What milestones should a 5-month-old have?

Most babies do these by 4 months (CDC): Smiles on their own to get your attention · chuckles when you try to make them laugh · looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get your attention · coos ("oooo", "aahh") · makes sounds back when you talk · turns head toward your voice · opens mouth when hungry and seeing breast or bottle · looks at their hands with interest · holds head steady without support · holds a toy placed in their hand · swings arm at toys · brings hands to mouth · pushes up onto elbows when on tummy.

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Month 5 of 12 · Window 3 · Grabbing everything

Your 5-month-old baby: milestones and what to expect

Five months is the grabbing era: everything within reach heads to the mouth, because that is how babies explore now. Rolling may start changing sleep positions, and the first raspberry is usually blown this month, to great acclaim.

Checked against CDC, NHS and AAP guidance · how we fact-check

Most babies do these by 4 months (CDC)

What most babies this age can do

Social & emotional: Smiles on their own to get your attention · chuckles when you try to make them laugh · looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get your attention.

Language & communication: Coos ("oooo", "aahh") · makes sounds back when you talk · turns head toward your voice.

Movement & thinking: Opens mouth when hungry and seeing breast or bottle · looks at their hands with interest · holds head steady without support · holds a toy placed in their hand · swings arm at toys · brings hands to mouth · pushes up onto elbows when on tummy.

The next official CDC checklist is at 6 months — between checklists, babies work on these same skills at their own pace.

What you might notice

A fussy cluster was described around week 17. Expect everything to head for the mouth: that's how babies explore now, per the CDC's own milestone list. Rolling can start changing sleep positions, and turn-taking "conversations" of sounds begin.

What can help this month

Mouthing everything is exploration, not a habit to break: keep reachable areas clear of small or unsafe objects instead of fighting it. Offer toys with different textures and shapes. Once rolling starts, never leave your baby unattended on a changing table, sofa, or bed, even for a second.

And you: You will be repeating yourself and picking things up off the floor a lot. That is the job right now, not a sign you are failing. Small breaks still count.

Talk with your pediatrician if…

Talk with your doctor

Your baby is missing one or more of the milestones above by 6 months, or has lost skills they once had. That is the CDC's own advice: don't wait, talk with the doctor and ask about developmental screening. And if you're simply worried, that's reason enough to call.

Coming up: after this window comes "on the move" (weeks 26 to 39). No deadlines — windows.

Week by week, if you want the detail

This month roughly covers week 18 · week 19 · week 20 · week 21 · week 22. Each page has that week's specifics on your baby's calendar.

Want the personal version?

This page covers what's typical at 5 months in general. For your own baby's map — including adjusted age for premature babies — run the free forecast.

See my baby's exact forecast

Sources: CDC milestone checklists (2022 revision) · Zubler et al., Pediatrics 2022 · van de Rijt-Plooij & Plooij, 1992 (via KNAW review) · Sadurní & Rostan, 2002. Timing varies a lot between babies — windows, not deadlines.