————————-In this Article————————-

Reasons why 6th month is right time to introduce solid foods

Tips on how to start baby’s first solid foods

Foods to include & avoid in Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby

Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby- First Week

Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby- Second Week

Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby- Third Week

Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby- Fourth Week

Congratulations Mommie…! Your little bundle of joy turned 6 months old. Congratulations Mommie…! Your little bundle of joy turned 6 months old. Till now, the journey has been beautiful and it is about to get even more exciting from here on. 

Six months is the most exciting stage and it’s an important milestone, as the little one is ready to try his first solid food. He is reading for weaning foods (First Food for Baby). Food can be exciting for a baby and can take some time to get used to. Some babies will take to it right away, others it might take a few months. Mommies, don’t forget to capture when your baby will take his first baby meal. It will be very precious as they will make different cute expressions while having their food. I know you were waiting for this moment eagerly. Now the question arises what to feed and how to feed a baby? So, in this post, I have shared tips on how to start a baby’s First food and Indian weaning meal planner for 6-month-old baby.

A meal plan for a 6-month-old baby should include all the essential nutrients that a baby needs at this important developmental stage. This includes nutrients like iron, calcium, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fats, zinc, etc. An essential diet plan for babies should contain foods that have all these nutrients that can boost their growth and keep them healthy and free from any illnesses. While your baby is mainly breastfed, they can begin eating solid food slowly and it’s important to make sure it’s a mix of fruits and vegetables. An infant diet plan for your 6-month-old baby is provided below.

Some of the activities of 6 month old baby that you can also relate with your baby:

• 6-month-old baby starts sitting, smiling, laughing and babbling (ma-ma, pa-pa).
• By the age of 6 months, the infant has enough hand-to-eye co-ordination to put food and other objects into its mouth.
• he/she will be able to control his/her neck and trunk.

Are solids good for a 6-month baby?

Doctors and elders recommend waiting until the baby turns 6 months old to start feeding solid foods to him or her. A six month baby diet chart contains very basic solid foods. Foods are generally soft and pureed and not hard to eat. People who start giving their babies solid food before 6 months face lots of problems like allergies to food and asthma is very common. Before starting feeding the baby, solid food lets the baby turn at least 6 month old. So that he or she can sit upright and hold the position. Let them show their interest in food or you can consult your pediatrician before feeding solid food.

You can note down all the easy Indian food recipes referred to in all four diet plans by clicking on the link mentioned below:

6 Months is the right time: 

• For introducing complementary foods as infants are developmentally ready.
• For showing the books and sharing stories with your baby.
• For potty training as it will help you in the later stages.

It might be a little daunting when you are trying to plan for the diet of a 6-month-old baby. What foods to pick? What to avoid? Which is essential? You might also be worried about allergic reactions. Before jotting down the Indian Diet Plan for 6-month-old Baby and tips on how to start the baby’s first solid foods, let us discuss the reasons why 6th month of a baby is the right time to introduce them to solid foods.

Reasons why 6th month is the right time to introduce him solid foods:

• Exclusive breast feeding is recommended until your baby is six months old as the breast-milk helps in fighting infections and builds immune system, also it helps in preventing allergies at early stages of life. After six months, only breastfeeding will not provide all the nutrients to the baby but that doesn’t mean that you should stop breastfeeding the baby.
• Having said that, it is important to note that 7 month baby food should also include breast milk and formula milk as a major source of child’s nutrition. 
• Brain cells increases most rapidly before birth and during the first 5 or 6 months after birth. To attain the maximum brain growth, the baby needs optimal nutrition. 
• In 6th month he/she will be able to control his/her neck and trunk, with this ability the baby can turn away when satisfied.

NOTE: Introduce solid foods only at the age of 6 months because the digestive system is not strong enough to handle them. You must continue breastfeeding/ formula milk to your baby and it should be his/her major diet.

Subsequently, the 7th and 8th month baby diet can be put together based on the child’s preferences. 

