Month 6

CRADLE CRIER RAISING TODAY’S CHILDREN She or He? Him or Her? The writers of Cradle Crier believe all children are wonderful. That’s why we take turns referring to infants as boys or girls. When we say “she” or “he” or “him” or “her,” we mean all children, especially your baby!

Each child is different. Your child may develop “early” or “late” when compared to other children. What’s important is that you look for and notice your child’s growth in each area of development. Encourage each new ability. If you have concerns at any time about your child’s development, contact your health care provider.

Baby-Proof Your Home Babies enjoy learning about the world with their mouths. Everything goes in! Baby-proof your home. It’s much easier on you than saying “No!” every time your child puts something in his mouth. It’s much better for your child, too, since children need to explore. That’s how they learn. Baby-proofing is a way of guiding your child gently as he learns, “What can I do with this?” “What’s mine?” “What’s okay for me to play with?” Start on your hands and knees, looking around your home from a baby’s point of view. Watch for: • Small items. Keep floors and tables clear of coins, cigarettes or anything smaller than 1½ inches around. Everything can go in a baby’s mouth – buttons, paper clips, staples, toy parts, even dust balls! Don’t let him find them! • Knobs. Make sure the knobs on your TV, stereo or other electronics and equipment won’t come off. • Sharp objects. Keep knives, scissors and razor blades from reach. Don’t leave glass or broken items in an open wastebasket. • Electrical outlets. Put safety covers on electrical outlets. Keep wires out of reach and see that fans are placed so your baby can’t reach them. • Plastic bags and balloons. They can suffocate a child. Throw away all plastic bags, including dry-cleaning bags, and broken balloons. • Cords. Cords from draperies and blinds are very dangerous. They can get caught around your baby’s neck and suffocate him. Be sure your baby can’t reach them. • Valuables. Put breakable things up high. • Poisons. Put cigarettes away. Babies can be poisoned if they eat them. Keep all houseplants out of reach. Some are poisonous. • Keep all medicines, cleaners, pesticides, liquor and beer, cigarettes, drugs and other products that could poison your baby in their original containers, away from food, and in a locked cabinet. • Keep all medicines in child-resistant packaging and out of reach of children. Don’t take medicine in front of your baby, and never call medicine “candy.” • Some plants are harmful to children and all plants are choking risks. Find out what your plants are and if they are poisonous. Keep all house plants out of reach of children. Contact the Poison Center for a list of poisonous plants. • Causing someone to vomit is no longer recommended to treat poisonings. Syrup of Ipecac is no longer recommended. Instead consider storing activated charcoal if you live more than one hour from emergency services. Important: never give acti- vated charcoal before calling the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. • Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Prevention is the best accident protection. You can protect your baby better than anyone else. Guidance for Safety: Another way to guide your child is to re-direct him. For example, if your baby moves toward the kitchen, pick him up and direct him toward the living room. Or, if he picks up a glass dish, pick him up and give him his favorite toy. Your child may still cry and be upset, but at least he’s safe. Don’t slap his hand or yell at him. Hitting teaches him “It’s OK to hit.” Also, he doesn’t know why you’re upset. Guidance for your child means three things: 1. Baby-proof your home. 2. Redirect your child’s attention when there’s danger. 3. Substitute a safe toy for an object that could hurt.

