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Advocare Advice for Age Six Months

Immunizations:

• All caregivers should make sure that their own vaccines are up to date; get a tetanus booster with whooping cough and influenza shot to protect your baby
• At age six months, babies receive DTaP, HIB, Prevnar, and Rotavirus vaccines. These are the same immunizations received at the four month visit.
• During the flu season babies will also receive a first influenza vaccine. In the first year, for full protection from the flu, babies receive a second dose of flu vaccine one month or more later.
• About thirty percent of babies will get fever, cranky and soreness at the site of the injections: this can last for 48 to 72 hours. One to three percent of babies who receive the Rotavirus vaccine may have mild diarrhea or vomiting for a few days to a week.
• If symptoms occur, give your baby some infant acetaminophen, such as Tylenol®.

 Safety:

• Always use an approved rear-facing car seat in the back seat of your car.
• Lower the crib mattress. Your baby will soon be pulling up to stand.
• Childproof your home. Look at your home from a three-foot level and below to note potential hazards.
• Don't use walkers with wheels.
• Keep small objects, plastic bags, and other choking hazards out of reach. Remember that at this stage, everything goes in the mouth!
• Keep a smoke-free home.
• Use sunscreen and hats for your baby when out in the sun.
• Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Check smoke detectors twice a year.

Feeding:

• Many babies start to take three meals of baby food a day. They still nurse or drink about the same amount of formula.
• Start to introduce soft table food such as plain yogurt, mashed potatoes, and mashed bananas.
• Introduce wheat products such as pastina, teething biscuits, and mixed cereals.
• Introduce a "sippy" cup. Put breast milk, formula, or water in the cup.
• Avoid juice as it is not nutritious and encourages sweet snacking habits.
• Start to wipe the gums or teeth with a washcloth once a day.

 Developmental Changes:

• Your baby is learning to sit and to gain new motor skills. Some babies at this age scoot, roll, or "commando crawl" as a means of locomotion. Spend lots of time on the floor together.
• Babies are noise makers now. They squeal, "talk," and make "raspberries." Your baby should turn to sound, enjoy hearing music, and make noise with rattles.
• A nighttime routine is important. Put your baby to bed when he/she is still awake in the crib.

 Next visit: when your baby is nine months old.