Your little love has grown significantly over the past six months–their skills growing even more impressive every day! New changes await your 6-month-old, from starting solid foods and practicing self-soothing to taking their first steps toward crawling. Enjoy this special time while it lasts! Here’s more info about their health and development this month.
Related Content: Milestones for 6-Month Old Baby
Six Month-Old Baby Nutrition After six months of exclusive breastfeeding or formula feedings, it’s finally time for solids. There are various strategies you can try when introducing solid foods: spoon-fed purees or baby-led weaning (BLW). But is your little one ready for avocado or banana? Here’s how you know.
How to know when it is appropriate for your baby to begin solid foods according to AAP:
Your 6 month-old has doubled their birthweight, they can hold their head up unsupported, and can sit securely in a high chair.
Your baby seems interested in watching you eat and may open their mouth if a spoon comes their way, yet breast milk or formula should still provide most of their calories; solid food should simply serve as an introduction. As they say: ‘Food before 1 is just for fun.”
AAP and La Leche League (LLL) both advise the following feeding plan and amounts for 6-month-old infants:
Solids should be fed 1 or 2 times each day and breast milk 6-8 ounces 4-5 hours apart and formula every 5-8 hours, read here: 6-month old baby feeding schedule and amounts
When offering solids to 6-month-old infants, these are the recommended serving sizes:
Infant cereal (single grain) mixed with breast milk or formula: 3 to 5 tablespoons for cereal-fed babies and fruits: 1-3 tablespoons, depending on weight of baby and duration of cereal feedings.
Vegetables: 1 to 2 tablespoons
Introduce new single-ingredient food groups every 3-5 days and observe any reactions or adverse responses. All recipes should contain no extra salt as too much can put strain on baby’s kidneys; and remember texture plays an essential part: soft foods should be chosen so your child can chew or gum them easily- no hard foods just yet!
Related Topic: Tips on Starting Solid Foods with your Baby Safely (and Deliciously!)
Note about rice cereal, puffs and teething crackers
FDA and CDC agencies both advise parents not to feed infants rice-based products due to contamination with arsenic, which has been found in rice baby foods and may harm developing brains more readily than higher concentrations of heavy metal toxins.
Lead, arsenic and other heavy metals such as cadmium have been discovered at high concentrations in some baby food purees–including homemade options–in baby food produced commercially or homemade by parents themselves. While heavy metals exist naturally in our environments, there are ways you can limit exposure for your children.
Related Article: 5 Tips on Producing Safe, Brain-Building Baby Food at Home
Weight and Length Chart for Babies Up to Two Years Its For babies up to two years of age, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests using World Health Organization weight and length charts.
The World Health Organization’s growth charts for infants aged 0-2 years reflect standards associated with being predominantly breastfed infants, the WHO stated. Their charts showed patterns among those who were breastfed for at least 4 months out of 12 and continued breastfeeding to 12 months old; American Academy of Pediatrics recommends continuing breastfeeding beyond two years as long as both mother and infant benefit equally from it.
What Do 6-Month Olds Weigh? Within six months of birth, your little one experienced rapid development; double their initial weight within that period! However, over the remaining half year that growth will slow; but still gain about one ounce per day (but continue growing of course!).
According to WHO standards, 6-month-old boys in the 50th percentile weigh 17 pounds 8 ounces (7.9 kilograms); 16 pounds 2 ounces (7.3 kilograms). What factors contribute to an infant weighing in this way at this stage?
Your baby’s weight could depend on many different factors including their milk consumption, assigned sex and activity level.
Birth Assigned Sexe: Male babies tend to gain weight faster than their female counterparts.
Daily Milk Intake: How much your baby consumes at each feeding can have an impactful influence on their weight gain.
Activity Levels: Your little one might now be rolling both directions, sitting unaided and actively exploring crawling – these behaviors all signal healthy progress for their bodies, contributing to overall weight. Physical activity helps build strong muscles and bones!
Related Activities for 6-Month Old Babies: Fostering Baby’s Development
- Month 6-Millet Baby Growth
In month six, babies can expect their bodies to change less dramatically but still gain about 1/2 to 3/4 inch (1 to 2 centimeters in length).
How Long Is an Average 6-Month Old Baby Boy/Girl bebelus According to WHO:
A six month-old male infant in the 50th percentile measures 26 1/2 inches long (67.3 cm), while girls reach their 50th percentile at 25 3/4 inches long (66, 7 cm).
What factors determine a 6-month-old’s length?
Your baby’s growth depends on many different variables, including family genes, nutrition, physical activity, sleep quality and the functioning of hormones that control growth. But one key influencer for length (height) tends to be hereditary: If both parents are tall, chances are their offspring will too be tall.
Since birth, your pediatrician has been charting your baby’s weight, length and head circumference on a growth chart (see examples below). Growth charts serve two functions – they track how quickly she or he has changed over time as well as compare it against that of similar aged babies.
Assume for instance that your baby falls within the 35th percentile for weight. That means 65% of other babies of their same age and gender weigh more; 35% do not. All babies develop at their own rate – whether in the 5th percentile or 95th.
WWHC Growth Charts provided by CDC show boys from birth through 24 months in terms of weight/length ratio.
WHO Growth Charts from CDC for girls between birth to 24 months with regard to weight-for-length.
Growth Spikes
Expect your six month-old to experience some significant developmental milestones this month; growth spurts are often linked with developmental milestones and may explain any increased hunger or fussiness they display at this age. Don’t be alarmed if their appetite or needs increase significantly from what is normal – these could well be signs that this month is set for growth spurts to accompany developmental milestones!
Growth spurts may result in extra crankiness and hunger; typically lasting several days up to several weeks, these episodes typically manifest themselves through extra crankiness and hunger.
