Baby at 6-9 Months: Babyproofing and Other Products Needed

By the time your baby nears 6 months, you’re probably well aware that life with a more active baby is certainly different than living with a newborn. Get ready—your baby is about to become even more mobile. 

Over the next three months, your baby will tackle some pretty big milestones, such as eating solid foods and learning to sit up, wave, and babble. As they near 9 months, they might crawl or stand. As a result, you can start preparing to keep your curious baby safe and healthy. 

It’s common to get a little overwhelmed by all the different kinds of products available for this age group. There are a lot of choices, and it can be hard to know what you actually need and what you can skip.

To help, we’ve compiled a list of everything you can do and purchase for your 6- to 9-month-old baby. Being prepared will make life easier for the both of you!

Babyproofing

During this stage, your baby will go from sitting up to standing, which means your biggest priority right now is to make sure that your home is safe. Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death for young children.

How much babyproofing equipment you need will ultimately depend on your house's size and layout.

A good way to begin (and end) the childproofing process is to get on your hands and knees and crawl around, looking for sharp corners, stray cords, exposed sockets, and any other hazards that are low to the ground and within a baby's reach.

Here are items that will help make your baby's life safer:

• Baby gates: These are especially important at the top and bottom of stairs and in front of fireplaces.
• Electrical outlet covers: The safest ones are those that cover the entire outlet.
• Doorknob covers: These can be placed on doors to rooms that would be unsafe for your baby to enter.
• Cabinet and drawer locks: It's really important that all cabinets containing cleaning supplies, medications, alcohol, silverware, and any other hazardous items are kept securely locked because curious babies love opening doors.
• Stove guards: These will go over the knobs on your stove and keep your baby from accidentally turning it on or burning themselves.
• Appliance locking straps: Expect these to keep the doors to your dishwasher, refrigerator, and other appliances closed.
• Window gates or guards: This is a good idea even on the ground floor.
• Corner covers: Look for foam or soft covers that can be stuck down on any sharp edges and corners of furniture to keep your baby from bumping into them.
• Cord covers: Hide any wires to electronics, TVs, or power cords under a cord cover wherever possible.
• Furniture and electronic anchors: Secure any furniture or electronics (like your TV) to the wall to keep your baby from pulling it down on top of them.

Feeding Products

Your baby will probably start eating solid foods around 6 months (once they show all the signs of readiness), and they’ll start grabbing finger foods and feeding themselves around 9 months.

Whether you want to make your own baby food or buy premade foods, is totally up to you. It's OK if you don't have the time or don't feel comfortable making your own baby food from scratch. Just look for minimally processed, low-preservative ingredients, as well as organic brands. You can also look into baby food meal delivery services.

Keep in mind, your baby will still need breastmilk or formula until their first birthday even though they're eating solids. However, as they start eating, you should offer them small amounts of water in a sippy cup.

Here's a list of products you'll need:

• A high chair or upright baby seat: For safety reasons, make sure to pick a high chair or upright baby seat with a three- or five-point harness, a crotch post so your baby can’t slide out, sturdy legs to minimize the risk of tipping, and a seat that encourages baby to sit upright while eating. 
• 4-5 bowls and serving dishes: To minimize the chances of your baby throwing their entire meal on the floor, look for dishes with suction cups underneath so they stick to the table or high chair tray. 
• 3-7 infant spoons: Look for ones that are small enough for your baby’s mouth and that don’t have any sharp sides. Softer spoons, such as those made of silicone, will also work better than metal ones once your baby starts trying to bite the spoon too. 
• 3-5 bibs: Once your baby starts feeding themselves, things get messy quickly so you might want to consider getting bibs that are easy to wipe clean or that have long sleeves.
• A splash mat: No matter what you do, some food is going to end up on the floor, but a splash mat can make cleanup a little easier.
• A baby food maker: This can help you steam, cook, mash, or puree food, but don't feel like you have to buy a really fancy one. Some babies prefer finger foods or outgrow their baby mush pretty quickly.
• First foods: Whether you're making your own food or not, fresh produce (such as berries, bananas, and avocados) can make great finger foods or snacks. Once your baby gets a little more comfortable with solids, puffs, and Cheerios can also help your baby work on their pincer grasp.
• 1-2 baby food cookbooks: There are lots of options when it comes to cookbooks, but you probably don't need more than one or two at most.
• 2-3 sippy cups or straw cups: Your baby can practice drinking water, breastmilk, or formula from a sippy cup or through a cup that has a straw.
• 3-4 food storage containers: If you want to make your own food, you might want to make it in batches, which means you'll need some storage containers.
  

Clothing

Somewhere around their six-month birthday, your baby will likely be rolling around, scooting around, and trying to crawl. By 9 months, they could be pulling themselves up to a standing position, cruising around by holding onto furniture, and maybe even taking their first steps (though some babies won't walk until after their first birthday and that's totally normal too!).

With all this movement, though, you'll probably want to invest in some clothes that can hold up to some wear and tear. Here's what you'll want to get:

• Durable everyday outfits: Look for clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Pants with reinforced knee pads are also a great choice.
• Seasonal clothes: Coats and hats are a must if you live somewhere with cold winters. Sunglasses, rompers, and summer hats will keep your baby safe in the warmer season.
• Socks with non-skid soles: Before your baby learns to walk, they don't really need shoes. In fact, it's easier for them to keep their balance when they first start pulling themselves up and cruising if they're not wearing shoes. However, socks with non-skid soles will come in handy.
  
