Week 26: Halfway to One
Your baby is now 26 weeks old — exactly halfway to their first birthday.
It’s a moment that often brings reflection. You’ve spent six full months learning one another, growing together, and building the secure foundation your baby now stands (or sits) on. So much has changed… and yet, it’s still the same relationship that began the moment you met.
This week brings more signs of physical strength, emotional sensitivity, and cognitive leaps. There’s joy, challenge, and constant movement — both yours and theirs.
Development
Sitting is now a key part of play for many babies. They might sit steadily on their own, use their hands to balance, or reach forward to grab objects and return to upright. Others still prefer the floor and roll, pivot, or scoot in multiple directions.
You may notice early signs of pre-crawling — rocking on hands and knees, lunging forward during tummy time, or sliding backwards. These are important steps in building coordination and confidence for mobility.
Your baby’s fine motor skills are progressing too. They may begin using a raking motion to pick up small objects, examining things closely before mouthing them. They’re learning not just what something is — but how it feels, sounds, and responds.
Socially, your baby may:
Smile when they hear their name
Respond to tone of voice
Reach for familiar people
Show clear preferences — and protest when something is taken away!
Sleep
This is a period of significant brain growth, which often affects sleep. Some babies sleep longer stretches — others wake more frequently. Both are completely normal.
If your baby has begun practicing new motor skills, like sitting or rocking, they may try these during naps or overnight. This can temporarily disrupt sleep as their brain processes what their body is learning.
Contact, closeness, and consistency remain key. Responding to night wakes with calm reassurance tells your baby they are safe, even when the world feels exciting, overwhelming, or new.
Daytime naps may start to lengthen or consolidate slightly. You don’t need a strict routine — just gentle rhythms that follow your baby’s cues.
Feeding
If you’ve begun solids, you might be seeing:
Messy mealtimes full of play and exploration
Gagging or spitting out (normal parts of learning)
Your baby tasting a wider variety of flavours and textures
At this stage, solids are for learning, not volume. Most calories and nutrients still come from breastmilk or formula.
If you haven’t started solids yet, that’s fine too. Readiness signs — sitting with minimal support, mouthing and reaching for food, and losing the tongue-thrust reflex — all matter more than age alone.
Feeding may still be fussy or distracted during the day. Your baby is aware of more — sounds, lights, movement — and it can interrupt focus. Try feeding in quiet moments, or during cuddly, sleepy times.
Play and Interaction
Play is busy and bold this week. Your baby might:
Drop a toy just to see what happens
Shake or bang objects together
Copy the tone of your voice
Laugh or protest more expressively
They are developing a sense of agency — learning that their actions have effects, and their voice communicates intent. Responding to this helps build confidence and communication skills.
Offer opportunities for:
Floor play with soft, safe objects
Mirrors and cause-and-effect toys
Simple books with repetition
Songs and rhymes with actions
You’re not just entertaining — you’re co-regulating, guiding, and modelling how to be in the world.
Top Tip of the Week
“Play isn’t a performance. It’s a relationship. Be present, not perfect.”
Real Life Reflections
Half a year in, it’s common to feel a strange mix of confidence and fatigue. You’ve figured out so much — and yet your baby keeps changing. Just when you feel like you’ve got the hang of it… a new phase begins.
That’s not failure. That’s parenting.
You don’t need to be ahead of the next milestone. You just need to be with your baby in this moment — however messy, loud, or still it may be.
Let yourself rest. Let yourself be proud. You’ve made it halfway to one — with love, presence, and attunement. That matters more than anything.
Looking Ahead
In the coming weeks, your baby may:
Sit confidently and reach across their body
Begin crawling, scooting, or sliding
Show stronger emotional reactions and preference for familiar caregivers
Engage more deliberately in back-and-forth “conversations”
They’re learning how to move through the world — and how to stay connected within it.
And you’re still their safe place, their anchor, their everything.
Further Reading:
Granny’s Guide to Baby-Led Weaning This article offers a generational perspective on baby-led weaning, providing insights into how feeding practices have evolved and how grandparents can support this approach.
Cosleeping with Twins and More Explore the nuances of room-sharing and bed-sharing with multiples, offering guidance on safe sleep practices for families with twins or more.
Neko Switch Soft-Structured Carrier Review Discover the features of the Neko Switch carrier, suitable from newborn to toddlerhood, and how it supports comfortable babywearing during this active stage.
