As your baby approaches 6 months of age, it’s probably clear to you that living with a more active baby is certainly not the same as living with a newborn. Be prepared – your baby will become more flexible.
Over the next three months, your baby will complete some considerable milestones, such as eating solid foods and learning to sit up, wave and babble. As they approach 9 months, they may crawl or stand. As a result, you can start preparing to ensure the safety and well-being of your curious baby.
We often feel a little overwhelmed by the variety of different products for this age group. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know what you really need and what you can skip.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of all the things you can do and buy for your baby from 6 to 9 months old. Being prepared will make life easier for both of you!
Infant Protection
At this stage, your baby will go from sitting up to standing, which means that the most important thing for you now is to keep your home safe. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in young children.
How much baby protective equipment you need ultimately depends on the size and layout of your home.
A good way to start (and end) the child safety process is to crawl on your hands and knees, looking for sharp corners, stray wires, exposed outlets, and any other hazards that are low off the ground and within reach of the baby.
The following items can help make your baby’s life safer:
- Baby doors: These are especially important at the top and bottom of stairs and in front of the fireplace.
- Power Outlet Cover: The safest is a socket cover that covers the entire outlet.
- Doorknob cover: It can be placed on the door of a room where your baby is not safe to enter.
- Cabinet and drawer locks: It is very important that all cabinets containing cleaning supplies, medicines, alcohol, silverware, and any other dangerous items are securely locked because curious babies love to open the door.
- Stovetop guards: They cover the knobs on the stovetop, preventing your baby from accidentally turning on the stovetop or burning themselves.
- Appliance lock straps: These lock straps keep the doors of dishwashers, refrigerators, and other appliances closed.
- Window doors or guards: This is a good idea even on the ground floor.
- Corner covers: Look for foam or soft covers that can stick to the sharp edges and corners of furniture to prevent your baby from bumping into them.
- Cord covers: Hide all electronic devices, TV wires, or power cords under cord covers as much as possible.
- Furniture and electronics retainers: Attach any furniture or electronics, such as a TV, to the wall to prevent your baby from pulling it on.
Feeding Products
Your baby may start eating solid foods around 6 months (once they show all signs of readiness) and start grasping finger food and feeding themselves around 9 months.
Whether you want to make your own baby food or buy prepared foods, it’s entirely up to you. It’s okay if you don’t have the time or are not willing to make your own baby food from scratch. Just look for minimally processed, low-preservative ingredients as well as organic brands. You can also consider baby food delivery services.
Keep in mind that even though your baby is eating solid foods, they will still need breast milk or formula until their first birthday. However, when they start eating, you should provide them with a small amount of water with a sippy cup.
Here’s a list of the products you’ll need:
- High chair or upright infant seat: For safety reasons, make sure you choose a high chair or upright infant seat with a three- or five-point harness, hip posts to prevent your baby from slipping out, and sturdy legs to minimize injury to your baby. Risk of reclining, and a seat that encourages the infant to sit upright while eating.
- 4-5 bowls and plates: To minimize the likelihood of your baby throwing the entire meal on the floor, look for utensils with suction cups underneath so that they stick to the table or high chair tray.
- 3-7 baby spoons: Look for spoons that are small enough to fit your baby’s mouth and don’t have sharp sides. Once your baby also starts trying to bite the spoon, a softer spoon, such as one made of silicone, will also work better than a metal spoon.
- 3-5 bibs: Things can quickly get messy once your baby starts feeding on their own, so you may want to consider buying bibs that are easy to wipe clean or have long sleeves.
- Splash pads: No matter what you do, some food will end up on the floor, but splash pads can make cleaning up a little easier.
- Baby Food Maker: It can help you steam, boil, mash, or puree food, but you don’t have to feel like you have to buy a very expensive product. Some babies prefer finger food or soon stop eating baby paste.
- First food: Whether you make your own food or not, fresh produce, such as berries, bananas, and avocados, can make delicious finger foods or snacks. Once your baby has gotten used to solid foods, puffs and cereal, cereal can also help your baby practice grasping with tongs.
- 1-2 baby food recipes: There are many options for recipes, but you may not need more than one or two at most.
- 2-3 sippy cups or sippy cups: Your baby can practice drinking water, breast milk or formula with a sippy cup or cup with a sippy tube.
- 3-4 Food Storage Containers: If you want to make your own food, you may need to make it in batches, which means you’ll need some storage containers.
Clothes
Around the six-month birthday, your baby may roll around, wander around, and try to crawl. By 9 months of age, they can stand up, grab furniture and move around, and maybe even take their first steps (although some babies don’t walk until after their first birthday, which is completely normal!).
However, as these campaigns progress, you may want to buy some clothing that can withstand some wear and tear. Here’s what you want to get:
- Durable everyday clothing: Look for clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Pants with reinforced knee pads are also a good choice.
- Seasonal clothing: If you live in a cold place in winter, a coat and hat are a must. Sunglasses, jumpsuits and a sun hat can keep your baby safe during the warmer months.
- Socks with non-slip soles: Babies don’t really need shoes until they learn to walk. In fact, if they don’t wear shoes, it’s easier for them to balance when they first start to stand up and cruise. Still, socks with non-slip soles will come in handy.