Now that we know why first solids are introduced in 6th month, let us know important tips on how to feed a baby which are discussed below.

Important tips on how to start baby’s first solid foods:

• New foods should be introduced one at a time. A gap of 3 days should be there in between two new foods so that if any problem develops (any food allergies in baby) it can be readily identified.
• Always remember to go by the “3-day wait rule” for babies. Thus, a portion of food should be tried for a minimum of 3 days before the infant is permitted to reject it. 
• If a baby develops any food allergy then stop feeding that particular food. Also, consult your pediatrician in such case. (Diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, rashes and too-much crying due to stomach pain are the symptoms in baby of any particular food allergy.)
• Introduce the new foods only in the mornings to see how your baby adapts that food. 
• Never mix new foods together. Introduce them separately first to see whether the baby can digest the same or not.
• When we introduce new food only a taste or two is sufficient for the first try. Even if the baby takes the food eagerly, small amounts should be given to keep the sufficient appetite for milk. Remember don’t stop breastfeeding/ giving Formula Milk to baby.
• Always try to introduce vegetables than fruits because of the humans’ inborn preference for sweets.
• Be careful while feeding your baby as some solid foods can cause constipation. Read more about what to do in case of constipation in babies.
• The parents should heat a small amount to serve the infant. The food that has been heated and not consumed should be discarded because of the possible contamination with the salivary enzymes and bacteria. Food that has been opened but not heated can be stored in the covered jar in the refrigerator.
• Care must be taken to offer only food that the infant can chew and swallow safely.
• Always give home-made and fresh nutritious food to your little one.
• Sterilize the baby utensils that are used for cooking and feeding.

NOTE: In introducing solid food, it is important to follow the infant’s lead. To avoid later feeding problems, solid foods should be started when the baby is interested. Waiting too long to introduce solid foods may delay the infant’s acquiring the skill to manipulate the tongue appropriately. Some infants who have not started spoon-feeding by 6 months of age show a considerable delay in adapting from the milking action of the mouth to the chewing and tongue-rolling action needed to handle solid foods.

Before I write down Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby, let us first see the list of foods that you can include and those you should avoid in your baby food chart.

Foods to include in Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby:

• Always start with the light foods like Rice
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Vegetable/ fruit purees
• Dal water
• Sooji kheer
• Khichdi
• Dalia
• Home made cerelac

Foods to avoid in Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby:

While you might be excited to start off with your babies diet and introduce them to new foods, you need to tread carefully. A food chart for 6 month baby needs to be prepared carefully. While there are a lot of foods that can be eaten, some need to be avoided. Some foods pose a choking hazard and a few aren’t good for your baby’s digestive system. Here is the list of some foods to be avoided in Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby.

• Cow’s Milk
• Soy Milk

NOTE: Your baby can’t digest proteins in cow’s milk and soy milk during the first year. They also contain minerals in amounts that can damage the kidneys. However, the products made with cow’s milk such as yogurt, cheese, custard can be given. Stick to the breast- milk or formula milk until your child turns 1.

• Honey: Honey should be given the child only after he/she turns 1 because it contains the organisms that the infant cannot fight off.
• Salt: Babies should not eat too much salt as it’s not good for their kidneys.
• Raw Vegetables: Vegetables should be given in pureed form as raw form is difficult to swallow and it can cause choking.
• Processed Foods: They are also high in preservatives and salt which is not good for their kidneys and digestive system.
• Citrus Fruits and Juices: Citrus fruits can affect their throat and the juices don’t have any fiber in it.
• Nuts: Nuts are also difficult to swallow and can cause choking.

Now we know what food is to be included and what is to be avoided, I will now pen down Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby for your reference.

Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old baby:

Here’s a comprehensive plan for 6 month baby chart that you can follow effectively when starting your baby off with solid foods.

FIRST WEEK:

While thinking about baby food ideas for week 1, it is advisable to stick to single food purees and allow the child to get accustomed to exclusive tastes. This will be helpful in allowing the kid to develop his/her own preferences.

