Older Baby · Week 28 · Around 6–7 months
Your 28-Week-Old Baby
Mobility attempts begin around now — rocking, shuffling and reaching to explore — alongside more babble and busy hands at mealtimes.
Milestones describe common patterns, not deadlines. Every baby develops at their own pace.
Week 28 of 52
24 weeks until the first birthday
This shows time in the first year, not how your baby is developing.
This week at a glance
Movement
Rocks on hands and knees; may shuffle.
Communication
Babble strings; responds to their name.
Feeding
Textures expand; self-feeding begins.
Sleep
Two naps for many; regressions happen.
These are common patterns for this stage, not requirements for this exact week.
Track this week
Note what you have noticed so far. “Not yet” is completely normal.
Development and milestones
Movement
- Rocks on hands and knees
- Passes toys hand to hand
- Sits and pivots
Thinking and understanding
- Explores how things work
- Looks for dropped toys
Communication
- Babble with speech-like rhythm
- Responds to their name
Social and emotional development
- Stranger awareness
- Enjoys back-and-forth games
Crawling and first words appear across a broad range — not reaching them this week can be completely typical.
Feeding
Around 6 months is the usual window to add solids while breast milk or infant formula stays the main source of nutrition. Start small and follow your baby's interest.
- Look for readiness — steady head control, sitting with support, interest in food
- Offer simple iron-containing first foods (dal, khichdi, ragi, soft fruit)
- A few spoons once a day, building up gradually
- Continue breast milk or infant formula
- No honey and no added salt or sugar in the first year
- Introduce common allergens one at a time, per your paediatrician
Feeding safety
- Sit your baby upright and supervise every meal
- Offer soft, mashed or safely shaped foods
- Avoid whole nuts and hard, round foods
- Learn the difference between gagging (normal, noisy) and choking (silent)
Sleep
Common sleep pattern
Many babies around this age take two naps with a longer night sleep, though disruptions are common.
Why sleep may change
- Practising new skills like standing
- Separation anxiety
- Teething
- Nap transitions
What may help
- A predictable bedtime routine
- A calm, low-key response to night waking
- A consistent sleep environment
- Lowering the cot mattress once your baby pulls to stand
Safe sleep reminder
- Place your baby on their back to begin sleep
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface
- Keep pillows, bumpers, toys and loose bedding out of the cot
Play and activities
Reach and crawl
Supports: Whole-body strength
Place a toy just out of reach.
Safety: Clear the floor; supervise.
Container play
Supports: Fine motor
Drop blocks into a box and tip out.
Safety: Pieces too big to swallow.
Name games
Supports: Language
Say your baby's name and label objects.
Safety: Gentle repetition.
Textured foods
Supports: Feeding skills
Offer safe soft finger foods.
Safety: Supervise; safe shapes.
Babyproof before the next step
Mobility safety matters a lot at this stage. A quick sweep now keeps new skills safe.
- Anchor furniture and secure heavy screens
- Gate the top and bottom of stairs
- Cover electrical outlets and move cords out of reach
- Lock cupboards with medicines or chemicals
- Remove small choking hazards; pad sharp corners
- Check window and balcony safety
Growth
Growth is a pattern, not a weekly target.
What matters most
- Weight, length and head circumference tracked over time
- Whether your baby keeps following their own growth pattern
- Feeding, energy and overall wellbeing
- Any sudden change in the growth curve
Percentiles are read alongside the overall pattern — not used to diagnose on their own.
Vaccinations to check
There is no universal vaccine assigned solely to Week 28. What is due depends on several things, so check your baby's record rather than assuming a schedule.
What is due depends on:
- Previous doses already given
- The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) schedule
- The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) schedule
- Your state programme
- Your paediatrician's guidance
- Any catch-up requirements
If you are signed in with a baby profile, your next recorded vaccine appears on your dashboard. Always confirm timing with your paediatrician.
When to contact a doctor
Seek urgent medical care
- Breathing difficulty or blue lips/face
- A seizure or loss of consciousness
- Baby is very difficult to wake or unusually floppy
- A serious fall or head injury
- Signs of severe dehydration
- Persistent vomiting with a worsening condition
Discuss promptly with your paediatrician
- Not sitting with support
- Not babbling or responding to sounds
- Not reaching for or exploring objects
- Very stiff or very floppy muscle tone
- Loss of a previously acquired skill
Loss of a previously acquired skill should be discussed promptly.
ParentVibes offers general information, not medical advice or diagnosis. If you are worried, contact your doctor.
What comes next
Coming next: Week 29
In the coming week you may notice more of the patterns below as your baby grows — every baby at their own pace.
You may notice
- Crawling or pulling up to stand
- Waving or clapping for some babies
- Understanding a few familiar words
One safety reminder
Anchor furniture and secure heavy screens
One play idea
Place a toy just out of reach.
Free personalised timeline
Get guidance matched to your baby's exact age
Add your baby's date of birth to see personalised weekly milestones, growth guidance and vaccination reminders.
Free to use • Your information stays private
Helpful for this stage
Frequently asked questions
When do babies crawl?
Crawling often begins between 7 and 10 months, and some babies skip it. What matters is finding some way to move and explore.
How do I introduce finger foods safely?
Offer soft foods cut into safe shapes, sit your baby upright, supervise closely, and learn the difference between gagging and choking.
Is stranger anxiety normal now?
Yes — it's a normal, healthy sign of attachment. Calm, unpressured introductions help.
How much water can my baby have?
Once solids start, small sips of cooled boiled water with meals are generally fine, while breast milk or formula still provides most fluids. Check with your paediatrician if you're unsure.
Which foods should I avoid?
Avoid honey and added salt or sugar in the first year, and whole nuts or hard round foods. Introduce common allergens one at a time as your paediatrician advises.
When is the next vaccination?
Vaccination timing depends on your baby's record and the schedule your paediatrician follows. Check the immunisation card and confirm the next date with your clinic.
Sources & references
Formal milestone and safety guidance comes from the organisations below. Week-level framing is ParentVibes's editorial interpretation — none of these organisations publishes a specific “week 28” standard.
Infant and young child feeding
Supports: Feeding guidance incl. complementary feeding from ~6 months
Visit source →Learn the Signs. Act Early. — milestone checklists
Supports: Month-based milestone framework (not week-by-week)
Visit source →A parent's guide to safe sleep (HealthyChildren.org)
Supports: Safe sleep recommendations
Visit source →Baby — feeding, sleep and development
Supports: Feeding, sleep and baby-care guidance
Visit source →Indian Academy of Pediatrics — immunisation
Supports: Indian immunisation guidance
Visit source →Medically reviewed by Dr. Megha, MD, DNB (Paediatrics) · Last reviewed July 26, 2026
Reviewed for developmental, feeding, sleep and general-health accuracy. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your own paediatrician.
Read our editorial policy and medical disclaimer.