By 4 months, most babies hold their head steady without support and push up onto their elbows and forearms during tummy time. They make cooing sounds like "oooo" and "aahh", bring their hands to their mouth, and chuckle when you try to make them laugh. [1]
The next set of movement milestones is coming into view. By 6 months, most babies roll from tummy to back. Many also push up with straight arms during tummy time and lean on their hands for balance when placed in a sitting position. [2] Your 5 month old is somewhere in the middle of that work, so expect a lot of wobble before each skill settles. One practical note: a baby who has rolled once can roll again at any moment, so keep a hand on your baby during changes on any raised surface.
Babbling is turning into conversation. By 6 months, many babies take turns making sounds with you and blow raspberries. [2] When your baby makes a sound and you copy it back, you are teaching the rhythm of talking. It counts as language practice even when the whole exchange is "bababa".
Teething may be on the horizon. A first tooth usually appears around 6 months, and the range is wide: some babies have no teeth by their first birthday. Extra drool and hands in the mouth start around 3 months and do not by themselves mean a tooth is coming. [3] Signs a tooth is actually on the way include sore red gums where it is pushing through and a flushed cheek. Many babies also chew and dribble more than usual. [4]
The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months, naps included. [5] Where your baby lands inside that range is individual. A baby at 12 hours and a baby at 16 can both be doing fine.
The sleep setup stays the same as in earlier months. Place your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm flat surface, and keep soft items like blankets and pillows out of the sleep space. [6]
New rolling skills change sleep too. This is a good month to ask your pediatrician about moving on from swaddling and what to do when your baby rolls at night. The AAP parent guide to safe sleep is a solid reference to keep at hand. [6]
Breast milk, formula, or a combination still provides everything your baby needs right now. All three are workable paths, and the pattern that fits your family is the right one to keep.
If you are breastfeeding: as babies grow, their bellies grow too, and they can take more milk at a feeding. Feedings often space out as a result. Your baby's hunger and fullness cues are a better guide than the clock. [7]
If you are formula feeding: by 6 months, babies typically take 6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours. At 5 months, many babies are moving toward that pattern. [8]
One supplement to keep in mind: babies fed only breast milk, or breast milk plus formula, need 400 IU of vitamin D every day. [9]
Solid foods usually start around 6 months, so this month is for watching, not spoon-feeding. The readiness signs matter more than the date: your baby sits up with support, controls their head and neck, swallows food rather than pushing it back out, and brings objects to their mouth. [10] When the time comes, the AAP has a calm walkthrough of first foods. Nothing needs to happen yet. [11]
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Open the week calculatorMost of what a 5 month old does is normal, including skipped naps and drool by the ounce. A short list of signs deserves a call, so you never have to wonder.
A fever along with a seizure: call your doctor right away. [12]
A temperature that rises above 104 F (40 C) repeatedly, at any age: call your doctor. [12]
Your baby still seems sick after the fever is brought down: call your doctor. [12]
A note on teething: it can nudge body temperature up slightly, but a 2016 study in Pediatrics found that a true fever, over 100.4 F (38 C), is not associated with teething. Treat it as illness and call your doctor. [3]
Signs of dehydration deserve an immediate call to the pediatrician: fewer than six wet diapers in 24 hours, a parched, dry mouth, fewer tears when crying, sunken eyes, a sunken soft spot on the head, or a baby who plays less than usual. [13]
If your baby is not doing things most babies do by this age, or has lost skills they once had, talk with the doctor. The CDC milestone checklists make that conversation concrete, and acting early helps. [2]
LEELALU is education, not medical care. Nothing here is a diagnosis. For anything on this list, or any symptom that worries you, contact your pediatrician. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
Around 6 months, most families begin solid foods, once the readiness signs are in place. Plan to talk it through at the 6 month checkup, including which foods are choking risks. [10]
The first tooth often arrives around the same time, so a soft baby toothbrush is worth buying before you need it. [3]
Next month's page covers first foods and the 6 month visit.
Some 5 month olds roll, others get there later. Rolling from tummy to back is a milestone most babies reach by 6 months, so practicing without success yet is on schedule. Floor time with a toy just out of reach is the best gym. If your baby is not rolling from tummy to back by 6 months, bring it up with your doctor. [2]
The general guidance is to start around 6 months. Readiness matters more than the calendar: your baby should sit up with support and swallow food rather than push it back out. If your baby seems ready early, ask your pediatrician first. [10]
The CDC lists 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours for infants 4 to 12 months, naps included. Where your baby lands in that range can differ from the baby next door, and both can be normal. [5]
LEELALU is education, not medicine. This page cannot diagnose or treat anything, and it never replaces your clinician. For anything on the "call your doctor" list, or anything that worries you, contact your provider. Found an error? Write to hello@leelalu.com and a person will read it. Our method: Editorial Standards.