It is important to remember that not all children develop at exactly the same rate. Areas of childhood development include gross motor skills (such as rolling over or walking), visual-motor skills (such as the use of the hands), and language development. Developmental delays may occur in one or more of these areas.

For gross motor skills, the average 6 month-old already will be rolling over in both directions and while lying on his abdomen, will support himself on his wrists and lift his chest off of the floor (4 – 5 months). He will begin to master the skill of sitting, starting with sitting with his back supported (usually about 5 months), then sitting in a tripod position with his hands providing balance, and eventually sitting without support (usually at 6 to 7 months). Another 6 month-old skill is the ability to put his feet in his mouth while lying on his back.

Typical visual-motor skills for a 6 month-old include passing toys from hand to hand, reaching out one hand at a time, and trying to obtain things using the hands and fingers in a raking motion. Language skills for this age include turning to voices that he hears, babbling, and the imitation of speech sounds.

There is a range of normal development, and your pediatrician will look at milestones from each area to determine if your child is developing normally. Be sure to discuss with your pediatrician any developmental concerns that you have regarding your child.