6 Month Baby Must Haves: What Babies Need at 6 Months
What are the Must Haves for a 6 Month Old Baby?
What do babies need at 6 months?
Between 6-12 months, your baby changes so much! It’s an entirely different experience from 0-6 months.
You’re introducing solids. Your baby is learning to sit up, crawl, stand and walk. He or she is talking and teething more, grabbing and throwing things, and reaching for different toys.
What you need during 6-12 months can be very different from what you used during 0-6 months.
My baby just turned 1 year! Here are the six month baby essentials I loved!
They helped her in these new development stages. Or they made my life easier and gave me more time to do other things. They didn’t break the bank!
I have no regrets. I would purchase these again without hesitation!
Related Baby Must Haves Articles:
- Baby Must Haves for the First 3 Months
- Checklist and Tips for Flying with a Baby on a Plane
- Things I actually used from my hospital bag checklist
- Best Gifts for a 1 year old
if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.
26 Essential Items for a 6 Month Old
6 Month Feeding Essentials:
1. Bib
I’ve used both the cloth and silicone bibs. I’ve found the silicone bibs are better because they’re easy to put on and wipe down. I like these particularly because they’re larger and softer than other bibs I’ve seen.
When she was 1, I switched to this bib with sleeves.
It’s light, waterproof and has an elastic at the wrist to prevent food from going up. It was perfect for us at 1 year when she started being able to move her silicone bib out of the way and get the food all over her clothes!
Some moms prefer this bib with sleeves for their 6 month old. I still prefer the silicone bib at 6 months because it’s just a little bit easier to clean and has a slightly better pocket to catch food.
2. Suction feeding mat
With your baby throwing everything on the ground, a suction feeding bowl is a must!
This one is made of silicone so even if your child is able to remove the suction cups and throw it, it won’t damage your floors or furniture. It’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
3. Utensils
I LOVE these bendable spoons and forks!
Babies struggle to hold spoons let alone get the spoon into their mouth.
When my baby could finally hold a spoon, I still had to assist her with getting the food into her mouth. She would turn the spoon over in transit, drop the food and then get what little was left in her mouth.
With these bendable spoons and forks, you can shorten the length or change the angle. It can be adapted according to your child’s motor skill development.
Little ones get to the stage of wanting to be independent eaters, and these bendable utensils help them get there with less food spillage and waste.
4. Transition cup
We heard from a nurse that we shouldn’t give our 6 month old girl a traditional sippy cup because it might result in tooth decay and speech issues. She said babies need to learn how to use regular cups.
We gave our baby water through a regular cup. Naturally, the water spilled everywhere!
We heard from a fellow mom about this trainer cup. It’s exactly like a regular cup except there are minimal spills!
The baby drinks from the rim like any regular cup. It’s only when you tilt the cup and apply pressure to the inside rim that liquid comes out. Your baby can whip it around or throw it on the ground – maybe a few drops will come out, but that’s it!
5. Snack storage
You could use ziplock bags for storing snacks. We love this snack catcher because my 6 month old baby can feed independently.
6. Iron-fortified cereal
This is the first food my baby ate. Our doctor said breast-fed babies need iron rich foods at 6 months because they start losing iron. I mixed the cereal with breast milk.
I had heard from a mom to start with a runny mixture (a bit of cereal with a lot of breast milk) to slowly introduce your baby to feeding from a spoon.
Over time, she suggested to make the mixture more lumpy (add more cereal with the breast milk) so your baby is exposed to different textures. This worked well for us!
If you’re interested in tracking the foods your 6 month old has already tried and monitor reactions to common allergens:
Here’s an prefilled but editable and customizable Baby Foods Checklist printable PDF that’s very inexpensive.
7. Premade food
With every meal, my baby had both pureed/lumpy food (for nutrients) and a finger food (to develop her ability to feed herself).
For the pureed food, I just threw everything we were eating into the blender. My baby ate hardly any of it over days. It was a waste of time.
I then came across premade food pouches.
I didn’t use these all the time because I wanted to expose her to different foods. It was a convenient way to feed her a good serving of fruits and vegetables when things got busy!
I also occasionally gave organic puffs to my 6 month old. They look like cheese puffs, but are a healthier and fun snack option to mix things up.
8. Snack Storage
Little ones are ravenous. I’m constantly preparing snacks and meals for my 6 month old baby.
A Bento Box is a useful item to have for on the go meals.
It’s also practical for portioning out her meal at home.
I like how there are additional separate compartments in this bento box. Sometimes you want that separate container for sauces.
I like how my 6 month old can grow with this bento box and use it in preschool and perhaps later years as well.
9. Tiny Scissors
It might seem odd to see tiny scissors on this list, but they have been a game changer! Making meal prep for a 6 month old SO MUCH EASIER!
