At Peninsula Pediatrics, we don’t just help your children when they’re sick; we help them, and your whole family, stay well all the time.
Six month olds are super fun! They are interactive, playful and aren’t moving too much yet. You have probably noticed that your little one’s social emotional development has really grown over the last 2 months. Vocalizations have typically gotten more frequent and you will notice your baby experimenting with different sounds and pitches. Your baby is more interested in interacting with people and the world. They are curious and inquisitive. Your 6 month old is likely rolling, grabbing for things, and able to pass things from one hand to the other. They may start to develop some stranger nervousness and this is normal and age appropriate.
Pre-visit Questionnaire
Before your visit, you will receive a link to the following questionnaires
Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screen: At Peninsula Pediatrics, we care deeply about the health of your entire family unit. Ten to twenty percent of women experience postpartum depression or anxiety in the postpartum period. This can be hard to talk about. By screening all our patients, we are trying to eliminate any stigma and provide you with the opportunity to discuss your feelings in a nonjudgmental setting. ALL Peninsula Parents receive this questionnaire at the 5 week, 2,4, and 6 month visits. To learn more about postpartum depression/anxiety click here.
PEDS-DM: This questionnaire is a standardized developmental screening that you will receive at all your little one’s well visits from ages 5 weeks to 5 years.
At this visit you should expect your child to
- Have their weight, length, and head circumference measured
- Have a complete physical exam
Immunizations
The 2,4, and 6 month vaccines are identical. They are what is called your child’s primary series.
Pentacel-This vaccine protects against DTap, Polio and haemophilus influenzae
Prevenar- This vaccine protects against Pneumococcal disease
Rotavirus- This is an oral vaccine that protects against Rotavirus.
Vaccine Reactions
Most babies do well after vaccinations. You may notice that your little one is having looser or greener stools for up to a week. There is no intervention needed.
A small percentage may develop fevers, fussiness or redness/swelling at the injection site. For redness or swelling, you can apply cool compresses to the area for soothing. For fussiness or fever (temperature above 100.4 F) you can give your little one some acetaminophen. All dosing in pediatrics is weight based. You can find the dosing chart here.
Vaccine reactions can last up to 72 hours after vaccination. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us.
Safety and parenting tips
- Your baby’s vision is gradually improving over the first year of life. At this age, your baby should be able to follow you around the room with their eyes. Let them be a part of the action and interact with the world and whatever is happening in your home.
- Continue with daily routines. Some things to do with your baby during the day includes: singing with them, playing peek-a-boo, talking through your day and narrating what is happening and starting to look at books. Babies this age have attention spans of less than a minute so keep that in mind if your little one seems to want to move on to a new activity.
- Avoid overstimulation around nap time and bedtime.
- You can start to introduce water in a sippy cup at this age.
- If your little one has teeth, you should brush them twice a day with a small rice grain size of toothpaste with fluoride.
- At 6 months, babies start to need solid food as part of their diets. Check out our Starting Solids Guide
- Now is the time to really start baby proofing as mobility is on the horizon. Check Out of Baby Proofing and Safety Guide
When is my little one’s next visit?
The next visit is in 3 months when your little one is 9 months old.