Day- 1: Start with one tablespoon once a day. You can give Rice cereal mixed with formula. Rice should be offered first to avoid allergies.

Day- 2: Give 2 tablespoons of cereal twice a day.

Day- 3: Give 3 tablespoons of cereal twice a day.

Day- 4: You can offer vegetables on 4^th day such as pureed peas or carrots. Try to give 1-2 tablespoons only once a day. Vegetables are less sweet than fruits, they are less likely rejected if given before fruits.

Day- 5: Increase the amount of  pureed peas/ carrots to 2- 3 tablespoons twice a day.

Day- 6: Increase the amount of pureed peas/ carrots to 3-4 tablespoons twice a day.

Day- 7: Give mashed Banana in the morning and you can repeat anything from the above tried food items.

Note: Strictly follow “3-days wait rule” in first week. You should continue with the Breast milk/ Formula milk in addition to the meals (as mentioned above) as and when required by the baby or when the baby feels hungry. But one thing should be kept in mind that if the baby eats a good amount of portion of meal then you should keep a gap of 2 hours in the next feed.

SECOND WEEK:

Now from the second week, you can give two different solid meals a day. When you get to week two, the baby food chart can still entail single fruit or vegetable purees, but you can try increasing the quantity by a bit. Allow the child to comfortably adapt to this change in diet. 

Note: You should continue with the Breast milk/ Formula milk in addition to the meals (as mentioned above) as and when required by the baby or when the baby feels hungry. But one thing should be kept in mind that if the baby eats a good amount of portion of meal then you should keep a gap of 2 hours in the next feed.

THIRD WEEK:

This would be a good time to introduce a new single-ingredient puree along with the one that you were already offering. You can test and see what works best for your child. The idea is to encourage your kid to eat different foods and develop a liking for them. 

Note: You should continue with the Breast milk/ Formula milk in addition to the meals (as mentioned above) as and when required by the baby or when the baby feels hungry. But one thing should be kept in mind that if the baby eats a good amount of portion of meal then you should keep a gap of 2 hours in the next feed.

FOURTH  WEEK:

You can put together simple Indian food recipes with a single ingredient preferably and feed it to your child. By week four, you will have an idea about your kid’s liking and that will help you in putting together the baby food chart in a better way. 

Note: You should continue with the Breast milk/ Formula milk in addition to the meals (as mentioned above) as and when required by the baby or when the baby feels hungry. But one thing should be kept in mind that if the baby eats a good amount of portion of meal then you should keep a gap of 2 hours in the next feed.

You can note down all the Food/ Meal recipes referred in all four diet plans by clicking on the link mentioned below:

As your baby grows older, he or she will have a need for solid foods in order to get enough energy and essential nutrients for their body growth. In the 1st semester of the very first year, all the babies consume the iron present in their bodies for the activities. But now as they are growing they have a need of more nutrients and energy that they will get from solid foods. You can start giving very simple and single-ingredient recipes. By this, you will easily identify if your baby is having an allergy to any particular vegetable or fruit. Once your baby starts eating single-ingredient purees then you can start giving combination foods also.

1. Brown Rice Cereal

Brown rice cereal is one of the tasty foods that your baby will love to have. This cereal is free from any type of allergy and is very easy to digest also. Firstly introduce very thin textured puree that will be easier for the baby to digest then you can try thick or some solid one also. 

Recipe to make brown rice cereal:

Ingredients

1/2 cup Brown Rice 

How to prepare

1. Grind the brown rice in a blender and make a fine powder. You can keep the powdered rice in a container for your next use.
2. To prepare one serving, take 50 ml of water to a boil and add 2 tbsp of the ground brown rice.
3. Whisk continuously for 1 minute to avoid any lumps and then cook for 5 minutes until the mixture becomes thick and creamy in texture.
4. Serve lukewarm.

2. Avocado Puree

This recipe is a good fats-giving recipe. It will sharpen your baby’s mind and will give physical strength also for better development. Your baby will surely love the creamy and green texture of the recipe and will love to have it.