Physical Development Intellectual and Language Development When your baby first started to reach for an object, Ordinary items can be a big-time delight for your she had to watch carefully to grasp it correctly. baby. He may enjoy the sound of crinkly wrapping Now, she can grasp without staring. paper more than the gift that came in it. A set of Here’s a game to encourage grasping and to teach measuring spoons can be more fun to shake and her how to use a “tool.” Put her in a sitting posi- listen to than a rattle. And, the edge of a familiar tion on the floor next to you. Put a favorite toy on a blanket can feel as wonderful as the most expensive blanket just out of reach. Show her how the toy gets stuffed toy. closer as you pull on the blanket. If she doesn’t pull Give your child different things to look at, listen on the blanket, pull it again to bring the toy closer to, touch and taste. A mirror placed so he can until she can reach it. Tell her what you are doing, see himself as he crawls on the floor is fascinat- “See, you can reach the ball by pulling the blanket.” ing. Tiny bath bubbles are great to feel and look At six or seven months of age, your baby is prob- at. Many toys appeal to your baby’s senses. You ably able to: don’t need special toys to encourage your baby to explore. Allow him to safely explore his world. • Sometimes sit for several minutes. • Creep backwards and forwards with her stomach. By six months-of-age your baby may: • Hold an object with one hand and then put it in • Recognize his name and turn when he hears it. the other hand. • Study things for a long time. • Hold one building block, then reach for a second • Turn objects upside down to get another view of one and look for a third one right away. them. • Grab for an object when it drops. • Know he must use his hands to pick up some- thing. • Have one favorite toy or blanket. • Pick up items, shake them and then listen to the sound they make when he drops them.

Help Your Baby Learn By: • Playing peek-a-boo with her. • Letting her listen to music for short periods of time. • Blowing soap bubbles for her to watch. • Giving her things to play with that make noise. • Floating a toy in her bathtub. • Reading nursery rhymes and stories to her. • Singing lullabies to her. • Talking to her in complete sentences about what you are doing.

Cradle Crier / Month 6 Page 2 Lots of Squeals! By now, your baby may be quite a noisemaker. Sometimes he may squeal so loudly he scares him- self. He isn’t sure where the sound comes from! Soon, he will realize the sounds he makes with his voice are those he hears with his ears. By prac- ticing, he will come up with new sounds each week. It will be awhile before he speaks real words. He’s beginning to understand some words you say by the tone of your voice. Now is a great time to read to your baby. Make books a big part of his world. Large books with heavy cardboard or vinyl pages are best at this age. By now your baby is: • Babbling to himself, his toys and other people. • Making sounds like “ee,” “ah,” “ooh,” “dada,” “bye-bye” and “mama.” • Beginning to make the sounds “f,” “v,” “th,” “s,” “sh,” “sz,” “m” and “n.” Tips for Working Parents • Watching your mouth and trying to imitate you Parents often worry they will harm their children if when you talk to him. they work outside the home. Research shows chil- dren develop well if they attend high quality child- Social and Emotional Development care. Yet, babies must also have their needs met con- sistently when they are at home with their parents. Your baby probably shows many emotions. Crying often turns on and off like a light switch. She may If you’re a working parent, you may find caring for scream when left alone, and stop the minute she’s your home, baby and other family members over- picked up. Squeals of joy go with splashing in the whelming. Consider cutting back on other chores to tub, and anger comes when you take her out of the save time for your family. You could try: bath water. • Making a list of the chores you do, or think need Sometimes your baby doesn’t know what she to be done, every day. Mark those that could wants. For fussy times, a quiet room and a soothing be done every week rather than daily. Make an voice may help. Studies show low lights, rhythmic “every day,” “weekly,” and “monthly” list of sounds and a room neither too hot nor too cool chores. helps a baby to fall asleep. • When writing your list , put the most important tasks at the top, and do these first. You may find you need to move some tasks to the weekly or Get Together With Other Parents monthly list. Be realistic. Only list the chores you Some parents make a regular date to get together can get done. with other parents and their babies. Consider get- • Check off the tasks as you accomplish them. Feel ting together once a week with two or three parents good about your successes. for an hour or so. Your baby will enjoy these play- • Don’t worry if you can’t do everything. Babies groups, and you may enjoy them even more! You grow up quickly and their needs are great. Chores can watch the babies grow, and learn from the other usually can wait. parents. • If you still feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to You may want to use these parents for emergency ask other family members, neighbors and/or babysitting, too. All parents have days when their friends for help. babies seem too much to handle. It helps to know other adults who have similar experiences. No one Babies form strong attachments to both mothers raises a baby without help. and fathers who spend time with them. If you are a single parent, this doesn’t mean your baby will suffer. Attachments to grandparents, brothers and sisters, friends and caregivers can be strong too. Close relationships with others are good for both you and your child.

