5 months old: grabbing everything
Babies grab and mouth objects and may roll both ways.
- Age
- 5 months
- Sleep in 24 hours
- 12–16 hours
- Immunisations
- None due this month
Development
Babies grab and mouth objects and may roll both ways.
Sleep and feeding
Watch for signs of readiness for solids: good head control, interest in food and sitting with support.
Looking after you
Keep small objects and button batteries well out of reach.
This month’s to-do list
- Baby-proof the floor area
Common questions
How much should a 5-month-old sleep?
Most babies this age sleep about 12–16 hours in 24 hours, including naps. Every baby is different.
Are vaccines due at 5 months?
No National Immunisation Program vaccines are scheduled at 5 months. The next are at 6 months.
All 12 months
Useful tools
SleepBaby routine trackerKeep feeds, sleep and nappy changes together.FeedingAllergen introduction trackerLog peanut, egg and other first tries.DevelopmentMilestone journalNote the firsts in a private, printable journal.
Related guides
Health & safetyIntroducing allergy foods to your babyWhen and how to offer peanut, egg and other common allergy foods.NewbornBaby sleep routines by age: realistic expectationsSleep needs and settling patterns change as babies develop. Keep expectations flexible.Health & safetyFever in babies and children: when to see a doctorWhat counts as a fever, when it is urgent and how to keep your child comfortable.Health & safetySafe sleep: the guidelines in plain EnglishSix simple steps that lower the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.