6 Month Old Must Haves

Once your baby hits 6 months, you’ll realize that life with a more active baby isn’t the same as it was with a newborn.

I found my babies started to tackle some big milestones between 6 to 9 months old like eating solid foods, learning to sit up and mastering the art of waving and babbling.

As they neared the age of 9 months, they may even start to crawl and stand. Some of the babies in my mother’s group had even started to take their first steps! Though for my babies they didn’t start walking till after their first birthday.

Needless to say, with all of these developmental changes, it’s easy to see why you need different items and supplies for this time. A newborns needs are definitely different to that of a 6 month old baby.

But it can be overwhelming knowing what are the 6 month old must haves, especially with all the choices and products available for this age group.

So, to make things easier, we’ve put together a list of everything you need for your 6 to 9-month-old baby. Having the right items on hand to suit your 6 month old baby needs will make life much easier for both of you!

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6 Month Old Must Haves

To make things easier I have listed all the must have items for 6 month old I used based on the different milestones they may be reaching:

Feeding Supplies

At 6 months old, a baby may be ready to start solid foods as a complement to their breast milk or formula. Here are some physical milestones related to eating solid foods:

• Sitting with support: Your baby should be able to sit upright with support to help them swallow food more easily.
• Good head control: Your baby should have good head control, which will help them keep their food in their mouth and swallow it safely.
• Ability to move food to the back of the mouth: Your baby should be able to move food from the front to the back of their mouth and swallow it.
• Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex: The tongue-thrust reflex, which causes babies to push food out of their mouths, should start to fade.

It’s important to note that starting solid foods is a gradual process and every baby is different. Some may be ready as early as 4 months, while others may not be ready until 7 or 8 months.

To ensure you are ready to introduce solids to your baby here are some of the baby items I found most useful!

High Chair

Firstly, if you are going to start your baby on solids you’re going to need a safe and convenient place them to sit and eat.

Whilst there are quite a few high chair alternatives available, I found that a high chair was the most convenient.

I really liked the fact that a high chair brings your baby to the height of the table, so we were able to enjoy our meals together. I found that being at eye level with you, it helped to enhance the interaction and bonding experience during meal times.

When choosing a high chair for your baby, you’ll need to consider it’s safety features such as five-point harness, stability, and durability, adjustability, ease of use, comfort, style, and price.

The Graco Blossom 6 in 1 Convertible High Chair is a popular choice among parents, with over 10,000 5 star reviews on Amazon with good reason. This high chair transforms seamlessly from an infant high chair to a traditional baby high chair, an infant booster, a toddler booster and finally a youth chair. And it can be used for two children at once, so it can easily grow with your family.

However, if you are choosing to follow the baby led weaning approach to starting solids then I highly recommend checking out these best high chair for BLW.

Or if you are looking for a portable high chair to take with you to restaurants or on your travels. This portable high chair by Inglesina that hooks onto the table is a great option. It gives your baby a clean, safe place to sit. It won’t leave any scratches and has strong grips to keep it attached to the table.

Bibs

I never knew how messy eating could be until I gave my first-born solids! After the very first spoonful of puree I realized that I needed to invest in some bibs or I would end up wash more clothes than anyone wants to do so.

I started off with cloth bibs, but found silicone bibs to be better and lead to less laundry. These are easier to put on your child and clean up easier. All you have to do is wipe them down with a clean dishcloth and soap.

If you have a particularly messy eater, another option is a bib with sleeves. These are lightweight, waterproof, and great when you give your child something messy to eat. It covers their entire torso and protects their clothing.

Feeding Utensils 

Whether you’re using the baby-led weaning method or not, you’ll want to have a few sets of forks and spoons on hand for your baby.

I found having a spoon or fork available alongside food helped to encourage my babies helped them get used to holding it and associate it with mealtimes.

Parents rave about bendable forks and spoons. You can change or shorten the length and angle, adapting to your child’s motor skill development. Babies often turn their spoons over to the side when using them at first, dropping their food.

Multiple Bowls & Serving Dishes

Hands down on of my favorite buys for feeding as a bowl which had a suction feature on the bottom. It made it much easier for my kids to get use to scooping food from their bowl as well as reduced the mess I had to clean up. No more bowls sliding everywhere, or worse, being tipped onto the floor!

You’ll want to have multiple bowls and dishes for your baby. Having a few is best, so you only have to load up the dishwasher once.