Cradle Crier / Month 6 Page 3 Your Baby’s Health Starting Solid Food • Don’t skip baby shots! Start with an iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with 1 • Childhood diseases are dangerous. They can or 2 tablespoons of formula or breastmilk, a bib, a cause disabilities and death. washcloth and a lot of patience! Your baby is about • Check the schedule for your baby’s shots. Ask for to learn to eat from a spoon! a permanent record. It takes time to learn how to get food off a spoon and to swallow. When you first start, put a little Is Your Water Safe? cereal at a time toward the middle of your baby’s tongue.. Don’t force any food. Let your baby set the Is the water you drink safe for your baby? You pace. Stop when he loses interest. can have your well water tested for a small fee. Find out if your water contains fluoride supple- To develop healthy eating habits for your baby, always use a spoon. Don’t use bottles, infant feeders ments, important for your baby’s healthy teeth. or syringes to feed cereals or baby foods. They can Talk with your health care provider if it doesn’t. cause choking and overfeeding. When Does a Baby Need Shoes? Babies don’t need shoes until they start to walk in places that may hurt their feet. Shoes don’t help infants learn to stand or walk. When it’s time for shoes, check to see they fit cor- rectly. There should be a half- inch of room in front of your baby’s toes. Buy the least costly shoes that fit well. A one-year old grows out of shoes every 6-8 weeks. Hand-me-down shoes aren’t a good idea. As shoes are worn, they mold to a child’s foot. A child wear- After 1 or 2 weeks of rice cereal, try oats or barley. If ing hand-me-down shoes can develop problems in there are wheat allergies in your family, hold off on walking because his shoes don’t fit properly. wheat cereal until your baby is 9 months-of-age. Baby’s Diet - Here’s how to do it right: More Variety, New Textures 1. Feed when your baby is hungry but not frantic. At 6 months, your baby can: 2. Talk and smile but don’t entertain. 3. Make sure your baby is sitting up, either in your • Move his tongue from side to side lap or in a high chair. Don’t feed your baby in a • Control where the food is in his mouth reclined seat, such as a car seat, swing or bouncer. • Start gumming food 4. Let your baby decide: • Use his hands to put food in his mouth • When he eats Mash or puree your baby’s food. Plain foods are • How much he eats best. Mixed varieties are lower in food value. If you • How fast he eats use commercial baby food, read the jar’s label to see When he closes his mouth or spits out what just what is in the food. Don’t use regular canned foods. went in, stop. Don’t think you need to clean the They contain too much salt and may have preserva- plate or tease in one more bite. Wipe his chin and tives and artificial colors that aren’t good for babies. call it quits. Feed your baby with a small spoon. Start one food Here are some more feeding tips: at a time. Wait 3 or 4 days before you try another • Don’t feed your baby food right from the jar. The food. This way, you can tell if your child has an food left in the jar can spoil quickly from baby’s allergy to any particular food. saliva on the spoon. Put a small amount of food in a dish. Don’t spoon • Even with solid foods, your baby still needs the food from jar to mouth. Put the covered jar with breastmilk. the rest of the food in the refrigerator at once, and • He should drink either breast milk or formula, use within three days. Throw away food left in the not cows milk, until he is a year old. Cows milk dish after feeding. can cause allergies if it is given to children too soon. Babies know when they are full. Don’t coax your • It may help to give your baby breastmilk or for- baby to eat more than she wants. Lifetime eating mula first, then try cereal, and finish with more habits begin here. If you are concerned, ask your milk or formula. health care provider.

