Your baby’s clothing needs won’t change much as she
becomes more mobile, although you may wish to buy items with a little
more padding to protect her knees and elbows. You will both, however, be
ready for some new equipment as she forays into the world of solid
food.
To wear
Loose-fitting clothing that allows your baby to move easily is the order of the day, so make sure she’s dressed comfortably Three-quarter- or short-sleeved tops will keep her hands free Look for hard-wearing clothing, particularly at the knees Bibs are a definite necessity now, and they should be either wipe-clean with a “tray” to collect food spills, or large and machine-washable She’ll need plenty of extra changes of clothing as she begins to experiment with food; even the very best bibs can’t protect her clothes from the mess she’ll create Consider a baby sleep sack, which zips or fastens at the shoulders, to keep her warm in bed, since she’s getting too big to swaddle A pair of soft rubber bootees or an all-in-one fleece suit will allow her to remain dry and comfortable while she explores the outdoor world Consider hats with under-chin fastenings: removing and throwing hats is a popular baby game
Equipment
A jumper or a bouncing seat
that is suspended from a doorway—she may enjoy this as she becomes more
confident and independent, and it will also give her legs a good
workout A toothbrush and toothpaste—once
she’s eating, she’ll need to have food debris cleared from her mouth
twice a day, and when those teeth emerge they’ll need to be brushed
daily, too A foldable “umbrella” stroller is suitable from six months A sturdy high chair—ensure
it has an insert to snugly hold a younger baby; all high chairs should
have a harness or five-point belt to prevent escapes A splash mat, for under her chair 2–3 small plastic bowls, preferably with a suction cup to prevent her from firing the contents across the kitchen when you least expect it 2–3 chunky plastic spoons that her little hands can hold easily; she won’t be able to feed herself yet, but you can encourage her to try 2–3 weaning spoons, with a small “scoop” to make her first attempts at feeding a little easier A plastic cup or a cup with a spout; choose one with a “slow flow” so that she doesn’t choke
Equipment for preparing baby food
A food processor or hand-blender A hand-turned or electric grinder
(like you would use for coffee beans), which is ideal for potatoes,
sweet potatoes, and other root vegetables that can become sticky and
glutinous in a food processor An ice-cube tray that is flexible so you can easily tip out your frozen purées; choose one with a secure lid Stick-on labels:
your purées will last for up to eight weeks in the freezer, and 24–48
hours in the fridge, so you may wish to label them with the date you
made them and their contents Mini pots with lids, to freeze larger quantities of your baby’s favorites
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