What foods can 6 month old eat

For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old.  Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different. How do you know if your child is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.

Your child:

• Sits up alone or with support.
• Is able to control head and neck.
• Opens the mouth when food is offered.
• Swallows food rather than pushes it back out onto the chin.
• Brings objects to the mouth.
• Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
• Transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

What Foods Should I Introduce to My Child First?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.

If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortifiedalert icon infant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. Only providing infant rice cereal is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration because there is a risk for children to be exposed to arsenic. Visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administrationexternal icon to learn more.

How Should I Introduce My Child to Foods?

Your child needs certain vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.

Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to choose foods that give your child all the vitamins and minerals they need.

Click here to learn more about some of these vitamins & minerals.

Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps you see if your child has any problems with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.

Introduce potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.

Potentially allergenic foods include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow’s milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.

How Should I Prepare Food for My Child to Eat?

At first, it’s easier for your child to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very smooth in texture. It can take time for your child to adjust to new food textures. Your child might cough, gag, or spit up. As your baby’s oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods can be introduced.

Some foods are potential choking hazards, so it is important to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be easily dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing. Feed small portions and encourage your baby to eat slowly. Always watch your child while he or she is eating.

Here are some tips for preparing foods:

• Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water to make it smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
• Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are smooth.
• Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked so they can be easily mashed or pureed.
• Cook food until it is soft enough to easily mash with a fork.
• Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
• Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
• Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
• Cut cylindrical foods like hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
• Cut small spherical foods like grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
• Cook and finely grind or mash whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.

Learn more about potential choking hazards and how to prevent your child from choking.

When your child is about 6 months old, you can start introducing him or her to foods and drinks other than breast milk and infant formula.

The foods and drinks you feed your child are sometimes called complementary foods.alert icon You can think of these as “complementing,” or adding to, the breast milk or infant formula that you continue to feed your child.

Between your child’s first and second year, he or she will develop the skills needed to participate in meals with the family, and by the time your child is 2 years old, he or she will be able to eat most of the same foods as the rest of the family. Some skills, such as finger feeding, drinking from a cup, and using a spoon are part of your child’s developmental milestones. Explore the pages below to learn more.

Congratulations, your baby has hit the half-year milestone. In the first six months, she has gained all the nutrients from breast milk. It is now time for your baby to start tasting solids and relish them.

Also Read: 6 Months Old Baby Milestones

Video: Food Ideas for 6 Months Old Baby

Nutrient Requirements of a 6-Month-Old Infant

Here are the nutritional components that 6-month-old baby food should have:

1. Calcium: Calcium is essential for bone and teeth development.
2. Iron: Iron helps to carry oxygenated blood to developing parts of the body.
3. Zinc: Zinc improves cell repair and growth.
4. Fat: Fat insulates the baby and stimulates brain development.
5. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide energy for doing day-to-day activities.
6. Protein: Proteins act as building blocks for cells.
7. Vitamins: Different vitamins contribute differently to a baby’s growth. Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E and K are essential to a baby.
8. Minerals: Minerals like sodium and potassium directly influence the growth of a baby.

Also Read: Developmental Activities for 6 Month Old Baby

How Much Food Should Your Baby Eat?

A six-month-old baby is primarily breastfed or formula-fed. However, solid food can be introduced for breakfast or lunch. Introduce only one fruit or vegetable and feed it to your baby for at least three days. If she responds well and does not show any signs of allergy, then you can continue with that fruit or vegetable and also try other foods.

Best Foods for a 6-Month-Old Baby

Expert paediatricians recommend avoiding salt and sugar until the age of one, as it puts unwanted stress on the kidneys.

Some healthy food options for 6 months+ babies include:

• Fruits Puree: Fruits should be steamed, and mashed or pureed while introducing for the first time. Fruits like apples, bananas, pear, avocado, chikoo and peaches can be given.
• Vegetable Puree: Vegetables such sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, sweet pumpkin, french beans, etc. can be steamed and given either as finger foods or as a puree.
• Pulses Soup: A variety of pulses, especially dals, can be boiled with water and the soup can be given to babies.
• Rice Porridge: Rice is a good source of carbohydrates and vitamins for babies. Broken rice, made with breast milk or formula milk can be given as porridge.
• Cereal Porridge: Porridge can also be made from a variety of single grain cereals like wheat, millet, barley, oats, etc. These cereals can be dried and powdered together or separately, to make gruel.
• Vegetable Soup: A variety of vegetables can be boiled in water, and the stock can be given as soup.
• Yoghurt: Although cow’s milk is not recommended until the age of one, unsweetened yoghurt can be given in moderate amounts as an alternative to purees.

What If Your Baby Is Allergic to Particular Foods?

An allergic reaction can occur in the form of diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes, constipation or pain in the stomach and is a cause for concern. If there is an allergic reaction, stop the food that you have been giving the baby immediately. If the allergic reaction persists, seek medical assistance. You can retry it after a few months if your paediatrician gives the go-ahead.

Also Read: Effective Tips to Take Care of 6 Months Old Baby

Video: Diet Plan for a 6-Month-Old Baby

6-Month-Old Baby Food Chart/Meal Plan

You can prepare a meal plan or chart for your baby’s meals and follow it as much as possible. The chart below can help you design your own 6-month-old baby food schedule according to your baby’s preferences.

