Developmental activities for babies 5 to 6 months old

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Sensory play helps your baby explore the world around them while making important connections in the brain. At 5 to 6 months old, your baby is tasting, mouthing, and feeling every single thing they can get their hands on ❤️

5 fun activities to try with your baby

Baking sheet with water and the Tummy Time Wobbler

Fill a baking sheet or shallow pan with water and place a floating object or toy in it. We love using our Tummy Time Wobbler because it moves on its own. Capturing a moving toy is hard but exciting work.

First, your baby’s eyes need to track the moving object. Next, their brain has to plan how they’re going to get it, and finally they must anticipate when to grab it. Your baby also needs plenty of neck, back, and shoulder strength to reach and get the wobbler. It’s a tough workout for their brain and body 😉

Why add water? Stimulating more senses during an activity encourages your baby’s brain to focus.

Laundry basket and ribbons

Simply tape a variety of ribbons to a laundry basket for this easy activity. Your baby will love exploring the different colors, sizes, and textures.

Balloon kicking play

Around 5 months old, your baby starts to understand that their legs and feet are a part of them. When they kick, they learn that their body can create noise or movement. This balloon kicking activity is a fun way to develop your baby’s gross motor skills.

Tie a couple of helium-filled balloons loosely around your baby’s ankles and encourage them to kick by moving their legs for them. By tucking their chin to look down at their legs and feet, your baby builds important muscles needed for rolling over from back to side, and eventually from back to belly.⁣

Sensory bag

You can repurpose zip-lock bags for all kinds of mess-free sensory activities. Just fill one up with ice and a little bit of water, then tape the edges to the floor or a table with painter’s tape.

Other items to use in sensory bags:

• Hair gel and pom poms
• Oil, water, and food coloring
• Flour, water, and food coloring
• Pumpkin seeds
• Water and water beads
• Paint

Sensory bottle

Your baby will love staring at different colors and watching various items move as they grasp and roll a sensory bottle.

Fill a clear plastic bottle with water, oil, and food coloring and show your baby how the colors shift as you move it. You can glue the lid to the bottle if you want a little extra security.

Other items to use in a sensory bottle:

• Different types and colors of beads, buttons, or pom poms
• Uncooked pasta
• Mini plastic eggs, water, and glitter
• Water and water beads
• Uncooked rice and beans