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Developmental Checklist: 3 - 6 Months

Things Your Baby May Do

Remember: Handle your baby gently, even in play. Shaking your baby or jolting your baby by tossing him or her in the air can cause brain damage.
Hold your baby when you give him or her a bottle.
Do not prop the bottle up with pillows or other objects.
Do not give your baby nuts, berries, seeds, raw vegetables or other small, hard foods. They may cause your baby to choke.
Car seats should be used at all times and should be rear-facing in the back seat until the child is both over one year of age and over twenty pounds.

Well baby Checkups: 4 months, 6 months.
Immunizations at 4 months: DTaP, Polio, HIB, and PCV
*HIB – prevents one type of meningitis
*PCV – prevents some types of pneumococcal disease
Your child may begin cutting new teeth. This can make your baby very uncomfortable. He or she may run a temperature, have an upset tummy, be fussy or cry. Offer your baby a teething ring that has been placed in the refrigerator. Be patient.
After meals, first teeth can be wiped with a clean, damp cloth.

Do not start fruit juice until your baby is 6 months old.
Start feeding iron fortified infant cereal at 4 to 6 months. Begin with rice or barley and feed your baby with a baby spoon. Begin with small amounts of cereal, about one tablespoon and increase slowly.
Do not put cereal in your baby’s bottle. Do not add honey, sugar or salt.

Read to your baby. Cuddle your child in your lap and hold the book so both of you can see it. Change your voice to show happiness, sadness or other feelings as well as act out different characters in the story. Point to the characters in the book and talk about what they are doing.
Play peek-a-boo with her. Laugh when she laughs.
Hold her in your arms and dance around slowly. Your baby will enjoy the movement and closeness.
Make sure she is put in a safe place such as on a blanket when on the floor. Now she can move around freely and exercise her arms and legs.
When your baby hears sounds around the house, show and tell her what they are: for example, point out popcorn popping, music playing on the radio, or birds singing.
Soothe him when he cries. First check to see if he is hungry or wet and take care of those needs. If he still cries, rock him or walk with him cradled in your arms. Rub his tummy or his back to ease him. Sing or talk to him as you calm him.
Talk to her while she is awake. Share what you are doing: for example say: “Mama is sweeping the floor so that the house will be nice and clean.”
Hang a mobile over your baby’s bed that has pictures of you, your baby and your family. Change the mobile pictures often to pictures of objects like trucks, dolls, and animals or to simple patterns you draw in black, white or red.

Plastic clothes hanger
String – cut in 6 inch lengths
Glue – a washable school glue
Plastic lids to coffee can or butter tubs
Pictures of family or pictures of objects – simple patterns in black, white or red are recommended at this age

Glue pictures onto both sides of the lids of the coffee can or butter tub. Make sure there are no rough edges on the lids.
Punch a small hole at the top of the lid. Pull the string through the hold and tie it. (A dab or glue on the knot will keep the string from coming undone.)
Tie the other end of the string to the middle and the ends of the clothes hanger
Hang the mobile so that your child can see it.