When your baby is around 6 months old, games like peek-a-boo start to become popular (if they haven't already). Holding your hands in front of your face and starting to play peek-a-boo is a perfect evasive maneuver that can save a lot of cranky moments. Have you tried it?

Baby development at 6 months

At 6 months, some babies start to enjoy reading books and looking at pictures. Many babies start to sit well with support and can play more freely in a sitting position, rather than on their back or tummy. 

Some babies are practicing how to get up in a crawling position and some are trying to start moving forward. This can cause a lot of frustration for the baby, who probably can't quite move as they want or intend to. This in turn can lead to some extra whining some days, but it will pass, so be patient! As always when there is a lot going on in development, the baby may need a little extra closeness.

Baby's iron needs at 6 months

From 6 months onwards, breastfeeding or formula feeding is no longer enough to meet your baby's iron needs. Therefore, it is time to start giving complementary meals that provide iron, such as porridge in the morning or at other times during the day. If your baby is not eating porridge or gruel that is fortified with iron, it is important to offer other foods that are high in iron. Examples include meat, black pudding, beans, lentils and tofu. There are also some seeds that are high in iron, including pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. You can easily mix these into a flour and add them to your cooking.

What happens at the nursery when the baby is 6 months old?

At this age, it's time to see a doctor at the BVC again. During this visit, you will take your child's height, weight and head circumference as before. You will also talk about your baby's development, how you are feeling and how you are doing at home. The doctor will examine the baby from head to toe and check if he/she is following a falling toy with his/her eyes, as well as changing the toy in his/her hand. Remember to ask questions if you have any!

Here you can read about baby development at 7 months!