When your baby is around 5 months old, they may have started to respond to their name? Calling your baby by name often, and imitating all the different sounds your little one makes, will help with language development. Now each development phase is starting to last a little longer, up to four weeks per phase. This means that some days may feel like business as usual, while other days will be more challenging. If your baby feels unhappy about most things, wants to be close all the time, sleeps restlessly or doesn't want to eat - try to remember that it's not about you doing anything wrong, it's a phase!

Baby development at 5 months

Now you're probably getting a strong little baby! When babies lie on their stomachs at this age, their whole head is usually raised and they can support themselves properly on their arms. Many start to roll around more willingly - some from back to tummy and vice versa, while others crack the code first in one direction, and after a while in the other. 

Some babies can get a little frustrated that they can't roll over like they want to. Support your baby in this and help them to turn around - either by gently nudging them when they are going around, or by enticing them with a fun toy! Then you can see if your baby can get the technique right all the way around. 

Some babies are now also starting to enjoy sitting up and seeing the world from a different perspective than their back. Fluff up with pillows and let your baby practice sitting on their own. Many babies willingly grab things and move between their hands or to their mouths at this age. Most likely you'll start to get a little gymnast holding their feet and maybe taste them a bit too. Having stories told or singing to your baby is often popular at this age, even if they don't understand what it's about, they listen carefully to your voice and look at pictures. 

What happens at the BVC when the baby is 5 months old?

During the BVC visit around 5 months of age, it is time for the second dose of the different vaccines your little one received at 3 months of age, as well as the last dose of the ROTA vaccine. Just like last time, your BVC nurse will go through any side effects and the baby will receive an injection in each thigh. After this dose, the next vaccination will be at the age of 1 year.

The introduction of food

If you haven't started introducing small taste portions yet, it's definitely time to start trying! Breastfeeding or formula is still the main goal for your baby, but if you've been giving taste sensations for a while, they can slowly start to move to larger and larger taste portions.

Sometimes you may need to give the same thing several times before children learn to appreciate flavors, so try different flavors and consistencies. Be patient! If you find that it gets messy, just get used to it. It's part of the process - and it won't get any less sticky for a while. Let it be messy while you're tasting the food, it's encouraging for your baby to explore the food on their own (even if your fingers itch to clean up and wipe off!).

Things to consider when introducing food

There are some foods that should be avoided during the first year of life. These are green leafy vegetables, beetroot juice, honey, rice cakes, rice drinks, large amounts of salt, sugar, whole nuts, green potatoes and unpasteurized milk.

The introduction of gluten should be slow and it is beneficial if the amount of gluten is gradually increased. The reason why gluten should be introduced slowly is because research shows that this can minimize the risk of gluten intolerance. This means that even if you as a parent are allergic to a food, it is not certain that your child will inherit your intolerance, so it is important to let your child try it. You can offer your child a sandwich, pasta or bulgur for a meal to start with.

It may also be a good idea to wait before giving larger amounts of dairy products. Young children quickly fill up on different types of dairy products, which may prevent them from eating a varied diet. However, cooking food containing dairy products is not a problem, it is a matter of not offering milk as a mealtime drink. If you are unsure about how to think about introducing different foods, you can read some useful and important information on the Swedish Food Agency's website or talk to your nurse. 

Here you can read about baby development at 6 months!