I love documenting baby milestones as a Cranberry Township, PA newborn photographer, especially the sweet six-month stage. Six-month-old babies are learning to do so many new things!
At this stage they start to track things a little farther away and can roll from side to side. They may also begin to teethe—like the little man in these photos! His mama found him a teething rosary from Chews Life. The rosaries are made with food-grade silicone, the shop is pro-life, and your baby gets a tangible interaction with the rosary at a young age. Win-win-win! Do you have a baby toothbrush for these new pearls? There are many different options out there, including toothbrushes you put on your finger! In our house, we opted for the finger handle toothbrush. It's also great for when our little ones got big enough to hold the toothbrush themselves.
Babies at six months also start to work on sitting without support. The Bumbo chair is a great way to prepare them and can be used as soon as they can hold up their head, but usually around three months. When your little one is on the floor without support, however, you can arrange soft pillows around him or her and have an activity mat or play games together! Practicing unassisted sitting helps baby to build strength in their neck and trunk. Give him lots of opportunities to practice!
Do you notice your baby starting to recognize her name at this stage? She may start to imitate you, too! She will pay attention when you talk to her and may pause what she's doing when you say, “no.” This is a great time to read books with her. She will start to associate words with images, shapes, objects, etc.
Your baby's eating and sleeping will start to change, too. They will begin to eat solid foods, starting with single-grain baby cereal and breast milk or formula, followed by pureed fruits and veggies. We usually started with green veggies, then orange, then fruits—but you should always talk to your pediatrician about the best eating plan for your baby! And be sure to watch for any kind of allergic reaction.
Babies at this age tend to sleep about 11 hours at night (though not always straight through) and take 2-3 naps during the day. Of course, every baby is different. I would often "top off" our babies before I went to bed to help them sleep through the night. If baby wakes up in the middle of the night wanting to eat, make it simple and boring!
What helpful tips and tricks do you have for your 6-month-old baby? What fun things is she doing right now that you want to remember?
I offer in-home milestone photography for families in Cranberry Township and the surrounding areas, bringing everything needed to create timeless six-month baby photos in the comfort of your home. As a Cranberry Township newborn photographer, I love helping parents remember these big-eyed, gummy smiles before they’re gone!