Silicone is an ideal material for these because silicone is dishwasher and microwave friendly. This three-pack from WeeSprout is fantastic.

Suction Feeding Mat

Another option to consider similar to the suction bowls and plates is a suction feeding mat! It is basically a plate on a mat that sticks to the tray of your table or high chair.

Again, look for a suction feeding mat that is made of silicone so the material won’t damage your floors, even if your child finds a way to remove it. It’s also easy to clean and dishwasher-friendly.

Splat Mat

Whilst I never used a splat mat, I love the idea and wish I had! Babies toss their floor, intentionally and unintentionally. Half their food never makes it into their mouth, making quite a mess on the floor. I know I spent countless hours cleaning up after mealtimes.                

A splat mat is basically a mat that sits on the floor underneath where your baby is eating to protect your floors from spills and messes. Once your child has finished eating you can simply pick it up and shake or hose it off outside and your floors have remained clean! And while it works great under a high chair or booster seat for a 6 month old, it also is great under a craft table for a toddler so you can get extended use out of it.

On-the-Go Table Covers

Once your baby starts eating solid foods, going to restaurants becomes more interesting. Your baby wants to try your food and sits in a high chair near you. However, as much as we don’t want to think about it, tables at restaurants aren’t always the cleanest.

Disposable, stick-on placemats for your baby is a great alternative. You stick the placemats to the restaurant table, and then you know it’s a clean surface to place your baby’s finger foods.

Transition Sippy Cup

Six months old is a great time to introduce a sippy cup. Parents often give their babies water while eating solid foods.

Some parents prefer to skip the traditional sippy cup and instead opt for a transition sippy cup. A transitional sippy cup is like a regular cup with fewer spills. Using one of these cups means you can introduce a real cup sooner.

These cups allow your baby drinks from the rim like a normal cup, but you have to tilt and apply pressure for the liquid to flow out. If your baby turns it upside down, it won’t leak without the pressure.

If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby, like I did, then the transition can be a little harder. If that is the case, I recommend checking out these best sippy cups for breastfed babies that have been designed to help aid in the transition.

Snack Storage

Once your child starts eating snacks regularly while out and about, you’ll want some snack storage to bring things with you. This stainless steel toddler snack container with a lid is great for easy food access and is durable. Best of all, it fits most standard cup holders, even in the car.

You’ll find plenty of times you need to bring snacks with you.

Baby Food Maker

If you’re like me then you may want to try your hand at homemade baby food, and while a blender or food processor works, a baby food maker is an investment to make the process easier.

The Evla’s Baby Food Maker is simple and easy to use with multiple functions parents need. It allows you to steam, blend, reheat, and defrost food; it even has a self-clean function! The self-cleaning function is a time saver for busy moms; all you have to do is add clean water, and the machine cleans itself.

This is something you buy with your first baby, and it will last for years to come!

I also loved adding my homemade baby foods into reusable food pouches. These where so handy when I was on the go and saved me a ton of money in buying the commercial baby food pouches.

Baby Proofing

As your baby becomes more active and starts to gain momentum, you’ll want to babyproof their surroundings.

Babyproofing is the process of making your home safe for a baby or young child. This involves removing or securing potential hazards, such as sharp corners, loose rugs, and toxic chemicals, to prevent injury and create a safe environment for your child to play and explore.

Some common babyproofing tasks include:

• Covering electrical outlets and securing loose cords
• Installing safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
• Locking cabinets and drawers that contain harmful items
• Using safety latches on windows and doors
• Installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Putting padding on sharp corners and edges of furniture
• Placing non-slip mats in the bathtub and securing rugs with non-slip backing
• Moving houseplants out of reach and securing blind cords
• Checking your home for lead paint and other hazardous materials
• Keeping small items and choking hazards out of reach

Baby Gate or Playard

Sometimes you may need to section your mobile baby off from sections of your home for safety reasons and the easiest ways to do that is to install baby gates.

Baby gates are a safety device designed to block off access to potentially hazardous areas of a home for young children. It typically consists of a metal or plastic frame that can be positioned in a doorway or at the top of a staircase and a swinging or sliding gate that can be opened and closed as needed.

Baby gates are commonly used to keep babies and young children from wandering into rooms with dangerous objects or from falling down stairs. I used a baby gate to block off the stairs off our deck as well as block off my kitchen.

