Baby development: Your 5 month old baby
The fifth month is transition time for your baby. You can expect them to
make their first attempts at real speech. They are also getting ready to start
crawling, which means you need to be prepared for your little one's newfound
mobility.
Motor skills
Five-month-old babies can sit longer. Your child will probably still
need to prop up the pillow, but they may also sit without support for a few
seconds at a time.
Some 5-month-old babies may begin to roll over from their back to their
stomach. As soon as your child rolls over, you may notice him moving his legs
and swaying. They are preparing to crawl and run, and before that there are
only a few months left! But remember, when a child may roll over, never leave
him on a bed or other elevated surface where he could accidentally roll over
and injure himself.
Another thing you will notice at five months is that your baby's grip is
getting stronger. They can bring objects closer and take them in the palm of
their hand, and then skillfully shift from one hand to another. They may even
be able to hold a bottle or non-spill cup on their own.
Sleep
Most babies sleep through the night at five months, but not all. To
encourage your child to get used to a regular nighttime sleep schedule, set a
sleep schedule. Start with a warm bath and then a few minutes of gentle swaying
to a song and a story, and their eyes will definitely start to droop.
Get into the habit of putting your baby to bed sleepy rather than fully
asleep. This way, they will learn to soothe themselves to sleep instead of
relying on you.
During the day, your baby will still need two naps. Try not to delay
naps until your child is tired and restless. Put them to bed at the first sign
of sleepiness.
The senses
Your 5-month-old baby's vision continues to improve. They see well at
different distances, and their eyes can focus together without crossing. By
five months, your baby's color perception has matured to the point where he can
distinguish between two shades of the same color. But kids at this age still
prefer primary colors like red, blue and yellow.
Communication
Your baby should be babbling by now, and the babble may even start to
sound like real words. Five-month-old children already know how to add
consonants and vowels. If you hear "ma-ma" or "yes-yes" in
the mix, don't worry. Babies at this age do not yet attach importance to words.
Wait a few more months, and these "mom" and "dad" will be
addressed to you.
At five months, babies begin to understand the sounds they hear, such as
a dog barking or starting a car engine. Although they don't understand words
yet, they may turn their heads at the sound of their name or a simple command
such as "no".
Tips for your baby's fifth month
- Children love music. Play all sorts of songs for your 5 month old baby, from classical to jazz to pop. They will clap, smile and maybe even chat.
- Give your child simple, colorful toys such as a soft block or rattle to play with. As you pass each item, name it to help your child learn new words.
- Don't forget to remove the mobile hanging over your baby's cradle. As soon as children can get on all fours, they can get tangled in the hanging cords of the mobile.
- If you have not yet safed your child at home, be sure to do so soon. Close all electrical outlets, place household cleaners and other hazardous materials in closed cabinets, and remove any items that could cause suffocation. Also, be very careful not to leave steaming coffee mugs or curling irons on the countertop where a child can drop them.