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Baby at 4–6 months: getting ready for solids, sleep and development

Stage: 4–6 months

Sleep

3 naps; stretches of 6–8 hours at night become possible

Feeding

The NHS advises starting solids around 6 months — not before 17 weeks. Signs of readiness: sitting with support and holding the head steady, good hand-eye-mouth coordination, and swallowing food rather than pushing it back out. Start with single vegetables and fruits (parsnip, broccoli, carrot, pear, banana), blended smooth or as soft finger foods. Milk remains the main source of nutrition.

Formula: 4–5 feeds a day, 160–200 ml. Don't push past roughly 200 ml per bottle — little tummies don't need more per feed.

Nappy size

Size 3, 4–9 kg.

Development at this stage

• Rolls from tummy to back
• Explores hands and feet, brings everything to the mouth
• Recognises familiar faces and responds to own name
• Starts strings of babble (bababa, dadada)

Care & things to watch

• Daily vitamin D drops continue if breastfed
• Introduce peanut and egg from around 6 months, when solids start — early introduction reduces the risk of food allergy. Use smooth peanut butter (never whole nuts) and well-cooked egg, one new food at a time. If your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy, talk to your GP or health visitor first — earlier introduction may be advised for this group
• No honey, added salt or added sugar before age 1
• Bathing 2–3 times a week; a bath can become a calming part of the bedtime routine
• Babyproof the house ahead of mobility: this stage moves fast
• Around this age sleep architecture matures, so nights can temporarily look more restless (waking between sleep cycles) — a normal development that usually settles within weeks

Other ages: 0–6 weeks · 6–12 weeks · 3–4 months · 6–9 months · 9–12 months · 12–18 months · 18–24 months · 2–3 years · 3–4 years · 4–5 years