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Watching your baby grow is amazing and fulfilling. As your baby nears their half-year birthday mark, you may want to learn about the activities for 5-month-olds that are essential for them to reach their developmental milestones. At five months, babies start exploring their surroundings, respond to stimuli, show interest in faces, and engage more with caregivers. Their conversations are mostly gibberish and filled with smiles and baba-gagas. This is also the time when you can start engaging them in more activities. To help you do so, here is a list of activities designed based on five-month-olds’ developmental milestones. We have listed them after searching through multiple trusted websites. Keep reading to learn about the key milestones for five-month-olds and how you can help your baby reach them.
Key Pointers
- Engage your 5-month-old baby with stimulating objects and activities in a lively environment.
- Introduce colors, textures, and sounds to your baby through activities such as playing with bubbles, reading books, and musical play.
- Help your baby develop fine motor skills by letting them pick up toys, play with a ball, and use paper towels.
- Bond with your baby through singing songs, playing games, and cuddling.
Key Developmental Milestones For 5-Month-Old
Knowing a 5-month-old baby’s development milestones will help you choose the right activities and games for your 5-month-old baby.
- Greater muscle dexterity: Your baby will be able to support their head when sitting (1). They will also try to grasp light objects and move them around or try to hold the feeding bottle (2).
- Better visual perception: A five-month-old has full-color vision and can recognize familiar faces (3)(4). He will be able to track moving objects with his eyes and make eye contact with people (5).
- Finer judgment of sounds: Your baby will turn and point his head toward the source of a sound; he/she may also try to imitate the sound or respond with a coo. He will also recognize familiar voices, such as those of people over the phone, and the sounds emanating from his favorite toys (6).
- Improved cognitive abilities: The baby will show the ability to do things independently , such as watching objects that are dropped (1). He will also show a wider range of facial expressions that will differ according to the situation and the person he is interacting with.
17 Games And Activities For 5-month-old Baby
Here are some great activities you can engage your 5-month-old baby in to stimulate their senses and support their growth and development.
1. Bubble play
What you will need: Bubble making toy
How to: Bubbles are a great way of capturing your baby’s attention. You and your partner can blow bubbles together in a way they float close to your little one. If he shows signs of excitement by laughing and moving his hands increase the bubble flow.
Skills developed: Visual and sensory skills
Did you know?2. Find the missing object
What you will need: Blanket and the baby’s favorite toy
How to: At five months old, the baby has the skills to find a toy that is partially hidden under a cloth (2). So, lie the baby on the bed, which has a blanket on it. Take your baby’s favorite toy which he recognizes well. Place it half-hidden under the blanket with just the edge sticking out. Prompt the baby to pick the toy, and when he tries to reach for it, slowly pull it underneath the blanket. Do it slowly till the baby tugs on it and shows an expression of curiosity. Let the baby pull the toy after some tugging. Once the baby gets it, repeat the game with other items.
Skills developed: Fine motor skills and curiosity
3. Source of the sound
What you will need: A Rattle and a cloth
How to: Hold the rattle and ring it close to the baby making sure it is not too close to his ears. Once you have your little one’s attention, slowly hide the rattle behind a towel or a piece of cloth. Keep rattling the toy and move the cloth around while observing whether or not the baby follows the source of the sound. If your baby is lying down, hold the rattle 20 cm above his head and shake it gently. If he tries to look up, move the rattle away from his line of sight while ringing it. Observe if he tries to rotate his head to the source of the sound. As per experts, asking the baby to reach rattle toys can help with their development (5). So, try to plan an elaborate version of this activity where you can hold your baby while your partner rattles the toy behind a pillar or a door.
Skills developed: Auditory skills, visual interpretation, cognitive abilities, muscle-eye-ear coordination
Ashley, a mother of two girls, shows her four-month-old daughter Miya playing with and exploring a rattle toy in her Montessori activities video. Narrating her daughter’s curiosity-filled play, Ashley says, “What she’s able to do with it is use her fingers to grab on to all the little wooden dowels in the middle and just shake it like crazy. She’s starting to learn about cause and effect, what happens when I grab onto this toy and move my arm, and I can tell that it’s very exciting for her because she gets very exuberant about her rattle shaking once she realizes what’s happening (i).”
4. Track the toy
What you will need: A soft toy, a long string, your partner
How to: At five months old, your baby is at the peak stages of developing depth perception (7). So, this simple game can be excellent for capturing their attention. Sit on a floor rug while holding your baby in a sitting position. Tie his favorite soft toy to a long string and hand it over to your partner. Ask your partner to move the stringed toy around on the floor slowly so that the baby can see it. Watch your baby’s reaction and when he seems interested prompt him to grab the moving item by giving word cues like “Oh, what’s that?” Increase the speed if you feel the baby is transfixed and is moving his gaze with the toy.