I found out about these from my mom!
She got them for my sister-in-law because she was struggling to chop up food for my niece when we were at a restaurant.
While you can use any pair of scissors, these tiny scissors are DESIGNED for parents to efficiently cut up their children’s food:
- They’re compact and portable – made for taking on the go.
- They include a holder to keep the scissors clean and protect little ones.
- The two pack allows you to keep one in the kitchen and one in your diaper bag!
- They’re faster and easier to use than a knife and cutting board.
- They’re BPA and Phthalate free.
Like other scissors, after you wash them, dry them immediately before storing to prevent rust!
10. Booster seat
I initially got this Ikea high chair, which came recommended by many moms. It worked well.
The only thing was that the height was too low for her to be able to see the food on the dining room table. It felt like she wasn’t a part of the eating experience with us.
When she was 1, we ended up switching to a Fisher Price Booster Seat and immediately, she was more interested in food and engaged when we all ate together.
It was a small change, but I regret not just buying this booster seat earlier because it can be used with 6 month olds.
What I also like about having a booster seat instead of a high chair is that it’s easily portable. You don’t have to bring along the legs.
This booster seat also grows with your child. You can remove the booster seat table and adjust the height of the seat to fit your table.
Safety and Health Must Haves for a 6 Month Old:
11. Baby gate/playard
We have 2 baby gates.
We live in a house with an open concept layout. We wanted to get an extra wide baby gate – something that could stretch across the entire room. This would give her a large space to play and keep her enclosed within a room.
We love this Summer Infant baby gate! The majority of the gate is mesh so your baby can run into it and not get hurt! It expands to fit openings up to 143″ so it fits spaces perfectly! It doesn’t have to be awkwardly bent. This gate can also convert into a playard.
We also have this Regalo baby gate. It fits up to 192″ wide. This gate looks nice. While it can also work across a room, it works particularly well for spaces where you need the gate to be angled e.g. around a fireplace.
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12. Outlet covers
These outlet plug covers do the job. They also block out the draft on exterior walls so you’re saving energy!
13. Bath spout cover
This bath spout cover provides MUCH NEEDED protection from accidental head bumps during bath time! This is especially necessary with the baby increasingly on the move and exploring.
When I first saw this, I thought it was a ridiculous product.
When my little one was wobbly and bumped her head into the coffee table, I just imagined how that could have been the bath spout.
It would have resulted in more than just a scare for her. She would have been seriously hurt.
If you have regular baths in the bath tub, this is a must have! The whale is also gosh darn cute!
This spout is also mold and mildew resistant! With many of its alternatives, mold appears shortly after use.
14. Sunscreen
When a baby’s under 6 months, he/she can’t have sunscreen.
After 6 months, especially when you’re lounging at the beach or outdoor pool, it’s a good idea to have a baby sunscreen on hand.
Getting a mineral sunscreen (made without oxybenzone, parabens or added oils and fragrance) is better than a chemical sunscreen.
Here are a host of benefits detailing why mineral sunscreen is better than chemical sunscreen.
The big reason is because mineral sunscreens are made with natural minerals and not chemicals.
Another reason is that chemical sunscreens take 20 minutes to be absorbed into the skin before it starts working, which you might forget.
If you’re putting your child in daycare, daycare staff don’t have time to manage one kid’s sunscreen application time along with everything else they have to do.
15. Toothbrush
With 6 month olds eating solids, you’ll need to start using a toothbrush even if they don’t have much teeth!
I initially gave my baby the toothbrush she got for free at her first dental visit, but it was too hard on her teeth. She wouldn’t use it.
It’s important for your 6 month old to have a toothbrush with soft bristles so that it’s gentle on their sensitive gums.
With the handles, the baby banana is easy for her to hold and use herself.
Toys for a 6 Months Old Baby:
15. Walker
The Fisher Price Walker is great for 6 month olds and beginner walkers. It’s for ages 6 months-3 years so I imagine she’ll get a lot of use out of it!
There are a lot of activities like piano keys, rollers and 75+ songs!
Even if your baby isn’t interested in walking yet, this is a toy your child can have fun with sitting down.
If your baby is using it to learn how to walk, it does take off quite fast so I recommend closely supervising your baby while he or she is learning how to control the walker.
16. Portable Toy
We love this Baby Einstein Musical Toy! This is a must have distraction toy when we’re in the car and out of the house.
There’s a large button she can press to switch between the 7 songs. She loves watching the lights flashing to the beats. I actually really like listening to the classical tunes – it’s calming!
It’s small enough to fit in the diaper bag!
