Baby Feeding at Month 6:
Breast milk or formula is still the primary source of nutrition for your baby at six months. A breastfeeding baby will eat 5-6 times a day. Formula-fed babies, on the other hand, will eat 24-32 ounces (6-8 ounces every feeding) each day.
For babies who have already started to eat solid foods, they will eat 4-9 tablespoons of fruit, cereal, or vegetable in 24 hours-spread over two to three meals. The kid can also have 1-6 tablespoons of protein each day.
Sleeping Schedule at Month 6
At six months of age, your baby is likely to sleep for about 14 to 15 hours a day, including two or three naps. Each nap takes two to three hours.
At night, your baby is likely to sleep between six to eight hours, uninterrupted.Other kids, however, wake up one or two times a night to eat.
Physical Growth and Appearance on the 6th Month
Your baby will have doubled their birth weight by the 6th month. In the 6th month, your child will still grow at the same rate as in the previous months- they will gain about 1 to 1 ½ lbs. Their head circumference will also increase by ½ an inch.
Your baby will also start teething at this age, beginning with the two bottom front teeth. However, a baby can start teething as early as four months or as late as 12 months.
The basic signs that your baby is teething are;
- Swollen gums
- Chewing on solid items
- Crankiness
- Drooling
- Sleeping difficulties
- Sore and red gum when a tooth is coming out
- A rash on the cheek
- Rubbing ear or ears
- Have one flushed cheek
Associated Movement
Your baby’s progressive movement means your baby movement increases and improves.
They can now explore their environment and body more because of their improved hand control that increases their flexibility.
Your baby will also acquire a Tripod-sitting position (hunched-over) but they can sit upright by the end of the 6th month.
Your baby will also discover their toes if they have not already. Their flexible limbs will help them to bring the toes to the mouth for exploration.
Your 6 month old will also pick up and drop objects because of their enhanced hand control.
Sensory Development
Your baby’s senses are as developed as yours in the sixth month.
Vision
Your baby has a more clearly focused vision, enabling them to track a falling object quite smoothly. Your 6 -month old can also now gaze across a room because they can now sit upright. The increased depth perception and the ability to look across supports their learning to eat solids. Your baby will also have an increased visual curiosity.
Hearing
Your baby’s hearing has developed greatly at the age of 6 months- your child responds quickly to sound by turning their heads towards the direction of a sound. Others babies can also differentiate between male and female voices.
Touch
Your baby’s touch senses are also at the peak at the 6th month. They use touch to explore their genitals, toes, nose, cheeks, ears, and other parts of the body.
Mental Development
At 6 months, your baby’s mental growth progresses, allowing them to start storing their experiences. Your child can now distinguish different textures. They also begin understanding that moving particular muscles yield certain visual results through the combination of sensory, motor, and mental skills.
Playing also becomes serious at this age because it stimulates their senses. Mimicking games, for example, helps your infant’s mental development because they nudge them to copy your facial expressions and the sounds of your voice.
Your baby may also begin babbling by repeating one or more syllables over and over, enhancing the memory.
Social Development
Six months old babies enjoy playing with you and other familiar individuals as a form of socialization. Indulging in play at this age is critical because it is the foundation of your baby’s communication.
Your baby may also need more attention from you at this age than in their newborn phase because they need stimulation. Your playing with them meets their stimulation wants and needs.
Vaccinations for Baby at Month 6:
According to the CDC, all 6 month old babies must receive vaccines against the following diseases;
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis)(DTAP)- 3rd dose
- Polio (IPV) (3rd dose)
- Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (3RD dose)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (3rd dose)
- Rotavirus (RV)-3rd dose
- Influenza (Flu)-every year
Sixth Month Milestones
- Your baby has a good head control
- Most babies respond to their names at six months
- Learning to feed themselves
- They bring toys to their mouth
- Continue to explore with their mouths
- They can roll both ways
- Learning how to sit down independently
- They pick toys with both hands
- They could transfer objects from one hand to another
- They look for dropped toys briefly
- Mimic and share your emotions
- They can distinguish between self and others
- They repeat single sounds. Others can also combine sounds
- Explore their bodies
- They giggle and laugh