Right now, your little gourmet may be expressing an interest in bite-size finger foods that it can pick up and eat unaided. Let your 6-month-old try a variety of flavors and textures. Get tips on making time for yourself and coping with emergency room visits this week.

Baby Development

1. With increased motor skill, its body will train it to start the upright walking process.

1. You can expect a significant increase in your baby`s hearing.

1. During this time, milk teeth will sprout, which is a sign that it can start taking solid foods.

Milestones

1. Your baby`s fingers have become even more agile.

1. If you`re working, it can hurt a little to watch your baby respond well to its caregiver because you may feel like you don`t have time to bond with your baby. However, it can make a clear distinction between parents and caregivers; At the end of the day it will always want to be in your arms.

1. Your baby will show signs of independence and will seek to explore the whole house.

1. As its hearing develops, it does its best to imitate some of the sounds it hears. It begins to make babbling sounds, although its speaking ability is limited. These are usually recurring consonants and this is when you can expect your little one to say its first words `Mom` or `Dad`.

1. It can react instantly to any unusual sound.

1. Your baby may also begin to sit unsupported for a few seconds or minutes.

Nutrition

The door to the solid food world is opening more and more. This is the transitional period when the digestive system is still trying to adapt to new foods, unlike breast milk. You may see bits of undigested food in its poop. Your baby may suffer from constipation during the transition period. You can eliminate this situation by adding fiber-rich foods such as prune-dried apricot juice, pears, carrots and spinach to its diets by following the 3-day rule.

Now your baby`s diet includes water. Please make sure to boil the water before giving it to your baby because its immune system is not developed enough yet. You can have it use sippy cups to minimize spillage. If your little one is still not eating solid food, don`t be discouraged that it will sooner or later. Avoid force-feeding it as it has the tongue thrust reflex.

Your baby may let you know it`s ready to eat finger foods by holding the spoon you feed it or grabbing food from your plate. It`s a little early for finger foods as most babies have not yet developed the pincer grasp or may not yet be able to sit up independently. Many are still getting used to the porridge at this stage.

But you can let your baby try - scatter small pieces of easy-to-eat food on your baby`s highchair tray. Start with foods that melt easily in your mouth. As it gets older, you`ll be able to give it bite-sized chunks of what you eat.

Your baby is also learning about texture, color and smell, so let it have fun with a variety of foods. Some of the favorite finger foods are: small pieces of peeled banana, mango, plum, pear, peach, cantaloupe or seedless watermelon, or other very ripe; small tofu cubes; well-cooked pasta spirals, cut into pieces; very small pieces of cheese; cut seedless grapes or cherries (seeds removed); blueberries; small, soft cooked vegetables such as carrots, peas, zucchini, potatoes, or sweet potatoes.

Sleep

While some 26 week old babies sleep longer, there are others who may not be so lucky. Sleeping problem can be due to a number of factors such as teething and night feeding. Please note that it is possible to breastfeed your baby at least once a night. Studies have shown that at least 78% of babies still wake up at night during this time.

Care Tips

1. Your baby has reached a month when it will want to explore its surroundings on its own, so you can expect a few bruises if you`re not careful. Secure sharp edges to minimize damage.

1. This is usually when your baby is teething and it puts everything in its mouth. Remove objects that may pose a choking hazard. Also, clean your baby`s toys regularly to disinfect them.

1. Babies can choke easily. Even 4-5 centimeters of water is enough to cause a fatal accident, so be careful while bathing if you use a bathtub.

1. A baby in this month may suffer from transitional separation anxiety. Always hug it, embrace it, take it in your arms, without being afraid of meaningless fears as if it will cling to you in its later years.

1. Looking at books together will develop your baby`s language skills and prepare it for a lifelong love of reading. It doesn`t matter what kind of book you choose. Cardboard books are colorful and sturdy, and books with pop-up pictures or textured illustrations are also very popular with babies. Your baby won`t have the skills to open a book or even turn pages until it’s 9 to 12 months old, and may not yet have the patience to sit still while you read a story. Even reading a few pages is great.

1. For most new parents, the last priority on the list is "me". Babysitting, keeping a job and running the house come first. But it`s important to make yourself a priority because if you don`t, it`s much harder to take care of the rest of your life. It`s like trying to start a car without gas.

1. Since you can`t add hours to your day, try reassigning what you have. Ask yourself what you can let go off – such as keeping your home up to your previous standards of tidiness. Another way to find time is to find ways to save minutes in daily activities. Feel free to ask for help (and accept offers of help) when you need it.

1. Try to regularly plan an activity just for yourself - for example an exercise class or lunch with a friend.

1. Reach out to other parents and learn how they save time and make their lives easier.

Tests and Vaccines

If the 6th month vaccinations and control are completed, there is no other routine this week.

Plays and Activities

Storytelling: Who doesn`t love a good story! If you haven`t started yet, it`s time to read bedtime stories.

Use musical objects: You can stock up on musical toys and use them one at a time to keep your baby busy. Shake the toys from different directions to improve your baby`s hearing and help it understand where the sound is coming from.

Sing funny songs: Sing funny songs while your baby is changing its clothes or changing its diapers and see how it reacts. This activity will strengthen your bond with your baby, improve its hearing and help it learn new words.

Ball tracking: Take a ball or toy it is particularly interested in and place it on the other side of the room. Has it go from one side of the room to the other? This will help develop leg muscles and speed up the walking process.

Playing with blocks: This activity helps develop dexterity when dealing with relatively small objects.

Get social: It`s never too early to get your baby out and mingle with other kids. Come on a call with kids of the same age group to allow it to observe and interact with other kids.

When to Apply to The Doctor?

If your baby develops a high fever due to teething, take it to a pediatrician immediately. If it does not respond to sounds during this time, is indifferent to everything, or has unusual sluggishness in its movements, consult a doctor.

Emergency Tips

While it is highly likely that your baby will pass through infancy without going to the emergency room, this is something to be prepared for. Reasons a baby might need emergency medical attention include a severe allergic reaction, intestinal blockage, high fever, or a severe asthma attack. Also, as your baby becomes more curious and active, it may swallow or inhale an object, fall and have a cut that needs stitches.

Call 911 (emergency number in your country) if your baby has trouble breathing for any reason, goes into anaphylactic shock, or seems to have a concussion. For most other emergencies, you can call your baby`s doctor first. But if you are unsure, do not hesitate to take your baby to the emergency room.

Before an emergency arises, know where the nearest emergency room is and the route to get there. Have diapers, cotton, spare clothes, some of your baby`s favorite books or toys in your baby bag, enough food and water for a feeding or two. Ask if there are any reasons not to feed your baby while you wait.