A 6-month-baby food chart allows parents to understand how to introduce solid foods to children and what are the suitable options. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies start solid food once they turn six months. Before this age, breastmilk can provide complete nutrition to them. Blanca Garcia, a registered dietitian-nutritionist from Los Angeles, California, says, “Complementary feeding starts when a baby reaches six months of age. Breastmilk alone will no longer be sufficient to meet the baby’s increasing nutritional needs for energy, protein, vitamins like A and C, and minerals such as iron and zinc. The introduction of complementary foods—solid foods and liquids given in small quantities in addition to breastmilk—is a critical stage in a baby’s transition from breastmilk to eating solid foods.” So, when you start introducing food to babies, you should remember that they cannot eat a lot initially, and breastmilk will be their primary source of nutrition. Gradually, you may try to replace the feed with some solid food. Refer to the post to understand various food options that may be introduced at six months, the precautions you should take while preparing the food, and some simple but interesting recipes.
Food Ideas For 6 Months Baby
The first foods offered to a baby are called stage 1 baby food. They are pureed and strained so that the little ones can gulp and digest them easily. They are low on allergy grade. Garcia adds, “A baby needs enough time to get used to this new phase. It will help to start by offering food slowly and gradually. It’s normal for a baby to refuse food initially. Begin introducing unsweetened pureed porridge of staple cereal such as rice, oats, and corn. Offer boiled, pureed/mashed tubers, such as potato, sweet potato, and cassava, and vegetables such as carrots and squash. “They will fill the energy gap and are excellent sources of beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other essential nutrients. Protein from animal sources such as well-cooked, pureed lean meat, fish, and poultry are also essential for six-month-old babies. It will support the growth and repair of body tissues. Furthermore, it will provide highly absorbable iron and zinc for blood and immunity.” However, consult a pediatrician before introducing any new food to your little one. Below are some of the best foods for a six-month-old baby:
1. Milk
Continue breast milk or formula for your baby as it is the main source of nutrition for babies until one year (1). Breastfeed every two to three hours or on demand. Alternatively, offer 24-37 ounces of formula milk every day.
2. Stage 1 fruits
Apples, avocados, apricots, bananas, mango, nectarines, peaches, papaya, pears, plums, prunes, chikoo, pumpkin and kiwi pulp make great first foods for a baby. Remember to include fruits in mashed or puree form only.
3. Stage 1 veggies
Babies can digest boiled and mashed vegetables such as beans (green), carrots, sweet potato, squash, green peas, potatoes, baby marrow, butternut, and pumpkin.
4. Water
Give boiled and cooled-to-room-temperature water to your baby at least thrice a day. Give water after the meal and not in between the feed as it may reduce the total food intake.
5. Cereals and pulses
Cereals and pulses such as rice, barley, oats, and lentils provide essential nutrients like proteins and minerals to the growing babies. Cook these items until they are soft and mash them.
6. Meat
You can add pureed and stewed poultry, and fish (less in mercury) to your baby’s diet. Ensure to remove bones while serving these foods. Confused what to give and when? Write down the baby’s feeding schedule and pin it up to make things easier for you.
Food Chart For Six-Month Baby
You may design your baby’s food chart on these lines: Remember that you are preparing the chart for your reference only. You need not have to strictly stick to a schedule. Offer milk and solids in an order that is convenient to you and acceptable to your baby.
Formula or breast milk. Continue breastfeeding for the rest of the day.
Breakfast (7:30 to 8am)
Fruit mash or vegetable mash
Lunch (11:30 to 12:30pm)
Cereals such as rice, barley or oats
Snacks (3:30 to 4pm)
Fruit or vegetable purees
Dinner (6 to 7pm)
Veggies, fruit mix or grains
However, make food so tasty that your baby would not mind eating it at any time of the day.
Recipes For Six-Month Baby
Try these baby food recipes for your 6-month-old and let him taste the yummy and nutritious meals.
Breakfast/Snack Recipes
1. Apricot puree
You will need:
1 pound dried apricot 2 cups pear, white grape juice or apple juice
How to:
2. Apple sauce
You will need:
1 apple (peeled, cut into slices) 2 cups water
How to:
3. Banana puree
You will need:
1 ripe banana (peeled and diced)
How to:
4. Mango delight
You will need:
1 ripe mango (peeled, de-seeded, chunked)
How to:
Lunch Recipes
5. Rice cereal
You will need:
1/4 cup rice 1 cup water 2 tbsp formula or breast milk
How to:
6. Barley apple porridge
You will need:
1/4 cup ground barley 3.5 cup water 2tbsp formula or breast milk 1 cup peeled and cubed apple
How to:
7. Oatmeal cereal
You will need:
1/3 cup water ¼ cup ground oats 2tbsp formula or breast milk ½ banana sliced
How to:
8. Baked apples
You will need:
1 apple (peeled, cored)
How to:
Dinner Recipes
9. Pumpkin puree
You will need:
1 medium sugar pumpkin (cut in half and De-seeded)
How to:
10. Green beans puree
You will need:
1 cup fresh beans
How to:
11. Carrots puree
You will need:
1 carrot (sweet, peeled, cut)
How to:
12. Vegetable combo
You will need:
1/8 cup fresh beans 1/8 cup peas ¼ cup summer and zucchini squash 1/8 cup chopped carrots
How to: With such interesting recipes, it is likely that your baby would love her new diet. But you cannot feed her beyond small quantities just because she has developed a liking for it.
How Much Should A Six-month-old Eat?
Start with servings of 5-10ml or one-two teaspoons and increase the amount gradually. The baby may eat just half a spoon initially. Do not force-feed them. Also, moving to solids is not easy as you need to be careful not to choke the baby or hurt their tummy with heavy foods. Take enough care not to harm the baby when you are feeding solids. Heat food to lukewarm. Avoid heating it in the microwave as it creates pockets of heat that can burn the baby’s mouth. Instead, keep the food bowl in a bigger bowl of boiling water to heat it.
Caution While Preparing Stage 1 Baby Food
Kristen Carli, a registered dietitian from Scottsdale, Arizona, says, “Avoid added sugar or salt at this age. You can incorporate all other spices such as garlic powder, ground cumin and ground coriander. When introducing the allergen foods, be sure to add them individually. This will help you identify which food is causing an allergic reaction.”