17. Activity Cube
This activity cube is one of my 6 month old’s favorites! She loves pressing the buttons, seeing the flashing lights and dancing with the songs and animal sounds.
She can also spin the blocks and move the gears. There’s a variety of motor skill development!
This cube can hold her attention for at least a trip to the bathroom! It’s great for encouraging your child to sit up. It’s for ages 6 months-3 years so I can see she’ll get a lot of use out of it!
18. Teether toy
We first got her Sophie the Giraffe when she was 3 months old and she didn’t use it until she was 6-7 months. Now she likes chewing Sophie’s ears and horns when she teethes!
If you have a clip-on, you can attach the teether to the baby’s shirt so it doesn’t fall on the ground.
19. Ball
I first heard about this toy from a mom who was raving about it because even her 6 month old boy (who is a small baby and has tiny fingers) can play with it.
The oball toy ball is soft, light and bendable (it caves in when stepped on so it doesn’t hurt her). The large holes make it easy for my baby to grip. This is the first toy she was able to hold and play with. Now we play catch with it. She loves it!
20. Exersaucer/Jumper
My 6 month old girl loves this Baby Einstein Activity Jumper! There are over 12 activities including musical ones. The seat swivels so your baby can independently move to different activity stations.
I like how my baby can also jump in this – building her leg muscles.
This is a great place to put your baby in when you need to get a few things done around the house!
I’ve often heard it referred to as the circle of neglect because you can leave your baby in it for hours! I would normally only put her in it for 15 minutes/day as I’ve heard overuse can hinder their development.
Books for a 6 Month Old
21. Touch and feel books
We got the Baby Touch and Feel Animals book as a gift. She can play with it on her own. She likes flipping the pages and touching the different textures e.g. puppy’s fur. It’s durable and she can’t chew the pages as easily as other books.
There aren’t many words or textures, but it’s my baby’s favorite book! When I often put out 5-10 different board books for her to choose from (some of them also have touch and feel features), she always goes for this one!
22. Colorful and engaging books
We also got this Usborne Book Collection as a gift. The books are about dinosaurs, animal homes, the zoo, night time, the garden, and the farm. I love reading these with her!
There’s so much good information for her to know. The illustrations are beautiful. She loves touching the holes and moving the flaps.
Clothing Needs for a 6 Month Old
Related: Here are our baby clothing essentials for the first year.
24. Bigger Clothes
When she was 6 months and going out more frequently, we bought larger versions of all of the staple clothing pieces like:
- Short-sleeve bodysuits
- Long-sleeve bodysuits
- Pajamas
- Sleep sack
- Footed pants
- Shorts
- Warm jacket
- Sweater
Swim suit
At 6 months, we started taking our baby swimming.
From speaking with other moms and dads, it seems this is the age people often start taking their babies to “swimming lessons”.
We took our baby to a swimming lesson. The babies don’t actually learn how to swim on their own, but they get comfortable with being in the water. There’s usually singing and lots of water movement. It’s fun!
If your little one is planning on going to an outdoor pool area or beach, it’s convenient to have a swimsuit that has UPF 50+ protection.
Here’s one with UPF 50+ Protection for girls.
Here’s a boy’s version.
Sun shirt
A fellow mom introduced me to these breathable UPF 50+ long sleeve sun shirts.
I love them!
I use them for when we’re going out to the beach or park or it’s just a really sunny day and I just want to put her in a light shirt (that doesn’t have to be waterproof).
With the shirt, I don’t have to put as much sunscreen on her.
18. Hats with a wide brim
During 6-9 months is when you often see babies start to crawl. With them moving around a lot, this UPF 50+ sun hat has a wide brim to protect the face, but it’s not too huge to obstruct his or her vision.
It’s light and can be easily folded for the diaper bag. It has a chin strap for windier days.
The best part is that there’s an adjustable toggle so you can loosen or tighten the width of the hat so it’s always the perfect fit and stays on your baby’s head.
23. Socks with grips
During 6-12 months, she was often pulling to a stand and learning how to balance.
It was important for her to be either barefoot or had socks with grips for hardwood floors.
19. Everyday Shoes
My baby didn’t need shoes before she was 12 months.
I know some babies start walking as early as 9 months.
If your baby is an early walker, you’ll want to get good everyday shoes.
These Stride Rite sneakers are genuine leather with a rubber sole so they’re soft and durable.
I love how they offer great support and promote natural foot and balance development.
There’s a memory foam sole so it’s extra comfortable. They’re easy to put on with the velcro strap.
Stride Rite has a huge variety of baby shoes to fit different tastes.
Additional Things a 6 Month Old Needs
Here are a few other things I used a lot in her 6-12 months. I also used these things during her 0-6 months period.