• A swimsuit, rash guard, and swim hat: Depending on the season, you might also consider introducing your baby to swimming around this age in order to encourage them to like the water. If you do take them in the water outside, though, consider getting a rash guard and swim hat to protect them from the sun. (Don't forget to pick up some swim diapers!)
• Pajamas: Footed PJs can be a good idea in the winter or if you live somewhere cold. Sleep sacks are still OK to use; and if you do rely on them, you'll want to make sure that they don't restrict your baby's ability to use their arms or roll over in their sleep. As a result, some parents start making the switch to pajamas around this age.
• Diapers: Babies will still be using up to about 9 diapers a day at this age.
  

First Aid Must-Haves

Your baby's first-aid kit is likely already well-stocked with nasal aspirators, saline spray, diaper cream, petroleum jelly, and a thermometer. Now that your baby is 6 months old or older, you can add a few first-aid medications to it in case you need them.

Remember to always check with your baby's health care provider before giving your baby medication to make sure you're giving them the right dose. But here are a few items you'll likely want to have:

• Infant ibuprofen: Infant Advil and infant Motrin are safe to give to babies over 6 months old when ordered by a medical professional.

• Infant acetaminophen: Always ask your health care provider for dosage instructions on baby Tylenol, which should never be given under 12 weeks of age.

• Baby gas drops: Simethicone (Mylicon) can be safe for babies if they have painful gas.
• Antibiotic cream: Your baby might get more scrapes and cuts as they learn to stand and walk.
• Second-generation antihistamines: In the case of an allergic reaction, you may need to administer an antihistamine. Experts advise using second-generation antihistamines, including children's Zyrtec or children's Claritin. These are typically for kids ages 2 and older. Keep in mind, experts no longer recommend using first-generation antihistamines, including diphenhydramines like Benadryl, for children because of the increased side effects.

Cleaning Supplies

Six to 9-month-old babies can be really messy. Whether they're dropping food on the floor, squishing it on their clothes, or rolling around on the ground, things get dirty quickly. (Blowout diapers aren't a thing of the past yet, either.) That's why it's a good idea to stock up on some baby-safe cleaning supplies so you can clean their clothes, high-chair, and toys properly. Here's a list:

• High chair wipes
• Sponges
• Paper towels
• Boogie/face wipes
• Lots of laundry detergent
• Hand wipes

Developmental Toys

Picking toys for your baby can be a fun, yet daunting task because there are so many options. The good news is, some of the best developmental toys for this age group are actually simple ones that encourage your baby to explore their world, interact with it, and get moving.

Other popular choices are toys that encourage your baby to work on specific skills. Look for ones that encourage your little one to crawl, stand, or walk.

Ultimately, it's up to you how many toys you want to buy. But here are some popular recommendations:

• Stacking blocks or cups
• Tummy time mirrors
• Crawling toys
• Soft balls
• Activity centers or jumpers
• Wooden bead mazes
• Push toys
• Sit-to-stand activity centers

Books They'll Love

By 6 months, your baby can see in color and three dimensions, so they tend to be drawn to colorful and interactive books, such as those that have touch-and-feel elements. They also respond when they're talked to, and they are beginning to make sounds in response. As a result, this is a really fun time to read to your baby.

By 9 months, your baby might be able to say simple words, such as "ma" and "da," and they might try to imitate words that you say. This can be a fun time to read books with pictures of everyday items that your baby is familiar with, such as books full of animals or foods.

Keep in mind, babies put everything in their mouths at this age. As a result, it's best to stick with board books because they can hold up better to wear-and-tear (and teething). You can also try fabric books.

Look for colorful, interactive, or touch-and-feel board books. Tongue-twisters can also get a reaction from your baby around this age too. Don't worry too much about the story of the book just yet. Right now your baby is more interested in the colors, the pictures, and the sounds you make when you read. As a result, simple books full of words and pictures are often good choices.

Teething Supplies

Your baby's first tooth will likely appear around 6 months, although some babies can get teeth before or after that. And by 3, most kids will have all their baby teeth. So if you haven't already, now is the time to stock up on everything you're going to need to support your baby's teething and take care of those very first teeth. Here's what you'll need:

• A variety of teether types: The only way to know what kind of teether your baby will like is to try a few different kids, ranging from freezable ones, hard rings, and silicone animals.
• An age-appropriate toothbrush: It's really important to establish a good routine with teeth hygiene early on with your baby to prevent decay. Most toothbrushes will indicate on their packaging what age they're aimed at, but generally, you'll want to start with a rubber training toothbrush to clean the baby's gums before the tooth erupts, then switch to a bristle brush once it appears. Look for one with a small head and extra soft bristles.

Bottom line: Your baby is going to change a lot between the ages of 6 and 9 months. With so much change, it can be easy to get caught up in the desire to buy your baby everything they could possibly need to support their development.

Remember, besides what you need to keep them safe (like babyproofing gear), what your baby needs most is for you to keep them happy and engaged as they grow up. So, don't worry if you can't buy everything on this list. That said, we hope it does provide some good inspiration to help get you started.