New Baby Preparation -- 6 months of age

• Safety gate
  Babies begin scooting around 6 months of age. Make sure your home is safe by placing a gate at the top and bottom of stairs or in doorways that may lead to hazards. The best style of safety gate has a latch that can be opened with one hand as you will likely be holding the child when you need to open and close the gate.

  Avoid a gate that needs to be removed and replaced in order to get through it. Having to step over an infant safety gate is not safe. Spend a bit more money for a quality gate, if necessary. This is an invaluable purchase.
• Electrical Outlet Covers
• Lightweight stroller
  These are easy to pack and maneuver. They allow you to get-up-and-go more easily and are very helpful when traveling with children who are a bit older and more mobile.

  If you hang the diaper bag on the handle, be sure to remove it first before taking the baby out of the stroller. Always secure the child in the seatbelt with the lap belt and strap between their legs. A toddlers or young child may want to wiggle free of the seatbelt and stand in the stroller. This is extremely dangerous as the stroller can tip over, causing harm to the child.
• Activity chair or exercise seat
  A good choice is a bouncy seat that hangs from a door frame, if you have a door frame with molding. This equipment is excellent for physical and mental development.
• Front pack
  This allows you to have your hands free while shopping, going for a walk, or moving around the house. It is not the easiest way to get things done, but it is nice to have the baby close by and they can sleep while you move about.

  Trying to put a child in a front pack while you are wearing it can be awkward and difficult. The easiest way to put your baby in a front pack is to lay the child on a bed, slide their feet and legs into the front pack, then lean over and place the straps over your shoulders and around your back and clasp it before lifting the baby to you and standing up.
• Fold-and-go chair with tray
  This is a fold-up chair that has a tray and can be strapped onto an adult chair and serve as a high chair. They are very handy for travel and make feeding a toddler safer and easier.