24. Carrier
This ergonomic carrier was a lifesaver for me to be able to comfortably carry my baby while being hands-free and get stuff done around the house! I’m not a doctor.
After reading about hip dysplasia and the importance of using a baby carrier that has a supported seated position, this carrier became my #1 choice. Of course, you should always do your own research on the topic before making a decision.
What I like particularly about this carrier is that it can be used with a newborn right away at 7 lbs (no additional infant insert required) up until the baby is 45 lbs.
It can be adapted for all carry positions including facing the baby inwards and outwards, carrying on the hip or back.
You can even breastfeed your baby in it. Sometimes I found the carrier easier to use than a stroller when I was out of the house. For example, when I was going to a restaurant with tight spacing or on a plane.
25. Diaper pail
The Ubbi Diaper Pail was one of the most expensive diaper pails on the market. After a lot of consideration, we got it and we are so glad we did.
With her eating solids, the diapers have gotten smellier! It has been 12 months and it still traps in the odor. The odor hasn’t been absorbed like what I’ve heard can happen with the plastic pails.
You can open it using just one hand. With its tall and thin frame, it’s a space saver and is large enough to hold at least a week’s worth of diapers. There is a child safety lock feature but we haven’t had to use it yet.
As it has a classic steel design, we might just keep it after our diaper days are over and use it as a regular trash can in the house.
Here’s the best part:
There are no special expensive refill bags like the Diaper Genie; we just use regular garbage bags. If you do have a leak in your bag, I highly recommend cleaning the pail immediately because otherwise you might get rust.
Final Thoughts on Essential Items for a 6 Month Old
6-12 Months goes by fast! Don’t forget to enjoy every moment!
If you’re planning ahead, here are my 1 year old must haves.
If you’re worried about managing costs, here are two excellent ways to save money on your baby:
If you’re still pregnant, sign up for the Amazon Baby Registry and get a FREE welcome gift bag in addition to a registry completion discount!
Registry Completion Discount:
Amazon provides you with a one-time 10% discount on select items from your registry, 60 days before your child’s arrival date.
If you are an Amazon Prime member, the one-time discount is 15%!
Amazon Prime also comes with 20% off diapers and baby food when you have more than 5 subscriptions. The best part about this membership: 2 day FREE shipping and FREE access to movies, TV shows, music and books. You can cancel your other subscriptions!
There are also FREE 90 day returns on baby store purchases. You can get the FREE 30 day Amazon Prime trial here, which you can cancel at anytime.
Welcome Gift Box:
To be eligible for the welcome gift box, you must be:
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- Spend a minimum amount from your registry, which can be from yourself or others (It’s $10 in the US or $25 in Canada.)
For Canada only, you must also have at least 20 items added to your registry.
Here are the specific eligibility requirements in the US. Here are the eligibility requirements in Canada.
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Recap of 6 Month Baby Must Haves
- Bib: Silicone bibs, bib with sleeves
- Suction feeding mat
- Utensils: Bendable spoons and forks
- Transition cup: Trainer cup
- Snack storage: Snack catcher
- First food: Iron-fortified cereal
- Premade food pouches
- Bento Box
- Tiny scissors
- Booster seat: Fisher Price Booster Seat
- Safety gates: Summer Infant baby gate, Regalo baby gate
- Outlet plug covers
- Bath spout cover
- Mineral sunscreen
- Walker: Fisher Price Walker
- Portable toy: Baby Einstein Musical Toy
- Activity cube: VTech Activity Cube
- Teether: Sophie the Giraffe
- Ball: oball toy ball
- Exersaucer/jumper: Baby Einstein Activity Jumper
- Touch and Feel books: Baby Touch and Feel Animals book
- Colorful and engaging books: Usborne Peep Inside Collection: 6 Books Box Set
- Socks: Socks with grips
- Carrier: Ergo carrier
- Diaper pail: Ubbi Diaper Pail
- Toothbrush with soft bristles
Related Baby Essentials Articles:
- How to Raise a Baby on a Tight Budget
- 0-3 Month Old Baby Must Haves for Frugal Parents
- Checklist and Tips for Flying with a Baby on a Airplane
- What things I actually used from my hospital bag checklist
- Best Presents for a 1st Birthday
- FREE Baby Samples
- What to Pack in your Diaper Bag
- Practical Baby Shower Gifts
- Daycare Essentials for Babies and Toddlers
- Baby Clothes Essentials for the First Year
- Alternatives to First Birthday Parties
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Great post very helpful for new mum.My LO loves the girafe toy he loves chewing on this with the ears, legs and body there are lots of different places to chew. Our squeaker broke, so that is disappointing, but our baby didn’t really care about the squeaker anyway.The quality of the rubber and paint are great, they’re holding up really well, even after months of use.