6 Month Old Baby Development: Play Baby Games

Your baby has probably already doubled his birth weight, which means that not only is he is on target weight wise, but you're getting a serious upper-body-strength workout all day, every day. Throw in a walk with the stroller and you can cross that cardio session off your list, too.
What You're Thinking: "Hello waist! It's great to see you again!"

• Stimulate baby during bath time by putting bath toys in the tub. A squeaky duck or a bath book with big colorful pictures will not only give her something to play with, they'll give you something to distract her with when it's time to wash her hair!
• Your baby may be able to sit leaning on her hands by now, like a tripod. And some babies will already be sitting up completely—which means you can soon move that "nest of pillows" back onto the couch where they belong!
• At this age, your baby loves to be surprised. (Unlike you when you reach into the diaper bag after a BM blow out and—surprise!—you're out of diapers!) Buy her a jack-in-the-box and watch her laugh her head off over and over (and over) again when Jack pops out.

• You vowed to never go to a baby superstore again without a list. (Did you really need to buy three new bibs, another stuffed animal and more bath toys?)
• You used your baby's bedtime bubble bath while she was napping because you found it soothing. (Hey, it was either that or a midday cocktail.)
• You figured out how to deftly work the digital thermometer to get your baby's temperature before he wrestles out of your lap.
• You know that skipping your baby's bath once in a while doesn't mean you're condemning him to a lifetime of bad personal hygiene. (Case in point: your first week home from the hospital, when you only managed to shower once.)

Your once-narcoleptic newborn will soon be a curious crawler on a mission to explore every inch of your home. So in the spirit of taking preventative measures—as opposed to reactionary swan dives to intercept your baby's impending reaches for all things dangerous—we continue with our babyproofing journey, this time taking things outside to the backyard. Read more ...

• I've never really heard my infant babble. Should I be worried?
• Cleaning Your Kid's Ears
• Knowing the Difference Between a Food Allergy and a Food Intolerance

Do It: One-legged Wonder
Work your butt with this balancing exercise.
Buy It: DaysAgo Digital Day Counter
A nifty contraption that remembers how old that jar of half-eaten peas is so you don't have to.
Recipe: Minty Beans-and-Peas Baby Food
Sophisticated baby food for your little gourmet!
Discuss It: Chat with other new mamas and papas on our Baby Board.

BACK: Baby Development: More Month 6 / NEXT: Special Edition: Lose the Baby Weight

All babies grow and develop at different rates. So please don't compare your kid with so-and-so's baby from across the street—you'll just drive yourself nuts. If you have any concerns, bring them up with your pediatrician at your baby's next checkup.