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 the age of nine 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. Accidents are the 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.
Feeding Supplies
Your baby will probably start eating solid foods around the age of 6 months (once they show all the signs of readiness), and they’ll start grabbing finger foods and feeding themselves around 9 months. So, you’re going to need a good high chair, clip-on seat, or booster seat. We also recommend securing bibs and bowls to serve the food and cut down on the mess (which there will be a lot of.) Another decision to put on your radar: whether you want to make your own baby food or buy premade foods. It’s totally okay 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. Some parents like the control that making their own food gives them over the quality of foods their baby eats. Plus, lots of people are understandably nervous about feeding their little ones store-bought food after the February 2021 report about heavy metals in commercial baby foods. If you do decide to make your own food, you’ll probably want to pick up a baby food maker though, along with a baby food recipe book or two so that you know how to prepare the food safely. There’s no need to toss all your bottles if you plan to keep breastfeeding and pumping at this age. Your baby will still need breastmilk or formula even though they’re eating solids until their first birthday. However, as they start eating, you should offer them small amounts of water in a sippy cup.
Clothes
Somewhere around their 6-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. 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, they could use some socks with non-skid soles. 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. 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 rashguard and swim hat to protect them from the sun. (Don’t forget to pick up some swim diapers!)
First Aid
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, you can add a few first-aid medications to it in case you need them. Remember to always check with your baby’s pediatrician before giving your baby medication to make sure you’re giving them the right dose.
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.
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 the simpler ones. Mirrors, balls, rolling toys, and stackable cups can all be popular choices right now, encouraging 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 baby to crawl, stand, or walk. These can be stand-up activity centers and walkers.
Books
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. They’re more likely to be interested in the pictures and the words you read.
Stacking blocks or cupsTummy time mirrorsCrawling toysSoft ballsActivity WalkersWooden bead mazesPush toysSit-to-stand activity centers
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. Babies can still be a little hard on books at this age because they put everything in their mouths. As a result, it’s best to stick with board books at this age because they can hold up better to wear-and-tear (and teething.) You can also try fabric books.
Teething Supplies
Your baby’s first tooth can come anytime between 3 to 15 months—and it can continue until they’re 24 months. 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. In other words, in addition to a collection of different kinds of teethers, you’re going to want to buy your baby’s first 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.
A Word From Verywell
Your baby is going to change a lot between the ages of 6 and 9 months. It’s a really exciting time. 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.