At six months, babies may still require one nighttime feed but this could be an ideal opportunity to introduce self-soothing techniques if their night feed needs are increasing (otherwise than growth spurts).
At your baby’s 6-month well-check this month, ask their pediatrician if you can see their growth chart. A growth curve should be visible and their doctor should monitor whether your child is showing steady and sustained development over time – should there be any concerns, they’ll let you know!
At home, it’s also easy to keep tabs on your baby’s growth and development by noting any sudden stiff or flaccid movements or any failure to meet 6-month developmental milestones. If this is something that concerns you about your infant, be sure to notify their pediatrician as soon as possible.
As your 6-month-old develops and evolves, sleep changes should become noticeable. At around six months old, most babies officially transition to three naps daily and their natural rest consolidates, according to Rachel Mitchell of My Sweet Sleeper a sleep consultant and founder.
Baby sleep for infants under one year should still aim for 12-16 hours each 24 hour period, according to The Journal of Nature and Science of Sleep; in reality most six month old babies tend to average around 13-14 hour daily sleep duration.
What six month baby sleep looks like:
Your baby may be taking three naps per day and only waking once to feed at night, although some babies might take more than that.
Your little lovebug may need 1.5-2.75 hours of awake time each night before they fall back asleep; allow her to work on self-soothing techniques during this period rather than rush in (unless truly distressed ). Stay out for 1.5-2.75 hours during each feeding to allow enough time for this process.
Read: Does my 6-month-old need enough restful sleep to thrive?
Diapering a 6-Month Old
With your infant now increasing his or her food intake, diaper content should change accordingly. More fat and fiber might cause your little one’s stool to form differently–perhaps becoming firmer-textured–than usual; nonetheless, you should still expect around 5-8 wet diapers each day and at least one or more poops daily.
Missing two days typically isn’t cause for alarm; but if there’s cause for concern regarding stool frequency, checking with their pediatrician would probably do no harm in terms of mitigating potential constipation from worsening.
Caring for a 6-Month-Old Your 6-month old will undergo their 6-month well check this month, where they’ll receive another round of vaccinations similar to what was given at their 4-Month appointment. It is crucial that their immunization schedule stays on schedule so that their immunity against diseases like measles or diphtheria develops early on – before becoming vulnerable themselves and in need of medical help later in life.
Your 6-month-old will likely receive these vaccines during their checkup:
Hepatitis B (HepB), Rotavirus (RV), Diptheria Tetanus & Acellular Pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib) Pneumococcal conjugates PCV13/15) Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV), and Flu Vaccination (1 or 2 doses annually).
Covid vaccine (depending on type)
Related Topic: Need some clarification regarding Covid for kids? We’ve got answers here
Your infant becomes eligible to receive both the flu vaccine and Covid vaccine when they turn six months old, which are designed to prevent severe illness or hospitalization should they come down with any illness that requires hospitalization. For any questions or concerns regarding these vaccinations, speak with their pediatrician immediately.
Bathtime
Once they reach six months, now may be an opportune time to introduce soap into their bathtime regimen. With more movement and exploration occurring around this age and with increased dirtiness due to physical development and mobility, gentle soap will add fresh-and-clean appeal.
But daily baths still aren’t required: according to the AAP’s recommendation of no more than three baths each week in their first year and keeping bathtime short–just 10-15 minutes is ideal if your toddler enjoys them before bedtime! Bath time may provide both you and your little one a relaxing wind-down before sleeptime!
From their first toothbrush, coughs and sniffles to general safety concerns, here is everything a 6-month-old needs to know when caring for themselves.
Tooth Brushing Have You Seen Baby’s First Tooth Show Up Yet? Once baby’s first tooth breaks through, it is important to establish an oral hygiene routine using baby-safe toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste (use an amount equivalent to the size of one grain of rice until 3 years old), brush twice per day after breakfast and before bed (at least six months post tooth appearance is ideal) in order to build strong oral habits well into adulthood! As per AAP recommendation, initial dentist visits for all children must occur either within six months post emergence – either one year post tooth eruption!
Colds and Illness Most children experience eight to 10 colds by age 2, which may seem overwhelming at first; once your little one begins daycare it could feel even worse! Rest assured, though; most colds go away or resolve without complications later; simply follow your pediatrician’s advice when illness strikes to keep your little one comfortable, well hydrated, and rested.
Babies under six months are particularly curious of their environment and, with newly developed gross and fine motor skills (sitting up, rolling over) as well as advanced hand-eye coordination (passing objects from hand to hand, and placing objects in their mouth), may reach for items they shouldn’t. Safety-first
Parents need to be more cautious with how they manage safety when caring for a baby,” according to Ben Levinson, MD of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s primary care pediatrics service and primary care pediatrician of Verywell Family. Don’t leave babies on changing tables or beds where they could roll-off; and watch out for harmful objects being put in their mouth at this age.” Baby can put everything they find into their mouth – beware poisonous objects!
Baby gates, play yards and closely monitored playtime may prove invaluable at this stage.
Allowing your baby to explore safely while remaining secure is of utmost importance.
As Motherly suggests in their article about caring for a 6-month-old, self-care can sometimes feel bittersweet as your infant transitions from newborn to active six month-old status; packing away those cute onesies and toys that were part of their newborn phase is bittersweet; yet there can also be immense pleasure and satisfaction from welcoming in this new era of exploration and engagement can bring incredible rewards; hopefully by now nighttime sleep has improved, which makes caring for an infant much simpler! And remember if any difficulties arise that therapy or medications could provide help- postpartum depression may strike anytime within 12 months post birth–help is available if necessary!