If you are a new parent, then the first year can be an incredibly exciting and sometimes stressful period of your life. Things have changed substantially, and you and your partner are most likely still adapting to the new child in your life. During the first six months of your child’s life, there will be many significant milestones and achievements that will happen.

If you are not familiar with these types of things that generally happen during the first six months of a child’s life, it can be challenging knowing that something is wrong or cause concern. This article will seek to outline seven essential things that you can expect during the first six months with your newborn. If you begin to encounter these everyday things during the first six months with your child, you should rest easy knowing that they are progressing normally and healthily.

1. Less Sleep

One common thing that everyone usually associates with having a newborn is getting much less sleep on average than you did before having the baby. Since newborns have no sleep routine or sense of time, it is difficult for them to always be asleep during the night and awake during the day. Newborns also tend to sleep much more than 8 hours a day, often needing between 11 and 14 hours of sleep per day. 

Your baby’s sleep time can sometimes coincide with when you sleep, but other times it will be completely opposite to your sleep schedule. This can cause difficulties if you are someone who works or needs to sleep at certain times. To avoid any challenges resulting from the lack of sleep, many people will take some time off work after having a child. Depending on your job or country of origin, this work period could still be paid in some aspects. 

2. Teething

Another thing that you can often expect to see in the first six months with your newborn child is the start of teething. The rate at which teeth grow can vary quite a bit, but it is very common to see teeth start to develop and protrude during this period. There are cases in which you can observe a 3 month old teething, as discussed by experts. There are different toys or other available things that can help make your child’s teething experience a more positive one. Some children experience a great deal of pain and discomfort when going through teething, but some things can be done to help. It is always important to remember never to give your child anything small enough for them to choke on or get lodged in their mouth. 

3. Different Sounds

Another thing that you can usually expect your child to begin doing during the first six months is to start making different sounds. These sounds are usually repeated ‘m’ or ‘b’ sounds, as they are the easiest for babies to say at first with their limited control. You may also hear unusual sounds from your baby, but they are very rarely able to say full words in the first six months. These small vocalizations are usually the start of your baby’s ability to communicate using words.

4. Sitting Up

During the first six months of your baby’s life, another thing that is common to observe is to see them sitting up and rolling around. This is a sign that your baby is getting increasingly more mobile and starting to use their body and develop their muscles. In some cases, babies can support their weight with their feet but often lack the balance skills necessary to stay upright on their own. If your baby cannot sit upright or rollover by the time they are six months old, you should consult your doctor to assure yourself that there is nothing wrong with the child. 

 5. Solid Foods

After about six months, another development that you can expect to see from your child is eating some solid foods. This does not mean that it is alright to feed your baby pieces of steak, but you can begin to give them a few small spoonfuls of solid food a few times each meal. Be sure to have most of their meal consisting of baby food and softer foods still. 

6. Responds to Name

It is very common to see your baby recognize and respond to their name after about six months. This is due to their brain beginning to develop different connections and developing their associative abilities. If your baby is unable to respond to their name after six months, it is advisable to see your doctor about it since it can sign underlying issues that may require treatment. If your baby is still not responding to their name by the time they are 1 year old this may be an early indicator that your child has ASD or autism spectrum disorder. This is a disorder that can be treated and has varying degrees of severity. Another possibility is that your baby may have issues with hearing, which should also be diagnosed at an early age to ensure that there are no more serious underlying conditions. 

7. Holding Things

Six months into your baby’s life, it is very common to see them begin to hold items and grasp with their thumbs and forefingers. This is how your baby will start to develop their fine motor skills and overall coordination. They will often make sweeping movements with their fingers open, trying to grab different objects, such as fingers, toys, or whatever else you have with you. For this reason, it is also vital to become more aware of the things which your baby may be able to get their hands on. 

Hopefully, this article has been helpful and informative regarding the different things to expect during the first six months with your newborn. This will be an incredibly exciting and rewarding time for you and your new family, so it is important to be aware of all the things to expect. If you do not notice some of these things during the first six months of your child’s life, there may be a cause for concern. Some of them will just take more time, and you just need to wait and be patient.