The baby gates I brought were adjustable so I could easily move them around and fit then to the different openings.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a safe area to contain your baby then playpens are another option.

Parents often put playpens in the middle or side of the living room, with plenty of toys for their child to enjoy. It lets parents head to the bathroom or grab a snack knowing their baby is in a safe space.

You can learn more in my guide on the best playpen for crawling!

Outlet Covers

Another one of the top 6-month old must haves is outlet covers. Once your baby begins crawling, electrical outlets become a serious safety hazard. They are often eye-level with your infant, the perfect place for her to put her fingers.

Luckily, outlet covers are one of the most inexpensive babyproofing items you can purchase. They are worth it; they save lives.

I still use them in my home now even though my kids are a little older.

Baby Bath Seat

Once your baby sits unassisted, it’s a great time to use a baby bath seat. It’s one of those baby bath time essentials that makes bathtime fun for your baby as they no longer have to be held! A bath seat provides additional support for your baby and makes easier your you to bath them.

The Summer Infant Bath Seat has a removable tray and three bath toys to keep your baby entertained. It has a high back rest for more stability while bathing your wiggly baby, and it’s easy to remove from the bathtub when you are done. It’s compact for storage; slip it under the sink or into your closet when you are done with bathtime.

You may also like this guide on the best baby bath seats which also includes a handy buyers guide!

Bath Spout Cover

Another safety item you may want to have on your list is a bath spout cover. As your baby enjoys bathtime and begins moving around the tub on their own, the bath spout becomes a hazard.

All it takes is a slip, and your baby’s head or eyes may hit the metal. That is a hospital trip waiting to happen. An easy solution is the Skip Hop Bath Spout Cover, a universal fit cover that looks like a whale. It’s inexpensive and works perfectly!

Cabinet & Drawer Locks

Some cabinets may be safe for your baby; playing with pots and pans feels like a right of passage for toddlers and infants. However, some cabinets, like the ones with all the cleaning supplies, are dangerous to your baby.

The same goes for drawers! Some are safe, like the ones with all the dishcloths, but you don’t want your infant near the knives.

Look at how your cabinets and drawers are set up. These simple adhesive cabinet latches may work, especially for rentals, because they require no screws. Another option is these u-shaped proof child locks that are adjustable and easy to use for cabinet doors.

Toilet Seat Locks

Some little ones are very fascinated by a toilet! The water, buttons, the seat the goes up and down, but as you can imagine toilets pose a safety hazard for your baby.

Not only from a sanitary perspective, but babies easily climb and fall into a toilet. It’s a drowning hazard, so the easiest way to prevent this it to block off your bathroom. However, this isn’t always possible so in that case, you may want to consider a toilet seat lock.

This toilet lock uses 3M adhesive, so it’s easy to install without any tools. It works for most toilet seat designs.

Safety Bumpers for Furniture

I can’t tell you the number of times I have walked past the coffee table and caught my leg on the corner.

Whilst a bump to the leg hurts and more often than not I end up with a bruise, it is nothing in comparison to your active baby bumping their head or face. Especially, when a coffee table or ends of tables are at their head height when crawling or standing!

One of the easiest ways to protect your child, and possibly your legs, is to use corner bumpers for furniture. These are soft, often silicone, covers that slip over the corners of your various pieces of furniture. This variety of corner protectors has grips to prevent them from coming off the furniture.

Furniture Anchors

Another danger in plain sight is your furniture. It seems safe to adults, but infants and toddlers use furniture to pull to stand or climb, especially furniture in their rooms such as baby dressers. If the furniture tips as they pull, it becomes a major safety hazard.

Unfortunately, infants die each year because furniture tips over on them. That’s why it’s essential to have furniture anchors to keep your baby safe throughout your home.

Shopping Cart Cover

Once your baby sits unassisted, it’s safe to allow them to ride in the shopping cart at the store.

However, let’s be honest; the carts are definitely far from clean. That’s why a shopping cart cover is a great option if you want your child to ride in the buggy.

This shopping cart cover goes over all of the cart your baby may touch, and it’s reversible with two fabric patterns. It’s made with 100% cotton and offers extra padding for comfort. Babies love the straps to put toys, and it also has a cell phone pouch. Turn on some Miss Rachel and put the phone into the pocket for some store entertainment time.

