FirstWeeksYour baby at 26 weeks: half a year
Medically-informed · Sources: CDC · Updated June 2026
Happy half-birthday: the 6-month checkup, another vaccine round, and — with your pediatrician's go — the first spoon.
What’s happening
The 6-month milestones
Around now most babies know familiar people, love mirror games, take turns making sounds, roll both ways and sit with support or briefly alone.
First foods, calm version
Start with single-ingredient purees or soft mashed foods once a day; iron-rich options are commonly recommended first. One new food at a time, a few days apart, makes reactions easy to spot. Gagging looks scary and is commonly seen; it's the learning reflex — silent choking is the emergency.
Vaccine round three
Same expectations as before: a sleepy, clingy day is commonly seen. Comfort works.
What to do
- Do the first solids attempt on a calm morning, not vaccine day
- Learn infant choking first aid this week — 10 minutes that buy peace of mind
- Keep milk feeds unchanged for now
When to check in
Feeding reactions with hives, facial swelling, vomiting — call your pediatrician; struggling to breathe after food — 911.
This is exactly what FirstWeeks shows you — matched to your baby
Week 26 guidance, skills to watch, and answers that know your baby’s age and log.
