The sixth month of our daughters' life

Congratulations, M! You are already a half a year old!

I remember hearing about what a half a year baby can do when she was just under a month and thinking that this time seems to be ages away. But now it's already here!

Important events

Our life has been flying by. My rotations and work mean long days away from home. I'm missing M a lot, but thankfully it is manageable. I'm enjoying every minute spent together with her. When I'm away, she is cared for by her grandparents.

During this month we met several of our friends, including M's little friend who is her age and went for many walks. Six days before turning six months, she got to sit in a big girl stroller. She loves to look around when sitting up, but thankfully it is possible to lay it completely flat as well.

We also purchased a running stroller so I could do sports with her. I used it for the first time just day before yesterday: we ran for 6,5 km and did another 4 km run+walk (M slept the whole time!). I ran lots before having her and I hope that I can share my passion with her.

We also put together her high chair so that she can sit together with us by the table and have a meal!

Eating

I am so proud of us - M is still receiving breast milk (live and pumped&frozen). I breastfeed (and supplement by bottle) at 7 am, 6 pm and 10:30 pm (and if necessary, at night). She gets a bottle at 10:30 and 14:30.

We started introducing solids just now by following the Rapley method (finger foods). She has taken exactly zero real bites, but this is fine by now! We will see how it goes and if necessary, go over to purees. She certainly has interest in food by now and she can sit on her own (with some necessary support in the chair).

Sleeping

It seems that M has (almost) gone through the fourth month sleep regression. Although over the daytime, we are still struggling with her not being able to connect two sleep cycles together on her own, we have managed to not feed her for most of the nights for about 2-3 weeks. We try to offer her more milk at 10:30 pm (instead of just breastfeeding, also the bottle) and give the pacifier at night when she wakes up.

It seems sadly that this has brought about her needing the pacifier more than before during sleeping. I am not sure at the moment what is the best - weaning her now from the pacifier or maybe teaching her to insert it herself at some point. Weaning would be hard (for me) as it is a simple way to calm her during car rides or at night.

As a positive point, M has agreed with sleeping in her stroller when walking again and during car rides.

M still has three naps during the daytime and goes to her night sleep at 19, has a dreamfeed at 22:30 and wakes up at around 7 am. She sleeps about 14,5 to 16 hours per day.

New skills

M rolls very well over her right shoulder from back to belly, when needed, also over the left one. She can crawl backwards, although she attempts to go forward.

Her playpen seems quite tight for her now with all the practicing she is doing so she spends majority of her awake time on the floor. If you place her on a blanket, she has rolled over in a couple of minutes and is already playing with one of her toys (her favourites are the Oball, ring-shaped rattle and a crinkly chewing toy).

Favourite activities

Our daughters favourite activity at the moment is looking at the cats. Couple days ago she could also pet one of the cats (with the help of her grandmother).

She still loves to look at the nature. She is also very social, enjoys meeting new people, playing with our friends and show off everything she can do by now.

Numbers and statistics

Two days after her six month birthday we will go to the doctor for the vaccines and measurements. She is still wearing clothes size 62/68.