Your 6-month-old: A Real Talker

Those sounds will soon mean something!

Your 6-month-old baby lays the groundwork for speech with every sound she makes. Keep talking with your baby this month. Also, baby is becoming more aware of you as a separate person. A good way to help calm her fear of being alone is by playing peekaboo.

Your Baby: Exploring in Month 6

Learn what baby’s up to now!

Every baby develops on a different schedule, but by the end of month six, your baby will likely be able to do the following:

• Sit up without support.
• Begin to explore objects by putting them in her mouth.
• Pick up things by “raking” them with her fingers. (Be even more careful about what you leave around the house.)

Time to Start Solids?

The first foods to try with baby at six months.

Check with your baby’s health care provider to determine if you should start introducing solid foods at six months. When you do begin feeding your baby solid foods, do so gradually and one at a time to check for allergic reactions. If your baby has a severe reaction to a specific food, contact your health care provider.

Here are a few foods to consider when your baby is 6 months old, in addition to breast milk or baby formula:

• Iron-fortified cereals (rice, barley, oats)
• Pureed or strained fruits (bananas, pears, applesauce, peaches)
• Pureed or strained vegetables (avocados, well-cooked carrots, squash, sweet potatoes)

It’s Nap Time!

How much sleep does your baby need at 6 months old?

• Once your baby is 6 months old, she’ll probably be sleeping through the night. But she might occasionally wake up during the night.
• At this age, if baby still wakes up several times a night, talk with your health care professional about possible causes and solutions.
• During the day, your baby will be wide awake and active for extended periods, and she should be taking two or three short naps totaling three to four hours