Routine health check-up: at 6 months

The goal of routine check-ups at this age is to check the growth, development and health of your child, perform the necessary regular vaccinations and give other recommendations for his successful progress.

Your baby is getting heavier and is expected to double in weight from birth by now. During this time, she learned how to use her sensory abilities: smell, taste, sight, hearing, touch, and connects them with motor activities: grabbing, rolling over, and maybe sitting. He continues to practice his vocal abilities, he has probably already started making syllables and maybe even repeating them. 

  • In addition to the usual preparation for the visit, don't forget to bring: your child's favorite toy or booklet and write down a list of topics or questions you would like to discuss with the pediatrician.  

Contents of the preventive visit 

  • Growth monitoring: the same measurements  length, weight and head circumference) will be administered and their values entered in the growth charts (maps). 

  • Introductory interview and counseling: The pediatrician or nurse will check how much the child has grown and how he is eating. If the child is breastfed, he will recommend continuing breastfeeding with a non-dairy diet. You will receive recommendations for the gradual introduction of various solid foods and a gradual increase in the number of non-dairy meals. The doctor will acquaint you with the most common problems and possible obstacles when introducing a non-dairy diet and give you specific advice. S/he will check if you are giving your child Vitamin D3 and iron supplement. 

  • Medical examination and assessment of development: a regular clinical examination of the child "from head to toe". This time, the doctor will follow how the child is held in certain positions, whether he resists his legs when leaning on the ground; whether he grabs an object with both hands and how he plays with it. You will also be asked about how active the child is, how he sleeps. You will be able to ask questions of your interest. 

  • Healthy life style: The team will talk to you about prevention of exposure to tobacco smoke, prevention of early media exposure, Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle especially bottle containing formula or sweetened beverage, safe exposure to sunlight, and how to transport your baby safely in car. In addition, the team will talk about the importance of reading and singing to the baby and joining the baby to family activities. 

Vaccination: 

  • Your child is supposed to get between 5-6 months vaccines according to the immunization plan (usually she supposed to get the third dose of the combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hemophilus influenza b in one upper leg, and the third dose of the vaccine against  Streptococcus pneumoniae. The third dose of hepatitis B vaccine is also suppose to be given at the age of 6 month. 

  • If your child, for some reason, missed one of the vaccines he or she was supposed to receive during previous visits, there is an opportunity to make up for it. 

Final opinion 

  • At the end of the visit, the doctor will tell you his/her assessment about your child's progress and health. 

  • S/he will give you recommendations on how to support your child in learning and movement, will maybe share some written materials with you. 

  • If necessary, the child will be referred for additional consultative examinations with other specialists.  

After the visit 

  • Write down new information and useful tips. 

Remember that your child's growth and development is fast and that you need professional help and support to enable your child to fully realize the potential with which s/he was born. Don't miss this opportunity!