At 6 months of age, babies already know how to do a lot of things. Here is a sample list of skills for a healthy, developing baby and the Best Formula.
In the social and emotional areas:
- Recognizes familiar faces and notices if someone is unknown
- Likes to play with others, especially parents
- Responds to others’ emotions and usually displays joy and happiness
- Likes looking in the mirror
In the areas of speech and communication
- Copies sounds
- Combines several loud ones when babbling (“a”, “e”, “o”) and likes to do this with parents
- Responds to his name
- Makes sounds to show joy or frustration
- Begins to make consonant sounds (mumbles “m”, “e” or “b”)
In the cognitive area (learning, thinking)
- Pulls things in his or her mouth
- Moves objects from one hand to the other
- Shows concern and tries to reach for things beyond her reach
- Examines things around her
In the area of motor and physical development
- Turns from tummy to back and back
- Begins to sit up without adult assistance
- When placed on its feet, it leans on them and may even jump
- Swings back and forth, and sometimes crawls first backward and then forwards
To do all this, a baby just needs a balanced diet. In a day, half a year, an old baby can be given no more than 1 liter of food. When a baby is breastfed, the feeding regimen is adjusted as needed. But on artificial nutrition baby should be fed 5 times, about every 4 hours with a break at night for sleeping up to 8 hours. Artificially fed baby at 6 months of age will include formula, which replaces breast milk, and complementary foods introduced at this age.
How to choose the best formula for your baby
Unfortunately, no manufacturer can reproduce the chemical composition of breast milk, although they all try very hard. Usually, all baby milk formulas consist of five basic ingredients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The main carbohydrate in the formula is lactose (85% of the carbohydrate composition). It consists of galactose and glucose and belongs to the disaccharide group. The remaining 15% are oligosaccharides. They include several molecules of simple sugars. Their main task is to support intestinal microflora and protect against harmful bacteria. Oligosaccharides replace the low molecular weight polymer glucose in mixtures. It normalizes the intestinal microflora and is responsible for the absorption of fats and their entry into the bloodstream. Thanks to this, the baby does not feel hungry. A very desirable component of baby formula is the amino acid – taurine. It is essential for children, especially in the first year of life, because it is responsible for proper brain function, cell building, absorption of fats, and other components. In older children, taurine is produced through the synthesis of cysteine and serine.
Many parents prefer organic baby formula because that way there are more guarantees that no hormones or pesticides get into the baby’s bottle. A good choice for a six-month-old baby is kendamil formula. It is made in the UK and is based on ingredients from neornithic family farms in Yorkshire and Somerset. This formula can be used as a staple food for your baby or as an additional food when mixed feeding. The kendamil products are EU Organic Bio certified, ensuring customers that the products are free from artificial colors, steroids, harsh metals, herbicides, and pesticides. The mixture is enriched with oligosaccharides (natural prebiotic) to ensure normal intestinal microflora, Omega-3 DHA (seaweed extract) is added to improve brain activity. The absence of palm oil, gluten, and soy in the formula helps minimize allergic reactions.
Menu for a 6-month-old on artificial feeding
The morning and evening feedings are formula feedings. Artificial feeding recommended balanced feedings in terms of calories, and nutrients, enriched with vitamins and trace elements, and hypoallergenic.
Of course, if there is a question of what else you can feed a child at 6 months on artificial feeding, you should not forget about whole cow’s milk, but it increases the risk of hypotrophy because of the lower caloric content. Approximate menu for an artificially-fed baby at 6 months of age:
- around 6 a.m. – milk formula 200 ml;
- 10 am – homemade oatmeal or ready-made oatmeal 150 ml, juice (from fresh fruit) 60 ml;
- 14 hours – mashed vegetables 170 ml, egg yolk;
- 18:00 – cheese 20-30 grams, fruit purée 60 ml, additional feeding with formula 110-120 ml;
- 22:00 – last feeding, milk mixture 200 ml
If desired, complementary feeding can be made on the third and fourth feedings. The ratio of a child at 6 months of age on artificial feeding should include different oatmeal (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal), but least often you can cook semolina, which contributes to rickets and overweight child.
Oatmeal can be cooked on its own or made from special ready-made oatmeal, diluted with milk according to a recipe on the package.
Also, on the menu of a child at 6 months of mixed feeding introduce different vegetables: potatoes, carrots, beets, zucchini, cabbage in boiled form, puréed with the addition of mashed boiled egg yolk. Products for vegetable purée must be fresh and not cause allergic reactions in children. If your little one is now around 10 months old and you’re looking for guidance on their sleep schedule, you can find valuable information at Nested Bean to help create a peaceful bedtime routine. Check out their expert insights in this article on the best formula for a 6-month-old baby.
The same requirements and for fruit, which are prepared fresh juices and purées can be used specially prepared for children of this age. Of the fruits used, only those that do not cause diathesis. Most often choose apples, pears, plums, apricots, or peaches.
Eat right and be healthy!
