Babies start interacting and communicating with others during the fifth month. Your baby responds to your voice and laughs. At this age, your baby is gaining strength, rolling over, and grabbing things. Five months is the month when most babies put everything in their mouths. At this age, the child needs constant attention and care.
During this stage of development, the child may learn the skills needed for the coming months and years of life. Increasing his activity level and independence may increase his appetite. Many mothers decide to wean their baby after reaching 5 months of age, but it is recommended to breastfeed the baby exclusively until the age of 6 months and to postpone the start of complementary feeding after this time.
What should be the weight and height of a 5-month-old baby?
At five months of age, the baby should weigh about twice its birth weight.
Five-month-old girls usually weigh between 6.3 and 7.4 kg and are usually around 62.5 to 65.5 cm in length. Boys are usually a little older. Five-month-old boys have an average weight of 6.9 to 8.1 kg and a length of 64.5 to 67.5 cm.
Of course, these values are only average values. If your 5-month-old is older or smaller than these values, you don’t have to worry because every baby grows at their own pace.
Developing motor and physical skills for a 5-month-old baby
Your child can pick up and hold an object, but he doesn’t have complete control over it yet. He may also be able to use his thumb separately from the other fingers, allowing the baby to hold objects in a claw-like fashion. 5-month-old babies love rocking toys that make a lot of noise.
Mouth-to-mouth coordination is perfect and they can put things in their mouths and suck or chew (Keep all small toys and detachable parts of toys that could present a choking hazard out of reach of your child). You can also hold things with both hands and tap their feet.
Your child can now lift his chest and both legs off the floor at the same time (which is a great exercise for strengthening the core muscles, and if you hold your child’s hands while sitting, his upper back and back will be strong instead of bending and will be founded).
Read also: 10 important newborn care tips up to 4 months old that you should know
Breastfeeding and sleeping
The child may look at you while eating, pay attention to the placement of the spoon and fork, and chew the food. Try to avoid giving solid foods to a 5-month-old baby. At this age, breast milk (or formula) should be the baby’s only main source of nutrition and meet all of his nutritional needs. Try to pay attention to the baby’s needs instead of spending time and hours on breastfeeding. A 5-month-old baby can recognize hunger, so he asks for milk as often as needed.
At 5 months old, your baby will roll over easily, so it will be impossible to maintain his position during the night to sleep on his back. But still put the baby on your back to sleep. If your baby rolls over a lot in their sleep, try to avoid covering them with too many clothes or using too many heavy blankets.
Formula-fed babies at 5 months of age need about 5 bottles of milk in a 24-hour period. If you need to increase the amount of milk your baby consumes, be sure to adjust the ratio of water to milk powder according to the instructions. Using the right amount of powdered milk in water prevents constipation and weight gain in the baby.
Cognitive development at five months of age
Cognitive development means the development of cognitive activities such as language, memory, thinking, etc. At the age of five months, the baby struggles with his emotions and begins to build relationships with others. He will smile at you and at this time you will notice that it is much easier to make him laugh than before.
At this time, the child communicates better with familiar people and prefers them to strangers. The child may extend a hug to you and may wrap his arms around your neck after the hug. Most children feel uncomfortable being around strangers and protest by raising their voice.
A 5-month-old is adept at recognizing sounds and moving towards familiar sounds (such as the parents’). But if he hears sounds like ambulance sirens and police cars that he has never heard before, he quickly turns around and looks for the source of the sound. At this age, your child recognizes his own name and shows attention when others call him.
Read also: 5 causes of snoring in children, dangerous symptoms, and 5 effective home remedies
visual perception
Your baby’s visual perception has improved at this age. He can monitor and track movements, respond to familiar faces, make eye contact, and recognize objects such as his favorite toys. He also has improved control of his eyes, otherwise known as visual tracking or eye tracking. The development of this skill is essential in the later years of life as it helps in the development of reading and writing skills.
Language development
When your baby is 5 months old, he repeats sounds like “A” or “O” many times and gradually produces newer sounds as well. Enjoy your dear baby’s voice at this time!
Developing social skills
The child’s social skills develop gradually. A 5-month-old baby is more curious and tries to communicate with others. Due to their increased attention span and growing personality, these babies laugh faster and are eager to explore.
They also learn to show disinterest by looking away or turning their heads away. Your child gets angry and upset when he doesn’t see you or hear your voice. The child becomes increasingly aware of unfamiliar people and environments and thus feels strange in such situations.
How can you help the growth and development of a 5-month-old baby?
To help the baby sit up, place his legs in a V-shape for more balance. Once he’s in this position, put a toy in front of him for him to play with. For added safety, put some pillows and cushions around your baby to prevent possible injuries.
- Put a toy in your child’s hand and then transfer it to the other hand. In this way, your child learns to move objects in his hands.
- Gently rolling the baby up and down and laying him on his side will help improve balance and understanding of movements. This also prepares him for crawling.
- Standing up is too early for a 5-month-old baby, but hold the baby’s armpits and help him kick the ball with his feet. In this way, prepare your baby to stand up and experience an exciting game together.
- Put the child on his stomach or back and put a toy away from him and in front of his eyes so that he tries to reach it. If the distance is too far, bring it closer so your child won’t stop trying.
- Using roly poly balance games will make your child happy and cheerful. These toys are characterized by cheerful and attractive colors, whose splash when shaken can be attractive to the child.
Symptoms of growth and development problems
Children grow at different rates. If you notice the following symptoms in a 5-month-old baby, talk to a doctor or pediatrician:
- The child seems uninterested in the things around him
- He doesn’t seem to know you
- No sound
- He does not open his fingers
- He doesn’t kick or bend his legs most of the time
- He doesn’t follow anything with his eyes or make eye contact
- When you talk to him, he doesn’t turn around or startled by a loud noise
- Most of the time he is agitated or agitated
If you are worried about your child’s health and see the symptoms mentioned in him, it is best to see a doctor to make sure that there is no problem.