First Aid

I think it is always a good idea to have basic first aid supplies on hand in case of an emergency, even more so when you have kids. Children, including 6-month-olds, are prone to accidents and injuries, and being prepared with first aid supplies can help you respond quickly and effectively.

Infant Ibuprofen

Infant ibuprofen is safe for infants six months old and above. Before this age, Tylenol was your only choice if your baby had teething pain or a fever. Now, it’s good to have ibuprofen on hand as well, especially since these doses last up to 8 hours rather than only 4 hours.

First Aid Kit

If you don’t already have a first aid kit with bandages and other medical items, now is a great time to do so. Babies will hurt themselves, and it’s smart to have the items on hand.

If you’re putting together your own first aid kit I highly recommend adding the following items:

• Sterile gauze pads: To clean and cover cuts and abrasions.
• Adhesive bandages: To protect cuts and blisters.
• Antiseptic wipes or cream: To clean and disinfect cuts and abrasions, especially as you’re baby is more likely to get scrapes and cuts as they learn to stand and walk.
• Digital thermometer: To check for fevers.
• Pediatric pain reliever such as acetaminophen: To reduce fever and relieve pain.
• Infant fever reducer such as infant acetaminophen: To reduce fever in infants.
• Tweezers: To remove splinters and other foreign objects.
• Saline solution: To clean nasal passages.
• A nasal aspirator: To remove mucus from nasal passages.
• An instant cold pack: To reduce swelling from injuries.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of my summer baby essentials! However, parents should avoid using sunscreen on infants under six months old.

Once your baby reaches six months, be sure to grab a few bottles as you’ll want to apply it when your baby is outdoors, especially for long periods. Sunscreen protects your baby from dangerous UV rays.

Look for a mineral-based sunscreen for your infant with zinc oxide or titanium oxide as the active ingredient. Babyganics SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen is a safe, pediatrician-tested sunscreen my parents use.

Developmental Toys

Developmental toys are important for 6-month-old babies because they can help support their growth and development in several key areas. At this age, babies are starting to develop their physical skills, such as sitting up, crawling, and reaching for objects. They are also beginning to explore their environment through their senses and develop their cognitive and language skills.

Developmental toys for 6-month-olds are designed to encourage and support these developments as well as provide opportunities for play and bonding with caregivers, which can be important for building trust and attachment.

Baby Walker

When it comes to the best baby walkers, there are two main designs. A traditional baby walker which typically features a seat and a sturdy frame with wheels that allow the baby to push it around and a sit to stand baby walker which is a frame on wheels they can pull themselves up on and then hold onto as they take their first steps.

Both are designed to help infants transition from crawling to standing and walking and often include interactive toys and buttons that play music or light up, providing stimulation and entertainment for the baby.

When the baby is ready, they can use the walker to stand and take their first steps, helping to develop their balance and coordination. The walker provides support and stability as the baby gains confidence in their new skill.

I actually had both types of walkers, but found the VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker was used the most, especially given how portable it was to take from room to room or even in the car.

Exersaucer or Jumper

Babies love exersaucers! It’s safe for infants who hold their heads up securely and enjoy it most when they sit unassisted.

Skip Hop Baby Activity Center offers a whole-body approach to playing and learning. It has a unique window that lets your baby see his feet while playing, which teaches cause and effect. The activity center features a 360-degree rotating seat that turns and stretches for bouncing.

Later, as your baby grows, the center becomes a table for coloring, playing, and cruising around. It’s a versatile item to get for your baby.

You may also like my guide on Exersaucer vs Jumperoo!

Small Toys

Toys that can be grasped and held will help strengthen their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are perfect for your 6 month old’s development.

Rattles, squeeze toys, and soft toys that make noise will stimulate their sense of hearing and encourage them to reach for and explore their surroundings.

Stacking toys and blocks will help them learn about cause and effect and improve their hand-eye coordination.

You can even get your baby car seat toys for when you’re on the go. The BeeSpring Kid Hanging Rattles attach to your child’s car seat handles and offer different hanging toys and colors for infants. Your baby will find it fascinating, and car rides might not be as frustrating as before.

Activity Cube

A wooden activity cube is a great investment; it keeps children entertained for quite a while. It offers different interactive sectors on each side of the cube and on top.

Battat is a five-sided wooden activity center with a farm theme. The toys include spinners, a bead maze, doors to open, puzzles, and more. It’s an award-winning, timeless toy for kids to love for years.