- Swimsuits, sun protection and swim caps: Depending on the season, you may also want to consider starting your baby to swim at this age to encourage them to enjoy the water. Still, if you do take them outdoors in the water, consider investing in sun-protective clothing and swim caps to protect them from the sun. (Don’t forget to bring a swim diaper!)
- Pajamas: In the winter or if you live in a cold place, it may be a good idea to wear pajamas with feet. Sleeping bags can still be used, and if you do rely on them, you need to make sure they don’t limit your baby’s ability to use their arms or roll over during sleep. As a result, some parents start switching to pajamas at this age.
- Diapers: Babies in this age group will still use up to 9 diapers per day.
First Aid Essentials
Your baby’s first aid kit may already be stocked with a nasal aspirator, saline spray, diaper cream, petroleum jelly and a thermometer. Now that your baby is 6 months old or older, you can add some rescue medication to it in case you need it.
Remember, it’s important to check with your baby’s healthcare provider before giving your baby medication to make sure they’re giving them the correct dose. But here are some items you might want from:
- Infant Ibuprofen: Infant ibuprofen and infant Motrin can be safely given to babies over 6 months of age under the guidance of a medical professional.
- Acetaminophen infants: Be sure to ask your healthcare provider for dosage instructions for infant Tylenol and never take under 12 weeks.
- Baby Gas Drops: If babies are in pain when they fart, simethicone (Mylicon) is safe for them.
- Antibiotic creams: Your baby may get more abrasions and cuts as they learn to stand and walk.
- Second-generation antihistamines: If you have an allergic reaction, you may need to take an antihistamine. Experts recommend the use of second-generation antihistamines, including Xintermine in children or Keritan in children. These are usually suitable for children aged 2 years and older. Keep in mind that experts no longer recommend first-generation antihistamines, including diphenhydramine such as diphenhydramine, for children because of the increased side effects.
Cleaning Supplies
Babies between six and nine months old can be really dirty. Whether they drop food on the floor, press food against their clothes, or roll on the floor, things get dirty quickly. (Inflatable diapers are also a thing of the past.) That’s why it’s a good idea to stock up on some baby-safe cleaning supplies so you can properly clean their clothes, high chairs, and toys. Here’s a list:
- High chair wipes
- Sponges
- Paper towel
- Boogie/Facial wipes
- Lots of laundry detergent
- Hand wipes
Educational Toys
Choosing a toy for your baby can be a fun but daunting task because there are so many options. The good news is that some of the best developmental toys for this age are actually simple and can encourage your baby to explore their world, interact with it, and start moving.
Other popular options are toys that encourage your baby to practice specific skills. Look for products that encourage your child to crawl, stand, or walk.
Ultimately, it’s up to you how many toys you want to buy. But here are some popular suggestions:
- Stacking blocks or cups
- Tummy time mirrors
- Crawling toys
- Soft balls
- Activity center or jumper
- Wooden bead mazes
- Push toys
- Sit-to-stand activity centers
Books They’ll Love
By 6 months of age, your baby can see colors and three-dimensional space, so they tend to be attracted to colorful and interactive books, such as those with touch and sensory elements. They also react when someone speaks to them, and they start making sounds in response. Therefore, it is a very interesting time to read to your baby.
By 9 months, your baby may be saying simple words such as “ma” and “da”, and they may try to imitate the words you say. This can be a fun time to read books with pictures of everyday objects that are familiar to your baby, such as books full of animals or food.
Keep in mind that babies put everything in their mouths at this age. Therefore, it’s best to stick to cardboard books, as they are more resistant to wear and tear (and teething). You can also try cloth books.
Look for colorful, interactive, or touch-friendly board books. Tongue twisters will also make babies at this age react. Don’t worry too much about the story of this book just yet. Now your baby is more interested in the colors, pictures and sounds you make when you read. Therefore, simple books full of words and pictures are usually a good choice.
Teething Supplies
Your baby’s first tooth may appear around 6 months of age, but some babies may have teeth before or after.
By the age of three, most children will have all of their baby teeth. So, if you’re not ready, now is the time to stock up on everything you need for your baby’s teething and taking care of your first tooth. Here’s what you need:
- Multiple teether types: The only way to find out which teether your baby prefers is to try several different teethers, including freezer-ready teethers, hard-ring teethers, and silicone animal teethers.
- Age-appropriate toothbrushes: It is important to establish good dental hygiene habits with your baby as early as possible to prevent tooth decay. Most toothbrushes will indicate the age they are targeting on the packaging, but generally speaking, you’ll need to use a rubber training toothbrush to clean your baby’s gums before teething, and then switch to a bristle brush after teeth erupt. Look for a brush with a smaller head and particularly soft bristles.
At Last
Your baby will change a lot between 6 and 9 months. With so much change, it’s easy to feel tempted to buy your baby everything they might need to support their growth.
Remember, aside from the fact that you need to keep them safe (such as baby protective equipment), what your baby needs most is for you to keep them happy and engaged as they grow. So, don’t worry if you can’t buy everything on this list. That said, we hope it does provide some good inspiration to get you started.