By 6 months, what ability should an infant demonstrate in terms of gross motor skills?

At 6 months of age, infants typically exhibit notable development in their gross motor skills, primarily characterized by their ability to roll from back to front and to begin to hold a bottle. Rolling over is a significant milestone that reflects their increasing muscle strength, coordination, and control. By this age, many infants are able to roll in both directions, though rolling from back to front is more commonly expected around this time.

Holding a bottle demonstrates their developing hand-eye coordination and the ability to manipulate objects, which are crucial skills as they progress with their motor development.

In contrast, rolling from front to back tends to occur earlier, while cruising—walking while holding onto furniture—does not typically occur until around 9 months of age. Furthermore, standing without support is generally achieved later, around 10 to 12 months. Consequently, the ability to roll from back to front and hold a bottle at 6 months closely aligns with developmental milestones observed in infants at that age.