Cradle Crier / Month 6 Page 4 Making Your Own Baby Foods After your baby has tried cereal, your baby can have mashed foods, such as banana or avocado. If you do-it-yourself, you can save money on baby foods and it can be better for your baby. Here are some hints: 1. Wash everything you use, and your hands, too, in hot, soapy water. Rinse well. 2. Cook fruits, vegetables and meat until soft and tender. Avoid foods high in nitrates, such as carrots, spinach, beets and cabbage. 3. Mash or use a food mill to puree food. Add liquid (formula, water, or fruit juice) to get the right texture. There is no need to add salt, sugar, honey, fat or oil. 4. If not used at once, refrigerate quickly. Use within 2 days or throw away. 5. Freeze if you like. Pour the pureed food into a clean ice-cube tray. When frozen, put the cubes into plastic freezer bags. Label and date each bag.

Dear Cradle Crier, Ever since we had a baby, there’s been a lot of strain between my partner and me. There’s never much time for feelings and fun. Will we ever have time to just sit and talk? Wondering, Wanda Dear Wanda, You aren’t alone. Lots of new parents feel cramped for time with all the demands a new baby brings. Even if it’s hard to find, talk-time with your partner is important. You each have feelings to share. • Save a special time each week, even an hour – just for you and your partner. If you can’t find a babysit- ter, choose a time when you’re pretty sure your baby will be sleeping. Keep this hour like you would any appointment or date! • Use “I” messages, such as “I feel angry when ____.” Tell your partner how you feel without blame. Instead of saying, “You always put me down!” say, “I feel put down when you tell me _____.” • Be honest and direct. Say what you mean – don’t hope your partner will guess what you are thinking or feel- ing. Starting with the “I” message say, “I get upset when you leave your boots in the living room and expect me to pick them up.” What you want isn’t clear if you only say, “The living room is always a mess.” • Don’t get caught in the question trap. Instead of saying, “Why didn’t you call to tell me you’d be late?” say, “I was worried. Please call me the next time so I won’t worry.” When you’re about to ask a question, stop and listen to what you were going to say. What are your real feelings? Put them in a statement, not a question. • Listen carefully to your partner. Don’t interrupt, jump to conclusions or offer quick advice. Make sure you understand – even when you don’t agree. Say, “Let me see if I understand. Are you saying that …?” • Be sure to tell your partner what you think is going well in the relationship! • Learning to say things in a new way isn’t easy, but there’s a real pay-off in this skill and it will last a lifetime. The secret is to get to the feelings. Then you can head off problems before they get too big.

Best wishes, Cradle Crier

WIC To participate in the NH WIC Program, one must live in New Hampshire, and meet specific income guidelines.

Cradle Crier / Month 6 Page 5 Resources: Your County UNH Cooperative Extension Office The NH Family Resource Connection, 1-800-298-4321 Network New Hampshire, 603-224-1279 The Institute on Disability, UNH, 603-862-0560 Poison Control Center, 1-800-222-1222 NH Dept. of Environmental Services, 603-271-3445 NH WIC Program, 1-800-WIC-4321

On the web go to: www.extension.unh.edu www.parentingresources.ncjrs.org

Cradle Crier Watch for the next issue of Cradle Crier. Be sure to contact your county UNH Cooperative Extension office if you have questions or would like additional information on child development, parenting and/or family life, or visit us at our web site.

References: The Growing Years. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Parenting the First Year. North Central Regional Extension Publication Building Baby’s Brain: The Basics. The University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Writers: Mary W. Temke, Ph.D., Human Development Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension and Colette Janson- Sand, Ph.D., R.D., Nutrition Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension. Assistance provided by Libby Ryan, graduate student, Department of Family Studies, UNH

Illustrations by Karen Busch Holman

Copyright 2002 by UNH Cooperative Extension. All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce any of these materials, contact Educational Marketing and Information Coordinator at 603-862-1564.

“Helping You Put Knowledge and Research To Work”

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. University of New Hampshire, U.S. Department of Agriculture and N.H. counties cooperating.

6/05 Cradle Crier / Month 6 Page 6