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 1

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 2

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 3

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 4

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 5

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 6

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 7

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 1

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 2

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 3

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 4

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 5

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 6

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 7

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 1

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 2

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 3

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 4

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 5

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 6

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 7

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 1

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 2

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 3

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 4

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 5

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 6

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 7

Video: 6 Month Old Baby Food Recipes

Food Recipes for 6-Month-Old Baby

Here are some interesting Indian baby food recipes thaty your baby can try.

1. Apple Stew With Cinnamon

Ingredients:

• Apple – 1
• Water
• Cinnamon powder

How To Prepare:

• Cook the peeled and diced apple slices in boiling water.
• Alternatively, you can also cook them in a pressure cooker for two to three whistles.
• Take the steamed apples and blend them in a mixer jar. You can also sieve it to thin the consistency of the stew.
• To this, add a pinch of cinnamon powder and mix well.
• Apple stew is ready.

2. Mango Puree

Ingredients:

How To Prepare:

• Peel and remove the mango pulp.
• Blend the pulp to a paste or sieve it.
• As the fruit has natural sugars, serve without any added sweetners.

3. Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• Powdered Oats – 1 cup
• Water
• Breast milk or formula milk – as per requirement
• Banana – 1/2

How To Prepare:

• In a pan, boil 2 cups of water.
• Once the water starts boiling, add the cup of powdered oats slowly to the water and stir continuously to avoid forming lumps.
• Once the oats are cooked, add 2 tablespoons of milk.
• You can add the banana paste to give a nice flavour to the dish.

4. Sweet Pumpkin Puree

Ingredients:

• Sweet pumpkin – 1/4
• Water

How To Prepare:

• Deseed a small pumpkin and remove the pulp. Dice it into small cubes.
• Boil 2 cups of water and add the pumpkin cubes to it. Cover the lid and let it cook for a few minutes.
• Mash or blend the cooked pumpkin to a fine paste and feed your baby. The natural sweetness of the vegetable gives a good taste to the dish.

5. Rice Porridge

Ingredients:

• Powdered rice – 1 cup
• Water
• Breastmilk/formula milk – as per requirement

How To Prepare:

• Take water and boil it in a pan.
• Slowly, add the powdered rice and cook it well.
• Take care to avoid formation of lumps.
• Top up the cooked rice with 2 tablespoons of milk and stir well.

6. Potato Puree

Ingredients:

• Potato – 2
• Breast milk/formula milk – as per requirement

How To Prepare:

• Select potatoes that doesn’t have soft spots or cracks.
• Wash them and peel the skin off. Dice it into small cubes.
• To a cooker half-filled with water, add the potato cubes and cook for 1-2 whistles.
• Transfer the cooked potatoes to a bowl and mash them with a spoon.
• Add breast milk or formula milk.
• Delicious potato puree is ready.

7. Bottle Gourd (Lauki) Puree

Ingredients:

• Bottle gourd – 1/2
• Moong dal – 1 tbsp
• Jeera powder – a pinch

How To Prepare:

• Wash and peel the lauki. Cut it into small cubes.
• Add the lauki cubes and moong dal to a pressure cooker with 50 ml of water.
• Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
• Mash or blend it after it cools down. Add jeera powder (optional) and serve.

Feeding Tips

Feeding babies can be a daunting task for mothers. Here are some tips to make your baby’s mealtime happy and stress-free.

• Always start with just one or two spoons and give more only if your baby likes the taste.
• Introduce only one new fruit or vegetable at a time and observe her reaction to it, before starting with another foodstuff.
• Follow the 3-day rule and note down all the new dishes and ingredients you’ve fed your baby. This makes troubleshooting easier if she has an allergic reaction.
• Do not lumpy foods or finger foods to babies as small as six months. It can sometimes cause gagging and even choking.
• Decide on a calm and quiet place for feeding like the living room or the kitchen.
• Avoid distraction feeding, i.e. don’t feed your baby by getting her to watch something on a TV or mobile screen.
• Prepare and store baby food in sterilised steel or glass bowls instead of plastic containers.
• Give only homemade food as your baby’s digestive system is still underdeveloped.

Introducing solid foods to babies can be tricky, and mothers may feel confused as to what food is right for their baby. Most of the time, babies love to eat foods that are of varying tastes, textures and colours. A little effort towards tingling their taste buds can go a long way in successful feeding.

Disclaimer:

1. Each child is different and so use these meal plans as a trusted guide as per your discretion. You can modify the meals according to your child’s preferences / requirements.
2. Never force-feed a child.
3. While preparing formula, please follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon provided with it.
4. While introducing solid food to a baby, initially, one needs to prepare watery gruels/soups. As a child gets older, the caretaker/ mother has to increase the thickness of the liquids slowly according to the child’s capacity to swallow. Foods that are too thick can cause stomach upset/ unnecessary load; while excessively watery food might cause the child to remain hungry.
5. Some kids may eat less on some days and that is absolutely alright. However, if a child eats less for more than 3-4 consecutive days, please visit a doctor to guide further.
6. A child may eat less during the teething phase or if he/she may not be feeling well. You could increase breast milk /formula feeds on those days. Re-introduce the foods once the child is back to normal.
7. Don’t stop feeding if the child is suffering from diarrhoea.
8. You can alter the taste of the food by adding some natural flavours like cinnamon, jeera powder, lemon juice, curry leaves etc. if the child doesn’t accept the food initially.
9. If your child suffers from an allergy to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding him/her any foods that may contain them.

Also Read: Food Ideas for 7 Months Old Baby