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7 Month Old Baby: Milestones, Sleep and Feeding
Your 7 month old baby: sitting, passing toys, babbling, first finger foods and the first signs of separation anxiety.
Before you use this guide: Every baby grows and develops at their own pace, and healthy babies vary a lot. Weights are WHO medians at the start of the month, not targets. If your baby was born early, use their corrected age. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment.
How your baby is developing
Seven months is often the time when sitting becomes steady. Many babies can sit alone for a while, which frees their hands to play. They pass toys from one hand to the other, bang objects together and are fascinated by cause and effect, such as dropping a toy to see what happens.
Babbling grows into longer strings, like “bababa” and “dadada”, though not yet with meaning. Your baby may respond to their name, and may begin to notice who is a stranger. Some babies start to rock on hands and knees, getting ready to crawl, while others stay happy sitting.
Milestones to look for
These are skills that many babies show around this age. Some will come earlier and some later, and missing one is not usually a cause for worry.
- Sits without support, or with very little
- Passes toys from one hand to the other
- Rolls both ways, and may rock on hands and knees
- Babbles with strings of consonant sounds
- Responds to their own name
- Shows interest in food, and tries finger foods
- May show worry around unfamiliar people
Feeding
- Milk is still your baby's main source of nutrition, with solid foods building up gradually. Many babies are having two or three small meals a day by now.
- Offer a variety of tastes and textures, including soft finger foods and lumpier mashes, because moving on from smooth purées helps your baby learn to chew.
- Include iron-rich foods every day, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils and iron-fortified cereal.
- Offer small sips of water from an open or free-flow cup with meals.
- A gagging reaction is common as babies learn to manage food and is not the same as choking. Learn the difference, and stay with your baby at every meal.
Sleep
- Two or three naps a day is typical, with wake windows of about two to three hours.
- Sleep can be disturbed by teething, new skills and the start of separation anxiety.
- A predictable bedtime routine helps a lot. Keep it short and calm.
- Continue to place your baby on their back to sleep, even if they roll over afterwards.
See our wake windows by age guide and the rules in our safe sleep guide.
Play and learning
- Give your baby safe things to bang, drop and pass between their hands.
- Play simple hiding games with a cloth.
- Read picture books, and let your baby touch and turn the pages.
- Sit on the floor with your baby and play at their level.
Keeping your baby safe
- Your baby is about to become much more mobile, so start baby-proofing now. Fit stair gates, cover sockets and secure furniture.
- Choking is a real risk, so avoid whole nuts, whole grapes, hard raw vegetables, popcorn and chunks of apple.
- Never leave your baby alone in a high chair, in the bath or on a raised surface.
- Walkers are not recommended and are banned in some countries.
Looking after yourself
Separation anxiety may begin, and it can be tough when your baby cries as soon as you leave the room. It is a sign of attachment and a normal stage.
Take care of yourself. If you are back at work, building in time for rest and connection can make a big difference.
When to ask for help
Talk to your health visitor or doctor if your baby is not sitting with support, does not reach for or hold objects, does not respond to sounds or to people, has very stiff or very floppy limbs, loses skills they had, or if you are concerned about how they are feeding or growing. Seek urgent help if they are choking, have difficulty breathing or have a reaction to food.
Trust your instincts. If you are worried about your baby at any age, contact your doctor, health visitor or local emergency number.
Born early? Our corrected age calculator shows the age to use when you look at milestones.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own doctor or health visitor.
- CDC: Helping babies sleep safely — Safe sleep environment recommendations for babies.
- NHS: Early days — Newborn checks, feeding, and support during the first days.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.