Your Baby At Six Months
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Can’t believe that half a year has passed! You’re probably going to survive this parenting business after all.
Little Bubba or Bubbette should certainly be sleeping all night every night by this time. If not, it is of utmost importance to get this little one back on the right track to save your sanity. If sleeping is still a problem, please ask for help regarding this.
Six Month Old Feedings
By six months if you haven’t already started with some solid food, it’s time to give it a try. Begin with some rice cereal: offer him a spoonful and see what happens. If he spits it out and gives you an evil look then wait a few days and try it again. But if he gobbles it all up, feed him until he refuses to eat any more.
Once he’s a pro at feeding once a day, go to two feedings a day. Then when he’s a pro at two feedings a day with the rice cereal go ahead and add fruits and vegetables at your discretion, but remember to go cautiously with the advancement of feedings.
Meats may be started at 7-9 months. At this age eggs should still be avoided due to the high protein content and the inherent problem with food allergies and rashes.
Of course, juices are acceptable as in-between meal fillers, but do not let that be the majority of their fluid intake. They should still be taking formula through the age of twelve months.
When the little monger is closer to seven or eight months old and has an insatiable interest in what you’re eating at the table, toss a bite of your food on his tray and see what he does with it. (Stand back!) Examples would be pizza crust, bread sticks, a piece of macaroni, a small chunk of baked potato, a corner of your roll, etc. Be sure and stay within easy attendance of the baby in case there is a problem with choking during these feedings.
Development At Six Months
At six months, your baby is continuing to do lots of new things. Rolling over both ways and scooting around should be old hat by now for most babies. Some babies are finding their way to their hands and knees in a crude attempt to begin to crawl but are usually unsuccessful. Frequently at this age a baby will begin to be able to sit upright either with or without support.
Language development includes a lot of babbling and possible mimicking some sounds. The most important thing to remember is that each baby is an individual and all individuals are different, so do not compare this baby with an older child of yours or with anyone else’s baby. If there’s a question about development please talk to us.
Six Month Old Shots
Today should mark the third DtaP and an oral polio vaccine. Again, there should be no reaction. Call us if there arise any concerns.
Illnesses
A word about ear infections: No, all babies do not receive PE tubes for ear infections and all babies do not get ear infections. This is probably contrary to what you have heard in your neighborhood or play group.
Frequently, ear infections accompany colds or upper respiratory illnesses and may be persistent and difficult to clear, but usually are of brief nature. If your baby seems unusually irritable following a cold, stays up all night crying, or begins running fever with a cold, it probably warrants an examination. Otherwise, “ride it out” or “let it run its course.”
Please consult our yellow Pediatric Handbook for more information regarding common illnesses and recommendations for handling these problems.
What's Next?
We will see you at nine months. No shots are due at nine months.