I am getting into everything now, either by crawling or holding on to furniture.

I like to babble and make long strings of sounds like "ma-ma-ma" and "da-da-da".

I may understand simple words like "no-no" and "bye-bye".

Continue to give me breast milk or formula with iron until I am at least a year old.

I would love it if you gave me more baby food and less milk now because baby food has more iron and a variety of flavors to accustom me to eating new things.

Let me try a sippy cup and small soft finger foods. I will be very messy.

I can have diluted juice now, but no more than 6 oz. total. It may interfere with tasting other new foods. Plain water is still better than juice.

Hold me, talk to me, cuddle me and sing to me. I love it!

Play pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo with me. I like playing these games now.

I like to smile back at you when you smile at me.

Read to me. I like to hear you read. I may even have a favorite book. Play music for me.

Encourage me to play with toys for babies my age. I like bright colored objects or toys.

Talk to my doctor about my baby-sitters and other caretakers.

Wipe my teeth with a soft cloth after meals. You can try a soft brush but no toothpaste yet because I might swallow too much fluoride.

If I still receive a middle of the night bottle, progressively change to just water in the bottle to keep my teeth from getting cavities.

If I am only getting water, I might decide to give up this feeding and let you get more sleep!

Never shake me.

Do not let me eat chips, hard candy, nuts or grapes yet because I may choke on them.

Place gates across all stairs, top and bottom. Do not put me a walker. They will not help me learn how to walk and I may trip on them.

To keep me safe, block access to electrical outlets, pad sharp corners; place locks on drawers and cabinets.

Do not let me play with plastic bags or balloons.

I can pick up small things now so do not let me play with small toys or sharp objects.

Always keep me buckled up in a car seat that faces the back of the car. The middle seat in the back is the safest for me.

Do not leave me alone in a tub of water. Take me with you if the phone or door bell rings.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially my face, nose, ears, feet, and hands, even the backs of my knees. Use a cap that shields my face.

I may wake up at night more often now.

Help me go to sleep by myself by putting me to bed awake and having a bedtime routine.

A small stuffed animal, other favorite toy, or pacifier may calm me at bedtime.

Having a consistent response to my awakenings will help me get back into sleeping through the night.

On average, babies have 8 to 10 illnesses in their first year.

I may show that I am ill by having fever, congestion, cough, vomiting, diarrhea or skin rash.

I may not want to eat and I may act irritable.

You can help by having a thermometer at home and knowing how to take my temperature

Write down what is wrong with me, my temperature and any questions you may have before calling the clinic nurse. This will help you get your questions answered.

It will also help to have acetaminophen infant drops or ibuprofen for infants to bring down fevers and an oral electrolyte solution for vomiting and diarrhea.

My brothers and sisters may be jealous of me. Have them do simple things to help with my care, but do not let them carry me or feed me.

Spend some time with them alone if you can so they feel they are important too.

I need both my parents to spend time with me and play with me.

Continue to take time for yourself and for each other.

Probably start walking or standing alone.

Use a cup to drink.

Become picky about what I eat.

Act more independent