6 Month Well-Child Visit

Your baby is half a year old! 6 month old infants are really developing quickly, learning new skills and becoming much more social. What can you expect at this visit with the Pediatrician?

Vitals – Heart rate and respiratory rate will be counted, temperature is taken.

Growth measurements – Length, weight, and head circumference are updated at the six month visit. These are plotted on a growth chart that is specific to your baby’s gender and will be compared to the previous measurements to make sure growth occurs appropriately and proportionally. Remember, the goal is for your baby to grow consistently on the curve. Growth curves are measured in “percentiles” where 50th percentile is the average measurement for age and gender. Infants who fall above the 50th percentile are “above average” for that measurement, while infants who fall below the 50th percentile are “below average.” Keep in mind that many factors affect where your baby falls on the curve – genetics, feeding patterns, prematurity.

Development –

• Social: They smile at their reflection and look when their name is called. . 
• Speech & Language: They babble with consonant sounds such as “ba” and “ga.”
• Gross (large) motor: They should be rolling easily from back to stomach and stomach to back. They may sit briefly by themselves or propped forward on arms.  
• Fine motor: They transfer toys from one hand to the other, and rake at objects with the whole hand. 

Questions from the Pediatrician – your baby’s doctor will ask questions about feeding, burping, sleeping, voiding (urination) and stooling (bowel movements), spit up, and development.

Nutrition – Continue breastfeeding or formula bottles. If breastfeeding, add an iron supplementation daily. Start to introduce solid foods in the form of pureed foods. Go slowly, introducing one new food at a time to watch for allergic reactions. Avoid chunky foods at this time.  

Exam – your infant will have a head-to-toe exam at every well-child visit. 

Vaccinations – booster vaccinations are due. The CDC recommended vaccination schedule continues at 6 months of age. Infants receive booster vaccines of DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis), Hepatitis B, Polio, Pneumococcal. Some babies will also receive booster doses of Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B) and Rotavirus vaccinations depending on the vaccine type given at your Pediatrician’s office. Many offices will give a combination vaccine to reduce the number of “pokes” your infant receives.

Questions from you – as your child interacts more with the environment and people around them, you will likely have more questions about proper developmental milestones, nutrition, sleep habits, and more. Bring your questions to the visit so you don’t forget them!

Safety information – part of every well-child visit is discussion of safety that is appropriate for age. For infants, this includes:

• sleep practices – infants should still be placed to sleep on their back in their own basinet or crib. There should be no extra blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, stuffed animals, or sleep positioners in the crib. Infants should never sleep in parents’ bed, in swings, or in reclined sleepers. 
• car seat instructions – infants should be in their infant car seats, in the back seat, facing backwards. 
• water safety during bath time – infants should never be left alone in the water, even if it is only a few inches or only for a short amount of time. Drowning occurs quickly. 
• fall risks – six month old infants are rolling easily, which puts them at a higher risk for falls.  They should not be left alone on couches, changing tables, beds, or any other elevated surface. Use baby gates to block stairs. 
• choking – infants put EVERYTHING in their mouths. Avoid contact with small objects and plastic bags. 
• baby proofing – make sure all cleaning supplies, medications, and chemicals are up high or locked away. Check your floors and lower cabinets/shelves for small objects. Use outlet covers and hide electrical cords. Place barriers around space heaters and fireplaces. 
• sun exposure – avoid direct exposure during the middle of the day as much as possible. Use hats and long sleeves. Use sunscreen with a high SPF. 

Next visit: 9 months

If you enjoyed this post, please sign up below to subscribe for blog emails. You will receive notification when new posts are available.