Touch & Feel Books

Books belong in your 6-month-old must-haves. Reading to your baby increases his vocabulary and early literary skills.

Six-month-old babies love exploring and feeling new textures. Touch and feel books are an educational way to satisfy your baby’s sensory needs while teaching him new words.

Both my babies loved these Bright Baby Touch & Feel Books; they have three books in the series. At The Zoo is another great board book, featuring touch and feel sections.

Clothing

Bigger Clothes

As your baby grows you’ll need to go up in clothing sizes as well as diapers. Clothing sizes do vary from brand to brand, and whilst many are sizes by age, I found that my babies tended to grow quickly, so I was always buying a size up. When my babies were 6 months old, I was buy 9 month old size clothes for them. I also found it handy to look at the recommended weights.

Here’s a general guide for your baby’s clothing sizes by weight:

• 3 months: 8 to 12 pounds
• 6 months: 12 to 16 pounds
• 9 months: 16 to 20 pounds
• 12 months: 20 to 24 pounds

You may also like this guide on what size does a 1-year-old wear in clothes.

Here are some of the essential clothing items that you will need to consider having on hand:

• Sleepers / Footed pajamas
• Pants and shorts
• Short-sleeve onesies
• Long-sleeve onesies (if in the winter)
• Socks
• Hoodies or jackets (if during cold weather)
• Swimming attire including a swimsuit, rash guard, swim diapers, and swim hat (warmer weather)
• Diapers (if you have an especially active baby you may even want to consider switching to pull ups. You can learn more in this guide on when to switch to pull ups.

Pre-Walking Shoes

A six–month–old won’t walk yet, but it’s a great time to get your child accustomed to wearing shoes. Look for pre-walking shoes, typically called soft-sole shoes, to cover your baby’s feet while out.

Soft-sole shoes are typically made with leather or several layers of fleece or cotton, like these Zutano Organic Baby Shoes with Gripper Soles. They are great for the wintertime when socks aren’t enough to keep your baby’s toes warm.

Teething Supplies

Babies typically start teething around the age of 6 months, but it can vary from baby to baby. Some babies may start teething as early as 3 months, while others may not start until they are a year old. Mine were both started teething around 9 months.

During teething, a baby’s gums become swollen and sensitive, which can cause discomfort and irritability. This is because the baby’s teeth are pushing through the gums, causing them to become tender and sore.

If your baby is experiencing discomfort during teething, there are several things you can do to help, such as giving them a clean, cool teething toy to chew on, or gently rubbing their gums with a clean finger. You can also ask your pediatrician about using over-the-counter pain relievers or teething gels.

Teething Toys

When it comes to teething toys, you have all sorts of options to consider to help give your teething baby some relief. And the good thing is teething toys are pretty inexpensive.

I think this Infantino Lil’ Nibbles Carrot is adorable and love different textures for teething relief. This Baby Elefun teething toy ring made with easy-to-clean silicone is also another one of my favorites.

Toothbrush

Once that first tooth appears it’s a great time to start brushing your baby’s teeth and getting him used to the process.

To start you’ll need a toothbrush designed for babies that is soft for their delicate gums. This toothbrush set from Dr. Brown’s is perfect and comes with strawberry fluoride-free toothpaste.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies are one of those baby must haves 6-12 months items! You’re going to need them for all the fun and messy things your 6 month old gets up to, from getting food everywhere to crawling outside. But, their skin is still very delicate. So, I always recommend stocking up on some extra baby-safe cleaning supplies so you can easy clean their faces, hands, clothes, high-chair, or even toys properly.

I actually had a few refillable baby wipe containers in strategic spots around the house so I could aways get something to clean with when in a hurry.

Baby safe cleaning supplies you may want to consider:

• Baby wipes
• High chair wipes
• Paper towels
• Hand and face wipes
• Laundry detergent
• Baby fabric softener

Final Thoughts On Must Have Items For 6 Month Old

As you can tell by this must have for 6 month old list, life with a 6 month old can be very fun, but also very messy! So, I’ve tried to cover all the items you’ll want to consider getting to help your family enjoy this stage of life even more as your child starts to enjoy solid foods and becomes mobile.

I hope you have found this 6 month old baby essentials list helpful!

And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out my guides on best rugs for babies to crawl on, best toys for crawling babies, when to stop using baby swing, and when can your baby face forward in carrier.