MONTH 6
Please
keep in mind that all babies are unique. Whether your
baby reaches milestones early or late, he has his
own developmental path to follow. The dividing lines
between these months are very fuzzy. If you have any
concerns or questions about your baby’s development,
please check with his health care provider.
Congratulations!
This
month you and baby celebrate the completion of six
exciting months. You are halfway to the big one! Take
some time to recognize how much you have learned about
caring for your child and how much your child has
learned too.
Fine Motor
It
is easy to notice baby’s big movements as he sits,
rolls over, and lifts his arms to be picked up. There
are some equally important smaller movements that
you may be observing too.
He
is learning how to use his fingers, individually and
together. He has already learned that they can be
used to bat at things, hold and shake different objects
and bring interesting toys to his mouth. Now, watch
as he learns they can be used as a tool to pick up
very small objects.
His
eyesight is now very sharp. He can see a raisin across
the floor. You may see him using his hand like a rake
over small objects. He may be trying to use his thumb
and second and third fingers together to pick up these
small objects -- developing his pincer grasp. Most
babies do not perfect this skill for a couple more
months, but this raises the topic of safety. You must
now be very careful of all small objects in his reach
and make the time to baby proof.
While
babies have perfected how to hold onto objects, they
are just learning about letting go. Maybe you’ve seen
your baby pick up an object and transfer it back and
forth from one hand to another. Again, manipulating
the fingers to maneuver small objects is a skill that
will continue to develop over the next few months.
Individual Interests
Some
babies are more interested in developing their larger
gross motor movements than in fine, smaller movements.
It is important to understand that babies are unique
individuals with their own preferences and interests.
This
is a time when it becomes very hard not to compare
what different babies around the same age are doing.
Some babies push themselves to move by creeping on
their bellies, even at this early age. Other babies
like to sit and observe. All babies at this age are
actively learning about what they can do with their
bodies, whether making a large movement or a small
one.
More Language
Many
babies start to babble around the sixth month. You
may even hear the long awaited, "mamamama" or "dadadada"
Often, baby says, "dadadada" first. It has no reflection
upon whether baby wants to acknowledge dad or mom
first. Baby will take his time trying to pronounce
a variety of different babbles. He’ll probably stick
with one set for awhile and then discover another.
Most
parents ask if baby is just making sounds or is he
calling out to dad or mom. He likely doesn’t make
the connection with the sound and the person just
yet, but keep responding and repeating these sounds
back. Pretty soon, he’ll be calling out for you, specifically
(hopefully not in the middle of the night!)
Bon
appetit!
If
baby is sitting in the high chair, this is a fun time
to take baby out to eat. It is very important to prepare
before going to the restaurant. Do your research.
Here are some tips from other experienced parents:
Choose
a restaurant that will seat you right away or takes
reservations Make sure they have high chairs available
Go early -- late dinners do not bode well for most
babies Consider a window seat or outside seating
People walking by or cars moving on the street make
great distractions for baby. A water feature, such
as a fountain, is ideal.
If baby is eating solids, have a selection ready as
soon as you sit down. A hungry baby and a long wait
for food do not mix. Finger foods (if appropriate)
often take up a nice chunk of time and keep baby happily
challenged using his fingers.
Remember, baby loves to grab interesting objects --
be careful of plates, utensils, salt and pepper shakers
and other items on the table. Consider the wait and
bus staff after the meal is over. If baby has really
gone to town and made a huge mess under the high chair,
either clean up as much as you can and/or tip big.
Signs of Food Allergies
This
month you may be continuing to offer baby a hodge-podge
of different solid foods or just beginning to offer
solid food. Many babies are not ready for solid food
until this month.
One
warning
-- if you have a family history of allergies or
if you notice any signs of food allergies, bring it
to the attention of your child’s healthcare provider.
For these children, you may want to wait on offering
solid foods until after six months. Symptoms include
congestion, stuffy noses, itchy eyes, rashes, and
diarrhea.
Offer
foods that are known to be the least allergenic, including
sweet potatoes, rice and barley cereal, and squash.
Avoid highly allergenic foods such as berries, dairy
products, chocolate, citrus fruits, egg whites, nuts,
shellfish and soy.
For
those parents with a family history of food allergies,
knowledge from experience is the best defense to prevent
allergies in a child.
![](/images/blank_spacer.gif"){kind=spacer}