Your baby is 6 months old now and has completed half-a-year, something you and your family must rejoice. The journey so far has not been easy, but things do get easier in some aspects as your baby grows and starts getting independent. This is also the time for your baby’s 6 month checkup. This visit consists of usual check-in with developmental milestones, a couple of vaccines, and any more doubts you may need to clear with the doctor.
The sixth month is vital in a baby’s life because this is the time when you will start your baby with solids. Many families plan their baby’s rice feeding ceremony or Annaprasanna. During this visit, you can check with your doctor on what foods you can feed your baby and how you can plan your baby’s solids too.
In This Article
- What Can You Expect From a Baby’s 6 Month Physical Checkup?
- Developmental Milestones Expected From a Six Month Old Baby
- List of Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in Sixth Month Checkup
- List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What Can You Expect From a Baby’s 6 Month Physical Checkup?
During the sixth month baby well checkup, the doctor will take quick physical measurements of your baby and understand your baby’s development patterns. If everything is satisfactory then your doctor will provide you with a diet chart for your baby as from now on you will have to introduce solids to your baby.
Your doctor will give you advice on how to cook food for your baby and how to offer it to them safely. The doctor will also give you tips on avoiding choking hazards while feeding your baby. They can also ask you a few questions to get more information about your baby’s growth and development. These will include
- Is your baby rolling back and forth on its own?
- Is your baby sitting on its own?
- Has your baby started teething?
- How long does your baby sleep at night?
- Does your baby roll from back to front while sleeping?
[Read : Infant Choking]
Developmental Milestones Expected From a Six Month Old Baby
Based on the data from CDC(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), here are some of the developmental milestones expected from a six month old baby:
- Differentiating between known faces and unknown faces.
- The baby will smile at familiar faces whereas cry or get fussy with unknown faces
- Making loud laughs
- Interacting with itself while looking at the mirror or mirror playing
- Making sounds with you in return
- Blowing “raspberries” or blowing air with the tongue outside
- Making shrill squealing sounds
- Babbling at first vowel sounds and then consonant sounds
- Trying to reach for objects
- Trying to grab and put objects in the mouth
- Holding a feeding bottle while drinking milk or water
- Rolling from tummy to back in both directions
- Sitting with or without support
- Trying to stand on your lap when you hold them
- Leaning on hands for support while sleeping
- Pushing up straight with hands while trying to crawl
- Playing with and sucking toes
Again, these developmental milestones can occur fast or slowly depending on each baby. Guide and assist your baby in achieving these milestones. Play with your baby as much as possible to make them active. Build a safe playing zone on the floor by using blankets and cushions so that your baby can crawl and explore.
[Read : When Do Babies Sit Up Without Support?]
List of Vaccines Your Baby Might Get in Sixth Month Checkup
During the sixth-month baby well checkup, your baby will get the third dose of the important vaccines they get before. The vaccines your baby will get during this visit include
1. TVC (Typhoid) Vaccine
This is a compulsory vaccine for babies and protects babies from the dangerous typhoid infection. TVC is a single-dose vaccine.
2. Influenza
This is an optional flu vaccine for babies. You can give your baby this vaccine after due consultation with your pediatrician. Do remember that once your baby is given this vaccine, the follow-up dose 2 influenza vaccine must be given exactly after a month without fail for the vaccine to be fully effective.
[Read : Flu Shots for Babies]
List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Questions you must ask the doctor during the 6th-month baby checkup are
- What type of solid food do I need to provide to my baby from now on?
- What food should I avoid giving to my baby?
- When can I start giving finger food to my baby?
- What sort of games should I play with my baby to develop their senses and motor skills?
- What to do if my baby shows allergic reactions to a certain food?
- Should I go for baby-led weaning?
- What vitamin supplements do I need to continue further as my baby starts on solids?
- How can I make sure that my baby is getting enough nutrients?
- Is it safe for my baby to sleep on the tummy as now he/she can roll?
Your doctor will advise you to continue breastfeeding apart from giving pureed solid food to your baby. And by the time you come for the 9-month baby checkup, you will get used to the whole procedure.
