#AskTheExpert Hello Doctor - please share the list of food I can give to my 7 month old baby

Question

Accepted Answer

At 7 months old, your baby can start enjoying a variety of solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. Here’s a list of foods you can introduce:

1. Fruits:

Bananas: Mashed or in small pieces.

Avocado: Soft and mashed.

Apples: Cooked and pureed or in small pieces.

Pears: Cooked until soft and pureed or mashed.

Peaches: Soft and ripe, pureed or mashed.

Mangoes: Ripe and mashed.

2. Vegetables:

Sweet Potatoes: Cooked and mashed or pureed.

Carrots: Steamed and pureed or mashed.

Pumpkin: Cooked and pureed.

Peas: Cooked and mashed.

Zucchini: Steamed and pureed.

3. Cereals and Grains:

Rice Cereal: Iron-fortified, mixed with breast milk or formula.

Oatmeal: Cooked and mixed with water, breast milk, or formula.

Barley or Quinoa: Cooked and mashed.

4. Proteins:

Lentils: Cooked and pureed.

Dal (Yellow Split Peas): Cooked and mashed.

Chicken: Cooked and pureed or finely shredded.

Fish: Soft and well-cooked (avoid fish with high mercury levels like swordfish).

Eggs: Scrambled or hard-boiled (if no allergies).

5. Dairy (after 6 months):

Yogurt: Plain, whole milk yogurt without added sugar.

Cheese: Soft cheese like cottage cheese or mozzarella.

6. Other Foods:

Pasta: Soft-cooked and cut into small pieces.

Toast or Bread: Small, soft pieces of whole-grain bread or toast.

Tips for Feeding:

Introduce One Food at a Time: Wait about 3-5 days before introducing a new food to monitor for allergies.

Texture Matters: Start with pureed foods and gradually progress to mashed and then to small, soft pieces as your baby gets used to eating solids.

Avoid Certain Foods: Avoid honey (due to the risk of botulism), whole nuts (choking hazard), and foods that are high in salt or sugar.

Hydration:

Continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as it remains the main source of nutrition for your baby.

Always consult with your pediatrician before introducing new foods to ensure they are suitable for your baby’s specific health needs.