5-Month-Old: Milestones, Activities, Gear, Dad Tips, & More
Here’s a comprehensive guide to 5-month-old milestones, activities to do with your baby, what to expect with food and sleep, recommendations for toys and gear, ways to master being a dad, and more.
5-Month-Old Milestones
Hold their head steady while sitting upright
Reach for and grasp toys
Bring their hands to their mouth
Make cooing and babbling sounds
Brings feet to mouth while on their back
Sits with their hands supporting them on the floor for a few seconds
Roll over from their back to their stomach
Puts almost all of their weight on the legs in a supported stand
Lays on their belly and turns about a quarter to the left and right
Reflexes
The typical onset age for these reflexes is 4-6 months, except for the downward parachute which is 4 months.
Symmetric tonic neck reflex (STNR): The STNR, also known as the "fencing reflex," is elicited when the baby's head is turned to one side. The arm on the side that the head is turned towards will extend, while the arm on the opposite side will flex. This reflex is important for developing hand-eye coordination and helps the baby learn to focus their eyes on objects.
Neck righting: The neck righting reflex is elicited when the baby's head is tilted backwards. The reflex causes the baby to extend their neck and move their head back to a neutral position. This reflex helps to develop neck control and stability.
Body righting: The body righting reflex is elicited when the baby is tilted or rotated from an upright position. The reflex causes the baby to move their arms and legs in a way that helps to bring their body back to a stable position. This reflex helps to develop balance and coordination.
Downward parachute: The downward parachute reflex is elicited when the baby is held in a prone (face down) position and then gently lowered. The reflex causes the baby to extend their arms and legs as if they are "parachuting" down. This reflex helps to develop coordination and balance.
Activities To Help Your Child Thrive
Water bead sensory play. This idea came from the OT Toolbox. Combine water beads and water in a sealed freezer bag and let your child get engrossed in the feel. As always, supervise your child with this.
Balloon kicking. Grab a balloon or two, with string, and tie it to your baby’s ankles while he’s lying on the ground. He’ll learn cause and effect as he sees that his movement is related to the balloon’s movement. This will also help build visual tracking and gross motor skills,
Superman. Put your baby, bally down, on your arms, and “fly” them around. Move them all around like Superman is lost with no idea where he’s going. This will challenge her neck and core strength as well as her vestibular system, visual tracking abilities, and body-righting skills.
Food
Consumes about 6-8 ounces of formula or breast milk at each feeding
Eats about 3-4 times a day
Bottle nipple size: Level 2 (based on the Dr. Brown bottles)
Your baby can begin baby-led weaning (BLW) around the six-month mark when they can do the following.
Sit upright with minimal assistance
Lean forward in a chair
Have good head and neck control
Have an interest in food (e.g. reaching for food)
Bring hands and toys to their mouth
Can visually track something moving
See the complete guide to Baby Led Weaning for more info.
Sleep
Typical sleep total per day: 12-15 hours
5-month-olds typically take 2-3 naps a day lasting 1-2 hours each
This 5-7 month range is when 26% of parents started sleep training (29% start it at 4-5 months). Consider a sleep course such as the ultra-popular (and effective in my experience) Taking Cara Babies.
Red Flags
It’s important to note that babies develop at different paces. If you’re not seeing these 5-month-old milestones, reflexes, or patterns with sleep or food then talk to your pediatrician.
Stuff
Toys (with a purpose)
Here are some toys recommended by an occupational therapist to help your 5-month-old’s development.
Gear (that you actually need)
Baby bottle handles. Put these handles on your baby’s Dr. Browne bottles and teach them to feed themselves. Not only is it a big win for their feeding independence but it’s less time you have to spend holding the bottle. Win-win.
Cards. Alright, this is a stretch for “gear that you actually need” for your baby but it will come in handy. Greeting cards, thank you cards, birthday cards, and the like are a bazillion bucks each. For paper! I know few men who aren’t rushing to get the birthday card or Valentine’s Day card within 48 hours of the big day. You’ll need more birthday cards and thank you cards then you realize as a dad. Stock up on a box of assorted cards to have at the ready.
A water filter. Our bodies are reliant on quality air and quality water to function properly and this is especially true for developing babies. Your tap water is likely gross (use EWG’s Tap Water Database to check). We use the Waterdrop G3 Remineralization Reverse Osmosis System which fits under the sink. You can also find ones that sit on top of the counter or, if you’re not read for a reverse osmosis (RO) system yet then the Waterdrop Chubby pitcher is an NSF-certified one which uses a BPA-free plastic container.
Related: see the 4-Month-Old Milestone article for an air filter recommendation.
Car vacuum. Your car is going to get gross. Keep a small vacuum that plugs into the car in the back for easy cleaning.
Dads
“The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.”
–Confucius
Dad Focus
Being a better partner. Before kids your relationship with your partner was a huge chunk of the pie graph. Little tike shrunk that pie slice and every kid after continued that trend. That doesn’t mean that you’re destined for a relationship that lacks intimacy, respect, and fun though. It just means it might take more work than before.
There’s no shortage of advice out there on how to be a better partner but here are some of the best tips I’ve found:
8 Ways To Be A Better Husband Right Now (Daily Dad)
10 Tips for Becoming a Better Husband (All Pro Dad)
15 Small Ways To Be A Better Husband, From A Marriage Therapist (mindbodygreen)
How To Be A Better Husband Or Partner - The 7 Step Plan (ProfessionalCounseling.com)
The Top 7 Ways To Improve Your Marriage (The Gottman Institute)
Dad Tips
Use your baby carrier often. Your baby carrier is one of the best multi-tasking tools you have. Strap the baby in and go for that walk, get some housework done, or even do some Babywearing Mummy Yoga (looked it up on a whim and, yup, it’s a thing).
Be aware of de Quervain’s. De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a.k.a. mother’s wrist, is one of the most common injuries that new parents experience. Pain, swelling, and/or “sticking” or “stop-and-go” sensations occur at the base of the thumb where 2 main tendons of the thumb (the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB)) due to excessive up and down movements of the thumb from constantly lifting your baby. Use the Finkelstein test to know if you have it for sure. The best course of action is to stop using it (but that’s not going to happen) so talk to your doctor about an anti-inflammatory like turmeric and use a wrist support to prevent further issues.
Learn CPR. If you haven’t done so yet, take a CPR course stat. Get everyone who cares for your baby together and learn. The Red Cross has a First Aid/CPR/AED course here.
Resources
Article:
The Importance of Fathers (According to Science) (Art of Manliness)
Podcast Episode:
5 Parenting Don'ts (Daily Dad)
Book:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Recognize the best moments and attempt to freeze them in your mind when you can. Smile with your 5-month-old, celebrate the milestones, and remember that you’ve got it good.
Got any suggestions that worked for you and your baby at this age? Leave them in the comment section.
