5 Months Old: Milestones And Red Flags

At 5 months old, many babies are getting stronger, more expressive and more eager to explore the world around them. At this age, your baby may be pushing up well during tummy time, starting to roll, reaching and grasping more purposefully, bringing objects and feet to their mouth, and making more sounds like squeals, laughs and early babble-like noises.

That said, development is not identical from baby to baby. Some variation is completely normal. “Children develop at their own unique pace,” said Dr. Jessica Lynch, developmental pediatrician at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. If you have questions or concerns about how your baby is developing, check in with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Milestones

At 5 months old, babies are usually making progress across movement, communication and social development.

One of the biggest physical changes at this age is stronger trunk and upper-body control. Many babies can push up well during tummy time and hold their head steady. Some may start rolling from tummy to back or back to tummy, and some may sit with support for short periods.

“They are grasping more things and start babbling a bit more as well,” said Nadine Korah, Attending Physician in the Division of General Pediatrics at the Montreal Children's Hospital. At this age, babies may also bring their feet to their mouth, reach for toys more deliberately and hold onto objects for longer.

Communication and social development are becoming more obvious, too. Many 5-month-olds are smiling, laughing, squealing and making more sounds. They may respond to familiar voices, watch faces closely and follow people or objects with their eyes.

“At 5 months, we see tripod sitting, which is sitting and supporting themselves with their hands on the floor in front,” said Dr. Lynch.

Quick 5-month milestones

• Pushes up strongly during tummy time
• Holds their head steady without support
• May start rolling in one or both directions
• Reaches for and grasps toys more purposefully
• Brings objects or feet to their mouth
• May sit with support or in a tripod position
• Makes more sounds, such as squeals, laughs or early babble-like noises
• Smiles and engages more clearly with caregivers
• Watches faces and tracks people or objects with their eyes

Red flags to look for

Most babies do not hit every milestone at exactly the same time, but some signs deserve a conversation with your doctor or healthcare provider sooner rather than later.

Movement

By this age, babies should have good head control. It is worth checking in if your baby still seems very floppy, has trouble holding their head steady, seems unusually stiff, always favours one side of the body or is not pushing up at all during tummy time.

It is also worth mentioning if your baby is not reaching for toys, uses only one hand consistently or shows very little interest in moving their body during floor play.

Hearing and communication

At 5 months old, many babies are making more sounds and reacting clearly to voices or noise around them. If your baby is not making many sounds, does not seem to react to sound, or does not respond much when you talk to them, bring that up with your healthcare provider.

Social and visual development

It is also worth checking in if your baby is not smiling or engaging with caregivers, does not watch faces, or is not following people or objects with their eyes.

If you notice one of these signs, it does not automatically mean there is a serious problem. But it is a good idea to mention it at your next well-baby visit, or sooner if the concern seems pronounced or your instincts tell you something is off.

Fun age-appropriate activities

At 5 months old, babies benefit from lots of supervised tummy time, supported sitting, face-to-face play and simple chances to reach, grasp and explore. This is a great age for floor play because many babies are getting stronger, more curious and more motivated to move.

Encourage your baby to push up and reach by placing a toy or mirror just out of reach during tummy time. You can also help them practise rolling by gently guiding them from side to side and giving them lots of safe space to move.

“Practice sitting with pillows or holding their waists,” Dr. Korah said. Supported sitting can help babies build strength and see more of the world around them.

You can also encourage development by talking, singing and reading out loud. Picture books, mirrors, rattles, textured toys and simple games like peek-a-boo can all help support communication, attention and social development.

What parents should do if they are unsure

If you're not sure whether your baby is on track, try looking for patterns over a few days instead of focusing on one moment. Babies can have off days, and development often shows up gradually.

If a milestone seems delayed, or your baby has a clear red flag such as poor head control, no response to sound, very limited vocalizing or limited engagement, bring it up with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other healthcare provider.

You can also review Health Canada’s developmental screening guidance if you want a better sense of how developmental concerns are assessed over time.

You can also support development in simple everyday ways: make time for floor play every day, talk and read to your baby, respond to their sounds and smiles, and give them safe opportunities to reach, grasp and explore.