How to Care for a Baby when They Reach Six Months Old

If you are a first time mother, you may not know what to expect from month to month. Once your baby gets passed their first four months they begin to do new things. They begin to eat some baby food. They make more noises, and they even roll over. With each new step comes new challenges for mom and dad. This article will help you care for your baby when they reach their six month birthday and begin to reach new milestones in their development.

You will need:

Formula or breastmilk
Baby cereal
Baby food stage 1
Diapers
Diaper cream
Baby Orajel
Playpen
Books

Follow these steps:

Step 1:
Change your baby's diapers as usual, but monitor them for a rash. If they have a rash you will want to use a diaper cream such as Balmex. Babies around the age of six months begin to teeth. This can sometimes cause low grade fevers and diarrhea which causes rashes.

Step 2:
Have a tube of Orajel handy. If you see your baby is biting on a lot of things you should check to see if any teeth are coming in. The Orajel for babies is a great product to help your baby with the pain. You may also want to buy some teething rings which are better for your baby to bite on instead of regular toys.

Step 3:
Continue giving your baby formula as they require it for one full year. You should have already begun to give your baby cereal (rice, oatmeal, barley). At four months you should have introduced vegetable baby food, which means at six months you are now ready to introduce fruit. Remember to give one fruit at a time for a few days to make sure your baby isn't allergic to any specific fruit. Then move on to the next one.

Step 4:
Keep your six month old in a playpen when you can't supervise them. This is the age that babies begin to crawl and roll around. You don't want them to get hurt. You may not be ready for baby gates yet, but you will need a playpen to keep them safe when you are not looking.

Step 5:
Make some play dates for your baby. Now is the time to begin socializing your baby so that she learns how to share her toys and get along with other children. If you don't have any friends with small babies then go to your local park and meet some new moms.

Step 6:
Show your baby plenty of love and attention. Remember that six month old babies still need reassurance from their parents and that this is the age where they sometimes begin to cling to you. The more love you show your child, the more they may feel it is safe to be with other adults.

Step 7:
Introduce books to your six month old and read to him a few times per day. At this age television should be limited and looking at books should be encouraged. You may want to see if your local library has a weekly story time for kids and begin taking your baby to that.

Tips and Warnings:
Consider teaching your six month old sign language. This is the age your baby will be able to begin picking it up. It will give your baby a way to communicate with you when he wants something.

Make sure your floors are clear of any small objects that your baby could pick up and choke on. Always check for lose change, or an older sibling's small toy before placing your baby down.