Your Child's Checkup: 6 Months

Your Child's Checkup: 6 Months

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What to Expect During This Visit

Your doctor and/or nurse will probably:



Feeding. If you haven't already, it's time to introduce solids, starting with iron-fortified single-grain cereal or puréed meat. Let your doctor know if your baby has had any reactions to a new food (bloating or gas, vomiting or diarrhea, fussiness, rash). Breast milk and formula still provide most of your infant's nutrition.

Peeing and pooping. You may notice a change in your baby's poopy diapers once you introduce solids. The color and consistency may vary depending on what your baby eats. Let your doctor know if stools become hard, dry, or difficult to pass or if your baby has diarrhea.

Sleeping. At 6 months, infants average about 14 hours of sleep per day, including two or three daytime naps. Most babies this age usually "sleep through the night" for a stretch of at least 6 hours.

Developing. By 6 months, it's common for many babies to:

  • blow raspberries
  • say "ba," "da," and "ga" and start to babble ("babababa")
  • reach for and grasp objects
  • use a raking grasp (using the fingers to rake and pick up objects)
  • pass an object from one hand to the other
  • roll over both ways (back to front, front to back)
  • sit with support


3. Perform a physical exam with your baby undressed while you are present. This includes an eye exam, listening to your baby's heart and feeling pulses, checking hips, and paying attention to your baby's movements.


Looking Ahead

Here are some things to keep in mind until your next routine visit at 9 months:


  2. Start giving your baby solid foods:
    • If there's a history of food allergies in your family, talk to your doctor before introducing foods.
    • Begin with a small amount of iron-fortified single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. You can also offer pureed meat, another iron-rich food.
    • Wait until your baby successfully eats cereal or meat from the spoon before trying other single-ingredient new foods (pureed or soft fruits, vegetables, or other meats).
    • Introduce one new food at a time and wait a few days to a week to watch for any allergic reactions before introducing another.
  3. When introducing finger foods, usually around 9 months, choose small pieces of soft foods, and avoid those that can cause choking (such as whole grapes, raw veggies, raisins, popcorn, hot dogs, hard cheese, or chunks of meat).
  4. Pay attention to signs your baby is hungry or full.
  5. If you give your baby juice, limit it to 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) a day. Always give juice in a cup, which is safe to introduce at 6 months.
  6. Talk to your doctor about giving your baby fluoride supplements.
  7. Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle.

Routine Care

  1. Babies' first teeth often appear around 6 months. To ease teething discomfort, rub your baby's gums with a clean finger. Or offer a teething toy or a clean, wet washcloth, which can be frozen for 30 minutes first.
  2. Wipe your baby's gums with a wet washcloth to clear away bacteria. Once teeth come in, use a soft infant toothbrush with a tiny bit of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) to clean your baby's teeth.
  3. Between 6 and 9 months, babies who previously slept through the night may start waking up. Allow some time for your baby to settle back down. If fussiness continues, offer reassurance that you're there, but try not to pick up, play with, or feed your baby.
  4. Readto your baby every day.
  5. Create a childproof space for your baby to move around, play, and explore.


  1. Place your baby to sleep on the back, but it's OK if he or she rolls over.
  2. Don't use a walker. They're dangerous and can cause serious injuries. Walkers do not encourage walking and may actually hinder it.
  4. Brush any baby teeth without toothpaste twice a day. Schedule a dentist visit soon after the first tooth appears or by 1 year of age.
  5. Keep small objects and harmful substances out of reach.
  6. Always put your baby in a rear-facingcar seat in the back seat.
  8. Childproof your home. Get down on your hands and knees to look for potential dangers. Keep doors closed and put up gates, especially on stairways.


Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: July 2013