By now, you and your baby probably have a special rhythm. You know their looks, their sounds, their quirks—and they know yours too. Even without words, you’re already having full-on conversations through eye contact, giggles and gestures. And wow, your baby is ready to explore!

This is an exciting stage. Between 6 and 12 months, babies are more curious, active and social. Everything is new and interesting to them—and you’re still their favorite teacher.

 

Milestones Between 6 and 12 Months

Every baby grows at their own pace. But here are some things many babies do during this time:

Between 6–9 Months, Your Baby May:

• Grab and move toys from one hand to the other
• Look at you when you call their name
• Understand basic words like “no,” “bye-bye” or “bottle”
• Start babbling with sounds like “ma-ma” or “da-da”
• Begin to scoot or crawl

Between 9–12 Months, Your Baby May:

• Copy sounds, claps or waves
• Point to what they want or see when you ask
• Sit up without help

First Teeth Are Coming

Get ready for those first baby teeth to show up anytime now! Teething is different for every baby—some early, some late, all normal. A little drool and extra fussiness is common. Check out the Oral Health page and this Healthy Teeth resource for easy tips and videos.

Helping Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

Sleep can be a rollercoaster, but by 6 months, most babies can start learning to fall asleep on their own. Here’s what helps:

• Stick to a short bedtime routine—like bath, book and cuddles.
• Make sure they get enough to eat during the day, especially before bedtime.
• Be active with them during the day (yep, movement really helps them sleep better! Here’s why.)
• Naps are still needed—but try to keep them under 3 hours.

When they wake at night, check in quietly and calmly. Once they’re okay, give them a chance to fall back to sleep on their own.