• Most babies have doubled their birth weight, and growth will begin to slow down.
• If you haven’t already, it’s time to introduce solids. Check out our printable PDF that can give you a guideline to starting solids.
• Signs that your baby may be ready for solids are: Sits with support, good head and neck control, interest in
  the foods you eat, opens mouth for a spoon.
• starting with iron-fortified single-grain cereal or puréed meat. (see Solid Foods Guide)
• Let your doctor know if your baby has had any reactions (such as throwing up, diarrhea, or a rash) to a new
  food. Breast milk and formula still provide most of your baby’s nutrition.
• You may notice a change in your baby’s poopy diapers after you introduce solids. The color and consistency
  may vary depending on what your baby eats. Let your doctor know if stools become hard, dry, or difficult to
  pass or if your baby has diarrhea.

Breast Feeding

• If you are still breastfeeding, continue as long as you both like.

Formula Feeding

• If you are formula feeding, continue.

• At 6 months, infants sleep about 12 to 16 hours per day, including two or three daytime naps. Most babies
  sleep for a stretch of at least 6 hours at night.
• Now is a good time to lower baby’s mattress all the way.
• Between 6 and 9 months, babies who previously slept through the night may start waking up. Allow some
  time for your baby to settle back down. If fussiness continues, offer reassurance that you’re there, but try not
  to pick up, play with, or feed baby.

BACK-TO-SLEEP

(guidelines for reducing the risk of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

• Always place baby to sleep on his/her back
• In your room in a bassinet or crib not in your bed
• In crib which meets current safety standards: Bars should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Allow no more than a width of 2 adult fingers between the crib mattress and frame. For full crib safety and standards visit www.cpsc.gov
• Use a firm mattress without any bumpers, blankets, quilts, pillows, plush toys, ribbons or ties
• Avoid overheating by keeping the room temperature comfortable
• Consider putting your baby to sleep sucking on a pacifier

General Care

• Notice what helps to calm your baby: patting, rocking, talking, going for walks, sucking fingers or pacifier, etc.
• Continue routines for feeding, sleeping, bathing and playing daily.
• Keep baby out of the sun (sunscreen is not recommended before 6 months old).

Healthy Teeth

• You may notice more teeth beginning to erupt in baby’s mouth. If your baby has pain, use a cold teething
  ring. Talk to your doctor before giving acetaminophen for pain.
• Continue to clean baby’s gums and teeth as soon as you see the first tooth. Use a soft cloth or toothbrush
  with a small smear (size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste.
• Do not give a bottle in bed or prop the bottle
• Have regular times for baby to eat. Do not let him/her eat all day.

• Place baby so he/she is sitting up and can look around.
• Talk with your baby.
• Read books together.
• Play interactive games such as peekaboo and patty cake. Name baby’s features as you touch them (Ex.
  hand, nose, ears, mouth, etc).
• Encourage active play: Offer child-safe mirror, floor gyms and colorful age-appropriate toys.
• Limit screen time for your baby; TV, videos, etc. aren’t recommended for babies this young.

By 6 months, it’s common for many babies to:

• look up when their name is called
• say “ba,” “da,” and “ga” and start to babble (“babababa”)
• Reach for and grasp objects
• Use the fingers to rake and pick up objects
• pass an object from one hand to the other
• roll over both ways (back to front, front to back)
• sit with support

     * All babies develop at different rates, and meet developmental milestones differently.

Car Safety

• Visit healthychildren.org for complete car seat guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
• Make sure car seat is installed correctly (the Fire Department will check car seats for correct installation)
• Make sure seat is rear-facing in the back seat, and never in the front seat with a passenger side airbag
• Never leave baby alone in the car
• Always wear a seat belt, and do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Child Safety Seat Inspection:
1-866-SEATCHECK (732-2432) or www.seatcheck.org

General Safety

• Do not smoke/vape or allow others to smoke/vape around baby
• Do not leave baby unattended
  • Never leave a baby alone with siblings or pets, in the bath, on a changing table, or any other raised surface.
• Make sure your home’s water temperature is set to below 120º F
• Do not carry or drink hot liquids while holding baby
• Test baby’s formula temperature with your wrist
• Keep small objects such as balloons, bags, toys from other children away from baby.
• Never feed baby hard pieces of food such as raw carrots, hot dogs, grapes, apples, peanuts, and popcorn.
• Do not use a baby walker as they are more likely to cause accidents.
• The kitchen is a dangerous place. Avoid letting baby crawl in kitchen by using a playpen or high chair.
• Place gates on stairs, and close doors to rooms where baby might get hurt.
• Don’t leave hot irons or hair care appliances plugged in.
• Never feed baby hard pieces of food such as raw carrots, hot dogs, grapes, apples, peanuts, and popcorn.
• Lock up all cleaning cleaning supplies, medicine, an poisons. Call Poison Help if your baby eats them.

• Always follow the advice of your doctor when giving any medication.
• Use our Medication Dosing Chart as a guideline for the appropriate dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or
  Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) to give baby.