Month 6 · 3 notes
Starting solids is a big milestone, but it comes with new risks. Introduce one food at a time and wait a few days between new foods to watch for allergic reactions. Cut food into tiny pieces and avoid choking hazards like whole grapes, chunks of meat, or hard vegetables. Baby-proofing needs to happen now, not later. Get down on the floor and look at the world from baby's height. You'll be surprised what you find.
Six months. You've learned a whole new language, the one made of cries and coos and facial expressions. You understand this tiny person better than anyone on earth.
Baby is about to become mobile. Crawling can start any day. Get down to baby's level and look for hazards: cords, outlets, sharp corners, small objects, unstable furniture.
Get on your hands and knees and survey every room from baby's perspective. Cover electrical outlets, secure cords, pad sharp furniture corners, anchor heavy furniture and TVs, and gate off dangerous areas.
Common choking hazards: whole grapes, hot dog rounds, popcorn, nuts, large chunks of meat, raw carrots, and hard candy. Always supervise meals and learn infant CPR.
Cut round foods like grapes and hot dogs lengthwise, then into small pieces. Avoid hard, round, or sticky foods. Always supervise mealtimes. Take an infant CPR class so you are prepared in an emergency.
Introduce one new food at a time and wait 2-3 days before the next to watch for allergic reactions. Avoid honey until age 1. Cut food into tiny pieces.
Start with single-ingredient purees or soft foods. Introduce one new food every 2-3 days and watch for signs of allergic reaction (rash, vomiting, difficulty breathing). Never give honey to a baby under 12 months due to botulism risk.