Your Child at 6 to 12 months
Six months have passed since your baby arrived, and undoubtedly you have seen many changes.
During the next 6 months, your baby will begin sitting and crawling, communicating pleasure and displeasure, establishing more consistent sleep patterns and moving onto solid foods.
Also, it is very important to make sure your child's immunizations and wellness visits with the doctor are up to date. Your child's doctor can provide needed information regarding your child's health and development, and support you in your role as a parent.
At 6 to 9 months old your child should be able to:
- Sit alone without support
- Reach for a cup or spoon
- Transfer objects from one hand to the other
- Make noises to show displeasure or satisfaction
- Look for a ball rolled out of sight
- Try to talk to image in mirror
- Respond to own name and recognizes family members' faces
- Show mild to severe separation anxiety
At 9 to 12 months old your child should be able to:
- Crawl well
- Pull self to a standing position
- Play Pat-a-Cake
- Dance or bounce to music
- Say their first word
- Clap hands, wave goodbye
- Offer a toy or object
- Push away toys and food when not wanted
- Become attached to a favorite toy or blanket
If you have concerns about your child's development, contact Early On at 1-800-EarlyOn or 1-800-327-5966.
Parenting Support
Parenting can be both joyous, and trying at times. So Washtenaw Success By 6 Great Start Collaborative aims to connect you to resources and support you need to enjoy being a parent. Check out the Great Start Parent Coalition for opportunities for support and guidance.
Keep Them Safe
As your child begins to move around in your home by crawling and pulling to stand, you face some unique challenges to keep your baby safe. For a complete checklist of safety precautions to take to baby proof your home, visit Safe Kids.
Baby Those Baby Teeth
Baby teeth are important for chewing, speaking, spacing of permanent teeth, and overall health. Click here for an interactive tooth wheel for children aged 1 month to 5 years.
Lead Poisoning and Your Children
Lead is more dangerous to babies because young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them. Children's growing bodies absorb more lead, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
Lead can be found in a number of things, such as paint (many old homes built have lead-based paint), in soil around a home, household dust, drinking water, your job, or old painted toys and furniture.
It is important to go to your local health clinic to get your family tested if you feel you have been exposed to lead. For more information on lead, visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's website.
"Mommy, Is This Okay?"
Your baby is watching your face and learning from your expressions all the time. They are learning the important skill of how to read faces and emotions. Check out these websites about fostering this important skill in your child: