6-Month-Old: Week 1

Independent sitting is itself an important skill, but it's also a big step toward learning to crawl. Once your baby can sit up, it's only a matter of a time, strength, and coordination before he lunges forward onto his hands and knees. A few babies start crawling (or getting around via some other form of early locomotion, like scooting) by 6 months, although most take off between 7 and 9 months.

How your baby's growing

As your baby starts becoming more active, he'll appreciate wearing comfy clothes. Opt for soft fabrics that won't chafe him as he's moving around. Loose, stretchy, and breathable clothing is also smart as it provides your energetic little one plenty of wiggle room.Avoid clothes with rough or scratchy seams; long ties, buttons, or bows (could be a choking hazard); and anything else that gets in the way of your baby's sleeping, crawling, playing, or other regular activities.• Learn more fascinating facts about your 6-month-old's development.

Your life: Eating well

Taking care of a baby is, simply put, tiring. Heavy food can make you sleepy afterward, so try to keep meals and snacks light and nutritious.

Don't skip breakfast.
Tempting though it can be when you're rushed, your body needs to refuel after a night's sleep (or especially a night of nonsleep!). Proteins such as eggs or slow-burning carbs like oatmeal will give you energy to last all morning.

Climb the food pyramid.
Aim for those daily 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruits recommended for women of childbearing age. Keep crudités (cut up raw veggies) on hand in your refrigerator. Add diced vegetables to quesadillas, roll-ups, and casseroles. Fruits can be dried, frozen, or canned — all are healthy for you. Make smoothies from fresh or frozen fruit, fruit juice, and yogurt.

Look beyond junk food for pick-me-ups.
After giving you a quick burst of energy, chips and candy can leave you feeling more sluggish than before. Find more nutritious high-energy alternatives such as baked potato chips, light popcorn, almonds or peanuts, and granola bars. Buy a premade trail mix or concoct your own with chopped or dried fruit, raisins, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nuts, and coconut flakes or chocolate chips.

Count carbs in.
Carbohydrates are a great source of energy, so think twice about cutting them out entirely in an effort to lose weight. Consider pasta in moderate servings without heavy sauces, for example, or crackers with cheese.

Drink healthy.
Remember to keep hydrated with lots of water. Also try 100 percent fruit juices and energy
drinks, but be aware of their sugar content and remember that caffeinated drinks can cause you to be dehydrated.

3 questions about: Asthma

What is asthma?
Asthma, the most common, serious chronic disease among children, is an inflammation of the lungs' lining and airways that causes difficulty breathing. Allergens, irritants (including cigarette smoke), and viral respiratory infections can cause an asthmatic attack, which can be fatal if not treated appropriately in time. Although it's a serious health situation, with careful management most children with asthma are able to live normal lives.

What are some signs that my baby may have asthma?
Your baby may have asthma if he coughs often, has allergies, eczema, or a family history of these symptoms. Possible signs of an attack include rapid breathing, coughing, wheezing, whistling, sucking in of the skin around the ribs, flaring of the nostrils with each breath, and skin turning blue.If you think your baby is having an asthma attack or any trouble breathing, immediately call 911 or take him to the emergency room.

What should I do if my baby has asthma?
If the diagnosis is asthma, your baby's doctor will discuss the many ways this problem can be managed. Together you can figure out which situations are likely to trigger asthmatic attacks, such as respiratory ailments or something environmental, such as dust. Treatment usually includes a controller medication for prevention and a quick reliever drug, administered via inhaler or a nebulizer machine, for stopping attacks. You'll also need to educate your baby's caregivers about his asthma and its treatment.