Your Rockin' and Rollin' Five-Month-Old

By the Editors of Your Baby Today

This month, your baby will be much more active as he begins to push-up and rock-and-roll around on his own. All that wiggling around even may help baby move forward or backward. One of your baby's favorite playthings this month may be his toes. He'll delight in reaching out and grabbing them to put in his mouth. While lying on his stomach, your baby will learn that he can crane his neck to see what's going on around him. There's a lot happening in the world, and he wants to see it all!

Milestones this month | Coordination cues | Strength training | Sounds are golden

Milestones this month*

• Your baby is able to reach accurately for an object.
  
  


• He can hold his head steady when sitting upright.
  
  


• Baby can raise his chest with arm support while lying on his stomach.
  
  


• He can roll over in one direction.
  
  


• Baby can grasp a rattle.
  
  


• He pays attention to very small objects.
  
  


• Baby squeals with delight.
  
  


• He spontaneously smiles.
  
  


• Baby mimics sounds and gestures.
  
  


• He turns towards the source of a sound or voice.
  
  


• Baby gets attention by babbling.
  
  


• He makes different sounds for different needs.

*All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 5-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that he will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with his doctor.


Coordination cues
Your baby's ability to reach out accurately is a signal that his coordination is more keen. He now can transfer a toy or object from hand to hand. To reinforce this new talent while you change his clothes, encourage baby to transfer a favorite toy from one hand to the other as you put each arm in a shirtsleeve. With his increased control and dexterity also comes the ability–and inclination–to bring toys and other objects to his mouth.

Your baby also is gaining a new understanding of how to grasp and hold objects. The way baby shapes his hand to grasp a round object will be different than the way he grasps a flat object like a page. Baby also will begin to use his hands more often to push away things he doesn't want, like that dropper full of medicine.

Strength training