please suggest diet for my 7month old baby

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Accepted Answer

At 7 months old, your baby is ready for a more varied diet, as solid foods should now be the main source of nutrition, alongside breast milk or formula. Here's a sample diet plan for your 7-month-old baby:

1. Breast Milk or Formula

Continue offering breast milk or formula as the primary source of nutrition.

Aim for 3-4 milk feedings per day, and you can start to reduce milk intake as solids increase.

2. Solid Foods

At 7 months, you can offer a variety of pureed or mashed foods. Gradually introduce new foods, one at a time, to watch for any potential allergies.

Breakfast:

Oatmeal: Pureed oatmeal with breast milk, formula, or water. Make it smooth and easy to swallow.

Mashed Banana: Mash a ripe banana and feed it to your baby with a spoon.

Rice Cereal: You can offer pureed rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula.

Apple or Pear Puree: Cooked and mashed apple or pear.

Lunch:

Vegetable Purees: Offer pureed vegetables like sweet potato, carrot, peas, or pumpkin.

Mashed Avocado: Avocado is full of healthy fats. You can mash it and serve it plain or mixed with a little breast milk/formula.

Lentil Puree: Cooked and pureed lentils or moong dal can be a great source of protein.

Cucumber Puree: Cucumber puree can be cooling and easy to digest.

Snack:

Rice Crackers: You can give unsweetened, baby-friendly rice crackers or teething biscuits.

Fruit Puree: Offer mashed or pureed fruits like peach, mango, papaya, or plum.

Yogurt: Plain, unsweetened yogurt can be introduced at this stage. You can mix it with fruit puree.

Dinner:

Mashed Vegetables: Continue with mashed vegetables like carrot, zucchini, or peas.

Khichdi: Softly cooked and mashed rice with moong dal (lentil) can be a good choice.

Cottage Cheese (Paneer): Soft paneer can be introduced as it’s a good source of protein.

Tips for Feeding:

Consistency: Start with purees and move to thicker textures as your baby gets comfortable eating.

Variety: Offer a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and grains to introduce new flavors and textures.

Introduce One Food at a Time: To monitor for allergies, introduce only one new food every 3-4 days.

Finger Foods: As your baby approaches 8 months, you can offer soft finger foods like pieces of cooked vegetable, soft fruit chunks, or small bits of bread.

Remember, each baby develops at their own pace, so don't rush and always ensure the food is appropriately cooked and mashed to avoid choking hazards. Always consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about introducing new foods.