Development of gross motor skills in 6-month-old babies. Follow your baby’s milestones step-by-step.
Gross motor skill development allows your baby to improve their balance and coordination and use their larger muscles. These abilities will help your little one master certain movements, such as turning over, sitting up, creeping, crawling, walking, running, climbing, and jumping. Developing gross motor skills is also an important step towards developing fine motor skills.
Gross motor skill development: 6 months old
At this age:
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Your baby can roll from belly to back and back to belly, as well as to the left and to the right.
Remember that not all children develop the same skills at the same speed. The material on this website is for general information purposes only. In addition, the milestone ages given may vary from source to source. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, speak with a doctor.
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Your baby can lift their upper body by pushing down on outstretched arms, hands flat on the ground.
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They can grab their feet and bring them to their mouth.
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They can sit up on their own or with their arms stretched out in front, and can even sit for a few moments without support if you put them in this position.
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When baby is lying down and you reach out your hands, they can grab your hands and pull themself up to a seated position.
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They have complete control of their head in all positions.
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They can pivot (turn in place) to the left and right, and can sometimes scoot backwards using their arms while lying on their tummy.
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If they start to fall forward, they reach their arms out to protect themself.
Over the next few weeks, your baby will begin to do the following:
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Try to protect themself by stretching their arms out to the side while sitting
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Sit unassisted
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Move from sitting to lying on their stomach
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Creep forward while on their tummy
What to watch out forIf your baby cannot hold up their own head while seated or being held, consult a doctor. |
How can you help your child progress?
Every child is different and develops at their own pace. That said, you can help foster your little one’s development by using the Comfort, Play, and Teach parenting approach, which is designed to easily integrate in your daily routine. The table below outlines small, age-specific actions you can take that will benefit your child’s gross motor skill development.
Comfort
When you praise your baby every time they turn around, | | your positive reaction will encourage them to do it again. |
When you lie on your side next to baby while they’re on their back, hold their hand, and gently encourage them to roll towards you, | | they feel reassured and become confident in their ability to roll over on their own. |
Teach
When you sit your baby on the floor so they can see their surroundings from a new angle, | | they discover new ways to use their muscles to keep their balance. |
When you help your little one sit facing you and sing them nursery rhymes, like “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” | | they want to stay in the position and look up to see and listen to you. |
Play
When you lay your baby on their tummy on a blanket, then gently pull the blanket forward, | | they start to understand that they can move. |
When you play with your baby’s toes while singing and exaggerating your facial expressions, | | they become aware of their toes and want to move them, which prepares them for pivoting and crawling. |
| Scientific review: Josiane Caron Santha, occupational therapist
Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team
Updated: November 2025
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Photo: GettyImages/staticnak1983
Resources and references
Note: The links to other websites are not updated regularly, and some URLs may have changed since publication. If a link is no longer valid, please use search engines to find the relevant information.
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American Academy of Pediatrics. “Movement milestones: babies 4 to 7 months.” Healthy Children. 2021. healthychildren.org
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Podcast: Bouger pour grandir avec Josiane Caron Santha. “Le retournement… un jalon important?” 2024. josianecaronsantha.com
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Caron-Santha, Josiane, and Solène Bourque. Bouger pour grandir : comprendre et favoriser le développement moteur des enfants (0–8 ans). Éditions Midi trente, 2023, 160 pp.
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Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development. Physical Activity in Early Childhood: Setting the Stage for Lifelong Healthy Habits. 2011. child-encyclopedia.com
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Ferland, Francine. Le développement de l’enfant au quotidien : de 0 à 6 ans. 2nd ed., Éditions du CHU Sainte-Justine, 2018, 264 pp.
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Pathways. “6 Month Old Typical/Atypical Motor Development – Side by Side Comparison.” 2018. pathways.org
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Pathways. “Motor.” pathways.org
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Canadian Paediatric Society. “Your child’s development: What to expect.” Caring for Kids. 2019. caringforkids.cps.ca
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