BRIAN W. CARLSON, M.D.
Intermountain Logan Clinic
412 North 200 East
Logan, UT 84321
(435) 713-2800
WELL CHILD CARE AT 6 MONTHS
Feeding
Hopefully your baby is already eating and liking cereal. You can now start your infant on
baby foods. Begin with vegetables and then add fruits. Start one new food at a time and
introduce a new food every 3-4 days. Use a spoon to feed your baby solid foods, not a
bottle or infant feeder. Check food temperatures carefully, especially if foods have been
heated in the microwave. Do not give foods that require chewing. Do not start meats
until your baby is 8-9 months old and hold off on eggs until age 12 months. Avoid foods
on which a child might choke (candy, hot dogs, peanuts, etc.) Your baby should continue
having breast milk or infant formula until he is 1 year old. Your baby may be ready for a
sippy-cup. Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. Prolonged bottle use, especially at
night will lead to tooth decay and may cause ear infections. Fluoride supplementation is
recommended at this age to prevent cavities if you live in an area where fluoride is not
added to the water.
Development
At this age babies are usually rolling over and beginning to sit by themselves. Babies
squeal, babble, laugh and often cry very loudly (especially when left alone in a room).
Be patient with your baby and continue to meet your baby’s needs quickly. Your baby
will start putting everything in their mouth and may cut a tooth soon. Infants at this age
like to roll a ball back and forth, take out toys from a bucket and play with noisy toys or
pots and pans.
Sleep
Six month olds may not want to be put in bed. Your baby may still wake up during the
middle of the night at this age. A favorite blanket or stuffed animal may make bedtime
easier. Do not put a bottle in the bed with your baby. Develop a bedtime routine and be
calm and consistent with your baby each night. Put your baby to bed awake, but drowsy.
This pattern helps your baby to learn to fall asleep on their own.
Safety
It is time to start baby proofing the house. Put up all poisons, cleaning agents, and
medicines. Install safety latches on cabinets. Don’t leave baby alone. If you can’t watch
the baby, put him in the crib or playpen. Keep all small objects out of reach. Don’t hold
the baby while cooking or drinking hot liquids, they are too active and may get burned.
Turn the water heater down to 120 º F to avoid scalds. Do not use a walker (Exersaucers
are OK). Put gates on the stairs and cover unused electrical outlets with plastic covers.
Immunizations
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)
Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B)
Hepatitis B
Polio
Pneumococcal
Rotavirus
Some of these vaccines are mixed together in the same shot, so your baby will not have 5
shots; and the rotavirus vaccine is given orally. You should have received a vaccine
information sheet on each of these immunizations at a previous visit. If you need another
copy please ask for one, we would be happy to give you this more detailed information.
Your baby may run a fever and be irritable for the first day after getting shots. Your baby
may also have some soreness, redness, and swelling where the shots were given.
Acetaminophen drops (Tylenol) can be given every 4 to 6 hours to help with the fever
and irritability. Ask your doctor how much Tylenol to give your infant. Please let us
know if your child has a fever that lasts more than 36 hours or if there is any other
reaction besides fever and mild irritability.
Next Visit
Your baby’s next routine visit should be at the age of 9 months. There are no scheduled
immunizations at this visit but if your child is behind on shots this will be a good chance
for them to get caught up. Please bring your immunization card with you each time so
we can keep it up to date.
Updated 7/2008