Well Child Exam 6 Months

About this topic

Your babys 6-month well child exam is a visit with the doctor to check your baby's health. The doctor measures your baby's weight, height, and head size. The doctor plots these numbers on a growth curve. The growth curve gives a picture of your baby's growth at each visit. The doctor may listen to your baby's heart, lungs, and belly. Your doctor will do a full exam of your baby from the head to the toes. ‚
Your baby may also need shots or blood tests during this visit. ‚

General

Growth and Development ‚
Your doctor will ask you how your baby is developing. The doctor will focus on the skills that most children your babys age are expected to do. During the first months of your baby's life, here are some things you can expect. ‚

Movement ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby may:
- Begin to sit up without help
- Move a toy from one hand to the other
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Use the legs to stand with your help
- Be able to move forward or backward while on the belly
- Become more mobile
- Put everything in the mouth
  - Never leave small objects within reach.
  - Do not feed hot dogs or hard food that could lead to choking.
  - Cut all food into small pieces.
  - Learn what to do if your child chokes.
Hearing, seeing, and talking ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby will likely:
- Make lots of babbling noises
- May say things like da-da-da or ba-ba-ba or ma-ma-ma
- Show a wide range of emotions on the face
- Be more comfortable with familiar people and toys
Feeding ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby:
- Takes breast milk or formula for most nutrition. Always hold your baby when feeding. Do not prop a bottle. This makes it easier to choke and get ear infections.
- May be ready to start eating cereal and other baby foods. Signs your baby is ready are when your baby:
  - Sits without much support
  - Has good head and neck control
  - Shows interest in food you are eating
  - Opens the mouth for a spoon
- Start by feeding your baby thin cereal or pureed meats. Then, add fruits and vegetables.
  - Do not add cereal to your baby's bottle. Feed it to your baby with a spoon.
  - Don't force your baby to eat baby foods. You may have to offer a food more than 10 times before your baby will like it.
  - It is OK to try giving your baby very small bites of soft finger foods like bananas or well cooked vegetables. If your baby coughs or chokes, then try again another time.
  - Watch for signs your baby is full like turning the head or leaning back.
- May start to have teeth. Use a cold clean wash cloth or teething ring to help ease sore gums.
- Will need you to clean the teeth after a feeding with a wet washcloth or a wet baby toothbrush. You may use a smear of toothpaste each day.
Sleep ¢ ˆ ’ Your baby:
- Should still sleep in a safe crib, on the back, alone for naps and at night. Keep soft bedding, bumpers, and toys out of your baby's bed. It is OK if your baby rolls over without help at night.
- Is likely sleeping about 6 to 8 hours in a row at night
- Needs 2 to 3 naps each day
- Sleeps about a total of 14 to 15 hours each day
- Needs to learn how to fall asleep without help. Put your baby to bed while still awake. Your baby may cry. Check on your baby every 10 minutes or so until your baby falls asleep. Your baby will slowly learn to fall asleep.
- Should not have a bottle in bed. This can cause tooth decay or ear infections. Give a bottle before putting your baby in the crib for the night.
- Should sleep in a crib that is away from windows.
Shots or vaccines ¢ ˆ ’ It is important for your baby to get shots on time. This protects from very serious illnesses like pertussis or some kinds of pneumonia. Your baby may need:
- DTaP or diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine
- Hib or Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
- IPV or polio vaccine
- PCV or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- RV or rotavirus vaccine
- HepB or hepatitis B vaccine
- Flu or Influenza vaccine

Help for Parents ‚

Play with your baby.
- Tummy time is still important. It helps your baby develop arm and shoulder muscles. Do tummy time a few times each day while your baby is awake. Put a colorful toy in front of your baby to give something to look at or play with.
- Read to your baby. Talk and sing to your baby. This helps your baby learn language skills.
- Give your child toys that are safe to chew on. Most things will end up in your child's mouth, so keep away small objects and plastic bags.
- Play peekaboo with your baby.
Here are some things you can do to help keep your baby safe and healthy.
- Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home or around your baby.
- Have the right size car seat for your baby and use it every time your baby is in the car. Your baby should be rear facing until 2 years of age.
- Keep one hand on the baby whenever you are changing a diaper or clothes.
- Take extra care if your baby is in the kitchen.
  - Make sure you use the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles so your baby cannot grab them.
  - Keep hot items like liquids, coffee pots, and heaters away from your baby.
  - Put childproof locks on cabinets, especially those that contain cleaning supplies or other things that may harm your baby.
- Limit how much time your baby spends in an infant seat, bouncy seat, boppy chair, or swing. Give your baby a safe place to play.
- Remove or protect sharp edge furniture where your child plays.
- Use safety latches on drawers and cabinets.
- Keep cords from shades and blinds away as they can strangle your child.
- Never leave your baby alone. Do not leave your child in the car, in the bath, or at home alone, even for a few minutes.
- Avoid screen time for children under 2 years old. This means no TV, computers, or video games. They can cause problems with brain development.
Parents need to think about:
- How you will handle a sick child. Do you have alternate day care plans? Can you take off work or school?
- How to childproof your home. Look for areas that may be a danger to a young child. Keep choking hazards, poisons, and hot objects out of a child's reach.
- Do you live in an older home that may need to be tested for lead?
Your next well child visit will most likely be when your baby is 9 months old. At this visit your doctor may:
- Do a full check up on your baby
- Talk about how your baby is sleeping and eating
- Give your baby the next set of shots

When do I need to call the doctor?

Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher
Having problems eating or spits up a lot
Sleeps all the time or has trouble sleeping
Wont stop crying
You are worried about your baby's development

Where can I learn more?

American Academy of Pediatrics ‚
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/default.aspx ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/milestones-tracker.pdf ‚

Last Reviewed Date

2015-02-10 ‚

List_set bdysylist

Healthy Living
Pediatric

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚

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