Five Months Baby Milestones

The five month baby milestone is a period of active socialization and psychological development. Each day, babies gain better control over their bodies, confidently rolling over and attempting to support themselves on their arms and legs, signaling their readiness to crawl forward or backward. These emerging skills allow them to explore their surroundings actively. Parents, be prepared: the calm crib rest period is coming to an end, and now you'll need to keep a close eye on your baby!

Developmental five months baby milestones

Assessing physical development is vital for evaluating a baby's overall health. Below are the recommended normal weight and height ranges for boys and girls, as per WHO guidelines.

Physical development

It's time once again to perform a checkup, measuring your baby to track their progress against the expected baby milestones at five months.

Growth:

 

Weight:

 

Head circumference should fall within 16.22 to 17.7 inches, while chest circumference should be between 16 and 18 inches for boys. Girls have a head circumference of 15.86 to 17.3 inches and a chest circumference of 15.86 to 17.50 inches.

Let's explore the new skills your baby has acquired:

1. They can assume a frog-like pose, lying on their stomach with legs stretched out, while their hands rest on a horizontal surface with straightened elbows.

2. They can partially sit up. As their musculoskeletal system isn't yet ready for extended spine support, they gradually master this skill by finding a backrest support, allowing them to observe their surroundings more easily.

3. They can hold onto the sides of a crib or stroller with their hands and lift themselves from a lying position.

4. Your baby can stand on even legs for a few minutes when adults support them. However, proceed with caution, as their spine is not yet fully developed to handle the muscle and bone mass.

5. They can get on all fours, holding onto a support and rocking back and forth.

6.  Your baby shows impressive finger dexterity, grasping objects within their reach and often holding them so tightly that it's challenging to unclench their fist. You can further develop this skill by focusing on fine motor skills.

7. They take an active role during feeding, either holding their bottle or their mother's breast.

8. They can disassemble larger objects into parts, such as pyramids or cube buildings.

9. Your baby can identify their favorite toy among others, often favoring larger and brightly colored objects. Rattles have become a particular favorite.

10. They start to imitate speech, repeating simple syllables after you multiple times, like "da-da-da" or "ma-ma-ma."

Social development

Five month baby milestones are the period when your baby's psycho-emotional state allows them to experience a wide range of emotions, including joy, fun, sadness, and even anger. These emotions manifest as animated reactions to their surroundings. Your baby might laugh, shout loudly, smile, or become irritable. Their intonation in babbling and facial expressions change according to the situation. Additionally, their speech becomes clearer, and they understand more words and intonations.

Attachment to parents and close relatives intensifies during this period. Children enjoy spending time with their families. However, reactions to strangers can vary widely. Some babies are fearful of all strangers, crying and screaming when unfamiliar people pick them up. Others exhibit different responses to various individuals, with even a mother unable to predict the reaction to a specific person. Occasionally, five-month-old babies display a positive attitude towards all strangers. In the presence of their mother, children often behave more boldly, but without her, they may become more modest and shy. Some babies have already learned how to consciously attract attention by crying or making noise with a rattle.

Also: 3 Ways How to Build Character in Your Child

Tips for parents

1. Strengthen your baby's spinal muscle framework. Lay them on their back and let them grip your thumbs while you hold onto their wrists. Gently spread their arms to the sides and lift them into a sitting position. Place their hands together over their head and grasp them with one hand. With your other hand, swipe from the bottom to the top along their spine to encourage them to arch their back instinctively. Repeat this exercise 3–5 times.

2. To enhance muscle flexibility and reduce hypertonicity, alternately bend and straighten your baby's arms and legs when they lie on a hard surface. This exercise helps them become more flexible, mobile, and in control of their body.

3. Encourage crawling by placing your baby on their tummy on a blanket in the center of the room. Surround them with a few toys, and one of them is likely to pique their interest, prompting them to crawl towards it. Your assistance can make this task easier: place your hand on the soles of your baby's feet, simulating support from a vertical surface. Once given a gentle push, your baby will crawl more actively.

4. Play a game of "football" with your baby by laying them on their back and positioning a rubber ball within reach of their freely dangling legs. Allow them to kick the ball until they lose interest.

5. Install a bar on the side rails of the crib and hang rings from it at a height your baby can reach and grasp but not pull off. This exercise helps develop the muscles in their back and arms.

6. Massage your baby's arms, legs, and back. Knead, pat, stroke, and pinch gently on soft areas. You can make this experience more enjoyable with funny songs, rhymes, or jokes.

7. Focus on finger exercises to improve fine motor skills. Bend and straighten each finger individually, squeeze and release their fist, and gently massage their palm with your fingers. Give your baby a rattle to hold, switch it between hands, and practice a firmer grip.

During this stage of the five months baby milestone development, babies are capable of moving short distances independently, so it's essential for parents to ensure their safety by removing sharp objects, small items, household chemicals, cosmetics, and food from their reach.