Skills developed: Visual perception and muscle-eye coordination
5. Story time
What you will need: Colorfully illustrated children’s book
How to: This is a great bedtime and learning activity for 5 month olds. Hold him in your lap with the open book right in front of him. Read the story aloud while pointing toward the brightly colored illustrations. Let the baby hold the book if he does, and in case he turns a page read from the page he just opened. Add some funny sound effects such as “Boom” and “Yippee” that are bound to make him giggle. The idea here is to build a rich network of words in a baby’s brain (8).
Skills developed: Language and phonetic skills, color perception, cognitive abilities
Here is maternal and child health nurse Sue Doogan’s opinion on when and how you should read to your baby. She says, “You will have to look at your baby’s cues as to whether “now” is a good time to read – when your baby is not interested they will certainly show you! Don’t be disheartened, keep trying at different times of the day, different books, and different voices – even another language! Your baby loves listening to your voice, whether it’s in speech or singing – the rhythm and rhyme that come when we read children’s books, sing nursery rhymes, or point to pictures in a book all add to your interaction with your baby – you will see their enjoyment (ii).”
Quick tip6. The toy box
What you will need: Container with a small opening at the top
How to: Take a plastic container, with no sharp edges and fill it with small toys that your baby plays with regularly. Bring the container close to the baby and tilt it in a way that some toys fall off it. Repeat it twice or thrice and hand the container to your baby encouraging him to tilt and move the box. Appreciate him with some encouraging words every time he slides a toy out of the box. Let him shake and rattle the box if he does so and perhaps you can add to the clatter!
Skills developed: Logic and reasoning, motor skills
7. Bouncing ball
What you will need: Soft and squishy bouncing beach ball
How to: A great fun outdoor game for your 5-month-old that is simple and easy. Take the soft ball and roll it around a lawn while also making it bounce. Once you have his attention, bounce the ball and then gently throw it towards him. Motivate him to grab the ball and if he does, ask him to push it over towards you. He may crawl around with the ball. Encourage him to do so by standing at a distance and asking him to crawl with the rolling ball towards you.
Skills developed: Gross motor skills, social play, curiosity
8. Junior sit-ups workout
What you will need: You and your baby
How to: Sit on a bed with your legs stretched out. Place a soft towel on your thighs, and lie your baby on it. Hold him under his arms, and slowly raise your knees to bring his face close to yours. Keep singing a rhyme or do some baby-talk every time you bring him close to you. Straighten your legs thereafter and repeat the exercise. If your baby has good head support, you can lift them without flexing your legs.
Skills developed: Social bonding skills, head muscles control
9. Peek-A-Boo
What you will need: A curtain or a door, your partner
How to: Ask your partner to hold the baby while you hide behind the curtain. When the little one sees you, doing something from behind the curtain to grab their attention. Then suddenly appear from a corner of the curtain with an exclamatory sound – “Boo!”. Repeat it while making it a point that you come out of the curtain at different time intervals and from different points. You can also play the game by opening and closing the door instead of being in a curtain.
Skills developed: Visual perception, social bonding, voice recognition
10. Music and dance
What you will need: Different types of music, a soft floor rug or bed
How to: It is a great way of developing your baby’s motor skills and locomotion. Play peppy music that may entertain your baby. Keep the volume within comfortable limits. Hold your little one underneath his arms and rock him on the rug or a bed. If he tries making a movement, help him do so. You can also make him sit in your lap and move his arms to the rhythm of the music. Feel free to add your own sound effects and lyrics to the melody.
Skills developed: Motor Skills, listening, social play
11. Tummy time fun
What you will need: A rug or bed, your baby’s favorite toys
How to: Put your baby flat on their tummy on a soft rug or on the bed. First, notice if they seem comfortable in this position, then place all their favorite toys in front of them and let them play while you keep a watch. You can also ask your partner to stand at a distance and call out the baby’s name. See whether they tilt their head upwards to look. Experts believe tummy time can help a baby reach developmental milestones on time (5). However, remember to be by the side of the baby to prevent them from accidentally rolling into an uncomfortable position. Also never play the game when they have just been fed since pressure on the belly can cause an acid reflux. Play the game as long as your baby seems to be in comfort, and if they show signs of discomfort or try to roll over, put them back in a normal position. Tummy time can help strengthen your baby’s back and neck muscles and enhance their spatial awareness. These foundational skills are also crucial for crawling and walking.
