Your baby

As well as learning to sit unsupported, your baby will soon be discovering ways to move across the floor, from rocking on his tummy to bottom shuffling and finally crawling. Some babies go straight into standing position by holding onto furniture – and down again just as suddenly. Now’s the time to introduce stair guards and move anything breakable well out of reach.

Your baby is developing good hand control and can pick up very small items with his finger and thumb, pass toys from hand to hand, clasp hands, poke and point. He can eat finger foods by himself and may be able to hold his cup, although be prepared for many weeks of messy feeding times!

As your baby's memory increases, he will become able to remember simple sequences of events like throwing down his toy and you picking it up again… and again… and again. Your baby's also beginning to understand some words and may respond to very simple commands. He will listen intently when you speak and may imitate and repeat sounds over and over.

Your progress

Just as you’re enjoying greater freedom from breast or bottle feeding, your baby develops a new way to keep you close… separation anxiety. Between 6-7 months, your baby becomes very attached to you and may cry when you leave the room.

Although you may feel guilty about your baby’s apparent sense of abandonment, don’t try to sneak out unnoticed. Say goodbye, tell him that you'll be back and this will help your baby learn that when you go, you will return later.

While it can be very rewarding to enjoy the delight with which your baby greets you again, it can also be stressful when you have to be away from your baby, or you’re in new situations.

When you’re out and about with your baby, you may find that he becomes timid and anxious with strangers, so introduce new people gradually and casually. By maintaining a calm sense of routine, you may help your baby to feel more secure.

Things to think about or try

As your baby's teeth start to appear, you can start using a children's toothbrush to clean their teeth. Your baby's first toothbrush should have soft bristles and a small head, suitable for his age. Remember that when your baby is teething, his gums will feel tender, so go easy!

As long as you're cleaning your child's teeth regularly, you don't need to use any toothpaste yet. Just gently brush the teeth on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day. You may find it easier to cradle your baby in your arms (as though feeding him a bottle) so that you can reach his teeth more easily.

You can also help to protect your baby’s teeth by providing drinks from a beaker from around six months old. It’s best to offer either milk or water, avoid sugary or fizzy drinks, and dilute any fruit juice by one part juice to five parts water.