SIX MONTH GUIDELINES

 

Diet

  Breast milk or iron fortified formula is the most important source of calories and nutrition. 24-40 ounces a day is normal for a healthy infant, even with solid foods. It is now time to start feeding your infant solid food if you have not tried it yet.
  If you and your doctor have decided to start solid foods, you may begin with 1 tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with formula, breast milk or a small amount of juice. Once your child takes the cereal readily from the spoon, you may begin to increase the amount of cereal to 2 or 3 tablespoons a serving in 1 to 2 feedings a day. After 2-3 weeks of cereal, you may begin vegetables. Fruits may be added 2-3 weeks after the vegetables. Give only one new food every 4 days, watching carefully for any food allergy. Many people prefer to start with yellow vegetables. Other foods that your infant may enjoy include mashed table foods such as potatoes, bananas, etc. You may add meat to the diet about nine months of age; formula contains plenty of protein.
  At eight to ten months, your child may begin soft finger foods.
  Avoid infant feeders

 

Safety checklist

  Car seat (rear-facing until your child is 18-20lbs and 1 year old).
  Set water heater to 120of.
  Protect your child from falling off of beds and changing tables.
  Please do not smoke around your child; cigarette smoke has been associated with increased frequency of colds, ear infections and asthma attacks.
  Smoke detectors are a must.
  Avoid walkers as they can be a source of injury and may actually delay walking.

 

Development by 9 months

  Sits alone, crawls, pulls to a stand, walks hanging on to furniture, begins using a pincer grasp, may put objects in a container and take them out again, responds to "no" and to simple verbal requests, uses simple gestures such as wave, verbalizes with "d", "b", and "m" sounds (dada, baba, mama). May drink from a cup. Stranger awareness and separation anxiety may begin at this time.
  This is the excellent time to wean your child from the pacifier during the daytime, making it a nighttime and nap object.

Illnesses

  Colds: saline drops in the nose followed by bulb suctioning is still best, but you may also give Pediacare infant drops or yellow Triaminic to relieve congestion. We recommend that you avoid antihistimines unless prescribed by a physician. Please call the office for an appointment if your child has a fever greater than 24 to 48 hours or if the cold has lasted greater than a week and is accompanied by green discharge.
  Vomiting and diarrhea: if your child vomits, allow the stomach to rest 1-2 hours without any food or liquid. Then you may give him small, frequent amounts of Pedialyte, Ricelyte, or other clear liquids (1/2 ounce every 15 minutes). The amount of liquid can be increased every hour. After eight hours without vomiting, you can restart formula. If vomiting persists greater than 24 hours or if your child appears to be getting dehydrated with no urine in 6 to 8 hours, please call the office for an appointment.
  Ear infections: if your child has a cold and is not sleeping well, or is pulling on his ear or is quite fussy, your child may have an ear infection, and she will need an appointment to be seen. Until that appointment, it will be important to keep your child comfortable with regular doses of Tylenol for the pain and fever.
  Teething: teething occasionally causes fussiness, low-grade temperature (less than 100.5), drooling and a desire to chew on rings of firm rubber. Tylenol may be used, but medications that you apply to the gums are not usually helpful. Don’t forget to brush or wipe the new teeth daily once they appear.