Skills developed: Muscle strength and conditioning, neck-eye coordination
Quick tip12. Hand Puppet fun
What you will need: A cute hand puppet
How to: This is a great way of talking and interacting with your baby, which as per the experts helps with the development of the child (5). So, put your hand in a hand puppet and move it close to your baby while making funny sounds. Encourage him to touch the puppet and run his hands over it. Give him positive feedback through the puppet every time he gets his grip right.
Skills developed: Fine motor skills, sense of humor, imaginary skills
13. Smell and fragrances
What you will need: Fruits and vegetables
How to: This is one of the stimulating activities for a 5 month old baby. Lay down some cut fruits and vegetables close by. Hold your baby and bring each bit of the food item at a distance of 10cm from his nose and let him sniff at them. Give him ample time to sense the fragrance and observe his reaction. You can use fruits and vegetables that have distinct pleasant fragrances such as mangoes, bananas, and carrots. Do not use those with sharp or pungent smells such as onions and citrus fruits. Also, make sure the food items are washed and neatly chopped. If your little one shows interest in holding a food item, let him do so but do not let him eat any since he is too young for it. If he accidentally licks at something it is okay since it is not going to harm him. Though, do be careful about not having fruits or vegetables which are common allergens. This activity is a great way of sharpening his sense of smell, which is as important as other sensory perceptions.
Skills developed: Sense of smell, ability to associate smells with objects
14. Water toys
What you will need: Bathtub, water squirting toy
How to: This is a great bath time activity for a 5-month-old baby. While he is soaking in water, bring a squirt toy and squirt some water around him. Do so repeatedly till he focuses his attention on the source of the water, which is the nozzle of the toy. Once he seems interested, hand him the toy and let him play with it. Ensure that he does not put it in his mouth and does not point the nozzle towards his face. Every time he squirts water, exclaim a sound. This will help him associate the sound with the toy and he might just babble the word by himself every time he sees his toy.
Skills developed: Visual perception, object-sound association, social play
15. Lights in the boxes
What you will need: Colorful plastic containers, a small flashlight
How to: Switch on the flashlight, place it inside the container, and close the lid tightly. Ensure that the container is of ample thickness to subdue the sharpness of direct light. Once done, switch-off the lights and put the containers in front of your baby. Since it is dark, he will focus on the glowing boxes. Slide the boxes in front of him and encourage him to explore them on his own. Refer to each box by its color since that will help him associate the box with a word.
Skills developed: Color-object association, night time vision
16. Paper towel rings
What you will need: Paper towel or tissue paper rings
How to: Tear some paper towel or tissue papers and roll them into rings of the diameter of your baby’s arm. Take these rings and slide them gently over the baby’s hands like bangles while ensuring he sees what you are doing. Once done, ask him what those are and play with them while they are still in his hands. Encourage him to touch and feel them with his other hands and if tries to remove them let him do so. Try this activity regularly while slowly letting him wear those rings on his will.
Skills developed: Fine motor skills, object perception, sense of touch
17. Kick the toy
What you will need: A string, a soft toy, and a floor rug
How to: Tie a soft toy by the end of a string and suspend it from the base of a chair or slide it between the cushions of the sofa such that the toy dangles below. Lie your baby on the floor rug in a manner that his feet touch the soft toy. Gently pat the toy to the sole of his feet and prompt him to kick the toy. Every time he hits the toy utter a word of appreciation. You can even try this activity with his hands.
Skills developed: Gross motor skills, sense of touch, sense of fun
Those were some amazing activities to boost the growth and development of your baby. These will also help sharpen his sensory reflexes, which in turn will improve his overall personality development. What’s more, get ready to engage your 5 month old baby.
Tips For Parents Of 5-month-olds!
Raising a baby is surely a full-time job. The amount of attention and care the little one demands can, at times, be overwhelming. But when you eventually hear those gurgles and see those toothless smiles, everything just becomes worth the effort. Here are some tips to calm those nerves and help your baby reach their developmental milestones on time.
- Be patient: A baby can take some time to interpret and learn an activity. Do not feel disheartened or panic if your five-month-old is unable to play a game in one go. It is possible that they are perhaps figuring out things before learning them by heart.
- Baby-proof the house: Experts recommend you get down on the floor and see your house as if you’re the one crawling around to find all the hazardous items in the house (9). Once you have done so, cover the pointy edges, put sharp objects away, and lock the cupboards that could be accessible to your little one.