Ingredients

Mashed organic avocado

How to prepare

1. Blend the organic avocado in a blender or you can mash it finely with a fork.
2. Mix the mashed avocado with boiled water, breastmilk to make a fine paste. 
3. If you want to freeze it then divide the paste in ice trays, wrap it with foil, and freeze.
4. You can use the frozen cube avocado once it gets defrosted.
5. Best Indian First Foods Recipes for 6 Months Old Baby

3. Baked Sweet Potato Puree

Sweet Potato has immense benefits for babies. Due to their high vitamin, antioxidant, and fibre content, sweet potatoes make for a great addition in your baby’s diet. A simple purée made with a little bit of water or your baby’s milk offers a tasty and nourishing first meal.

Ingredients

Baked Sweet Potato

How to prepare:

1. Blend the baked sweet potato in a blender or you can mash it finely with a fork.
2. Mix the mashed sweet potato with boiled water, and breastmilk to make a fine paste. 
3. If you want to freeze it then divide the paste in ice trays, wrap it with foil, and freeze.
4. You can use the frozen cube avocado once it gets defrosted.

NOTE:- This Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old Baby is framed to just give you an idea about the food items that you can include. You can make changes in timings and according to the babies taste and acceptability for that particular food item, also changes can be made on the basis of availability of the food item.

Some tips to remember:

• Serve fresh food only to the baby. Don’t store the fruit and vegetable puree.
• Don’t offer the food if the baby turns his/ her head away when satisfied.
• Be Patient Mommies..! Don’t forcefully feed anything.
• Make sure when you give solid food to your baby, he is not lying on his back. Feed him solids by make him sit on a chair or on your lap. 
• Remember 3-days wait rule for babies when you introduce any new food to your little one.

Do leave a comment if you have any query related to Indian Diet Plan for 6 months old Baby.

With kids growing up, it’s essential that their physical health is kept healthy just as much as their food intake is. Know more about the different minor games and children park hyderabad has to make sure your child engages in physical activity daily.

FAQs on 6-Month Baby Food

1. What are the best first foods for babies?

While putting together a baby food chart, or should be kept in mind that, children should be breastfed/formula fed exclusively for the first six months and post that, pureed fruits and vegetables can be given to them. An ideal meal plan for a 6 month old baby can also include baby cereal, yoghurt etc. 

2. Can a 6 month old eat eggs?

Yes. Eggs are amongst the topmost baby food ideas for a six month and older baby. It is advisable to always begin by serving a small portion of cooked egg to the baby and gradually increase the quantity. The idea is to ensure that there is no adverse reaction or allergy that can be triggered by eggs. 

3. Is curd good for a 6 month old baby?

Yes. Curd and yoghurt can easily be incorporated into your baby’s food chart. Having said that, it is important to note that unflavoured curd should be given and the kid’s reaction to the same should be ascertained before giving more quantities of a certain food. 

4. What can babies not eat at 6 months?

While putting together Indian good recipes for babies, it is advisable to note that children under the age of one should not be given cow’s milk, honey, very salty, fatty or sugary foods. One should also keep nuts and other small foods away from the reach of children to avoid any choking hazard.

5. How much should a 6-month-old drink?

A 6-month-old baby drinks approximately 180-240 ML during each feeding at an interval of 24 hours.

Happy Parenting! 

• About the Author
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About Isha Ahuja

I am Isha Ahuja, Nutritionist and Weight Loss Consultant. I am blessed with an angel who is 3 years old. In all the stages of my life till date I feel “PARENTING” is the toughest of all. This is the stage where every single parent wants the best for their tiny ones. No matter what professional/non- professional backgrounds we belong to when we become a mommy its altogether a new journey and a new research that we have to start be it breastfeeding, weaning, toilet training and everything related to upbringing of a baby. So, here I am to share my experiences and advises with the new parents which can help you all in raising your tiny ones and giving them the best what they deserve.

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