#AskTheExpert Arthi Sharma Mam what type of foods can be given to 6th month baby

Question

#AskTheExpert  Arthi Sharma Mam what type of foods can be given to 6th month baby

Accepted Answer

Hello
Once you have successfully completed six months of exclusive breastfeeding, 
You can start with home made food items which are nutritious and easily digestible. Do not worry  if baby does not feed in initially . Weaning is a process ..it takes time and patience.
Since the baby is used to milk only. You may face resistance as he will not be ready to accept new foods. 
Start with dal not too much watery in consistency, ragi porridge , dalia . Give fruits in mashed form like apple , banana, chikoo, soft avocado, prunes and pears.
The consistency should be more liquid initially but gradually you can switch to semi solid consistency.
Start with few spoons two times a day ..and gradually increase the amount and frequency to half small bowl three times a day.

Accepted Answer

After baby completes six months first start with one meal of solid food per day. Start with few spoons and gradually increase the amount every day. Replace one feed with solid food, then slowly after some days start replacing another feed with solid food. After one or two months the baby can be having three meals per day. After feeding solids give few spoons of water. Once three meals a day routine is established you can fill the in between gaps with semisolids or liquids or breastmilk and continue breastfeeding or formula at nights. In any case make sure there us at least two hours gap between feeds or meals so that the baby is not overfed.

You can Start with Dal or chawal ka pani, after few days start with Fruit purees like apples, pear, avacado, papaya, mashed banana, vegetable puree like carrots, pumpkin, peas, mashed sweet potato or potatoes, pulses, porridge like ragi or oats, veg rice, dal rice, veg kichdi, RASAM rice, steamed idli, home made cereals. Start with easily digestible foods first during day time and then move on to the heavy ones. Also start one food at a time and wait for two to three days to see if it suits your baby and then start something new again. Always follow this two day gap rule between introducing new foods and start any new food only during day time. Also avoid using sugar and salt until the baby is one year old.  The babies get the required sugar and salt from all the solid food items , breastmilk or formula they intake. They don't need any additional salt or sugar to be added, extra sugar or salt will not do any good for the baby. Baby will not realise the taste until it is introduced and won't find it blunt as like adults. So baby will accept the blunt taste without salt and sugar until we introduce it.

Accepted Answer

You can start giving basic food to the baby such as dal and rice you can also introduced Cerelac and basic fruits such as apple and banana suji kheer initially only this much should be given to the baby