- Remove hazards: Your bundle of joy is now transforming into a bundle of energy – moving their hands and feet with vigor. Remove all the toy hangings and drooping items attached to the top of the crib that have strings longer than seven inches, as they can get entangled with your baby’s arms and legs (10).
- Manage mood swings: At the five month stage, your baby may become more assertive and attentive from a relatively passive baby (11). Plus, like adults, babies also can have mood swings. Respect your baby’s demeanor and never force them to do something especially when they are visibly distressed.
- Encourage mouthing: Your baby will love putting things in their mouths since that is how they explore the world and find comfort. Mouthing things can also de-sensitize their gag reflex and help them learn about tastes, sensations and textures (12). However, you should choose toys that are specially made for teething or mouthing and ensure you clean them regularly to prevent accumulation of harmful bacteria.
- Talk to your baby: As per a study, caregiver talk has direct as well as indirect influences on lexical development, which is in turn beneficial for vocabulary learning (13). So, talk to them, sing to them or read a book with them to help them identify different sounds, words, and develop their language skills.
- Hold the baby: A study states that infants tend to snuggle into your neck and mold themselves to you when held. This position is calming for them and allows them to get to know their caregivers. Physical contact with infants also stimulates the release of oxytocin in caregivers, which is associated with nurturing and positive mood (14).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I read to my 5-month-old?
You can create a routine where you read to your baby regularly at the same time. Read at least once daily so your child gets habituated and enjoys it too.
2. Can I start teaching my 5-month-old basic sign language?
A baby can be taught basic sign language between six and nine months of age. It is the phase when the baby can use basic signs and gestures to express their needs (15). You may introduce basic signs and gestures associated with different needs to your five-month-old. It will make for an early start.
3. What are some signs that my baby is ready for new activities at five months?
Reaching out for toys, grasping or shaking objects, being fascinated with their surroundings, and responding well to sounds could suggest your baby is ready for more stimulating activities.
Activities for 5-month-old babies should aim to stimulate their developmental milestones such as rolling, babbling, or mouthing various objects. Bubble play, looking in the direction of the sound, tracking the toy, sit-ups, peek-A-boo, etc., stimulate the baby’s senses. Providing tummy time fun can be exciting if your baby begins to hold their head up, which also benefits from easing problems. You may attach some colorful and sound-making toys to their cribs since they can kick the toy and have fun when bored. You may also talk to them and wait for their response in babbling while playing.
Infographic: Developmental Milestones For 5-Month-Olds
Once your baby reaches the fifth month, interaction with them may be more fun since they are much more aware and curious than before. So if your baby is about to enter their fifth month, this infographic will help you track their progress by understanding the important milestones. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Fun And Interesting Activities For 5-Month-Olds
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Montessori at home: activities for babies 3-6 months.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_8nlwkioLw
ii. “Read to my baby? Now?!”
https://www.whatwerewethinking.org.au/blog/read-to-my-baby-now
References
- First Year Infant Development
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/first-year-of-life/first-year-infant-development/ - Developmental milestones birth to 6 months
https://www.childrensmn.org/educationmaterials/childrensmn/article/15316/developmental-milestones-birth-to-6-months/ - Age-Appropriate Vision Milestones
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=age-appropriate-vision-milestones-90-P02305 - 5-month milestones: What to expect
https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2023/11/15/5-month-milestones-what-to-expect/ - Developmental Milestones: 0 to 6 Months
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/developmental-milestones-0-to-6-months - Age-Appropriate Speech and Hearing Milestones
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hearing-loss/ageappropriate-speech-and-hearing-milestones - Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/infant-vision?sso=y - Reading Books to Babies
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/reading-babies.html - How to Baby-Proof Your Home
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/home-baby-proofing/ - Toy Safety—Identifying High-Risk Situations
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/health-library/toy-safetyidentifying-high-risk-situations - Emotional and Social Development: 4 to 7 Months
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Emotional-and-Social-Development-4-7-Months.aspx - What’s Mouthing and its Role in Feeding
https://doh.health.tas.gov.au/healthykids/blog/whats_mouthing_and_its_role_in_feeding - Adriana Weisleder et al.;(2017); Talking to children matters: Early language experience strengthens processing and builds vocabulary
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5510534/ - Ann E. Bigelow et al.;(2020);To have and to hold: Effects of physical contact on infants and their caregivers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163638320301223 - Baby sign language: A helpful communication tool
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/baby_sign_language_a_helpful_communication_tool
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