What developmental ability should a nurse expect from a 6-month-old infant?

At 6 months of age, infants typically begin to exhibit early vocalization skills, which include babbling. This stage of development often includes the production of single consonant sounds, such as "b", "m", or "d", which marks a significant step in their language development. Babbling indicates that the infant is starting to experiment with their vocal cords and is mimicking the sounds they hear from their caregivers.

While some infants may exhibit various degrees of motor skills, they typically do not yet crawl with support at this age; many will still be mastering the ability to sit up or roll over. Walking independently is a milestone that generally occurs much later, around 12 months or older. The ability to use simple words, such as "mama" or "dada," typically develops around the age of 12 months as well. Thus, babbling using single consonants is the most accurate representation of a 6-month-old infant's developmental ability.