again. But you’re not starting over. You’re moving forward with six months of experience, instincts, and insight.
You know this baby. And they know you.
Looking Ahead
In the weeks ahead, your baby may:
Sit steadily
Use their hands more precisely
Experiment with new sounds like “da,” “ba,” or “ga”
Show deeper attachment to familiar people and routines
But today, celebrate this milestone — not just for your baby, but for you.
Half a year of love. You’ve done something extraordinary.
Further Reading:
Baby-Led Weaning: Keep It Simple Explore how baby-led weaning can be a straightforward approach to introducing solids, allowing your baby to explore family foods at their own pace.
Sleep is Sleep Understand the benefits of babywearing for infant sleep, debunking myths about "junk sleep" and highlighting how carried babies can experience restful and restorative sleep.
Back Carrying: Babywearing Beyond the Front Learn about transitioning to back carrying with your baby, including tips on when to start and how to do it safely and comfortably.
