Starting Baby On Solid Foods : 4 to 7 Months

What should I start with for my 6-month-old baby? Can I give eggs to my child? When can I start with other types of milk? If you also have such questions regarding your little one, then you are not alone. We all want to feed the healthiest foods to our little ones but are often confused about what, how, and when. Don’t worry,  read on to find out how to go about introducing solid foods into your infant’s diet.

When a child is born her body is attuned to have milk only. The child lacks digestive enzymes to take other solid foods.  However, as the child grows, we need to introduce solid foods to satisfy their increasing nutritional requirements. 

So When Is The Right Time To Start Solids?

Ideally, a baby should be exclusively breastfed till 6 months of age. But if need be, and after paediatric consultation, some children can be started on other food sources by 4 months.  This can vary from one baby to another, depending on their growth, development, behavioural changes such as curiosity, and interest in food.

4-5 Months

What To Give? 

A healthy mother’s milk is sufficient to meet all of the baby’s nutritional requirements, except iron. So start with strained vegetable soup including green leafy vegetables to complement breastfeeding. Fresh fruit juice is also given to make up for Vitamin C, however, the juices should not be from sour or citrus fruits. 

How Much To Give?

Make sure the soup is well-cooked, strained, and warm. Seasonings should be avoided. Start with ½ a spoon and gradually increase the amount to 50 ml. If you give fruit juices, it should not be sour. Strain it well to sieve off any pits or fiber.

5- 6 months

What To Give? 

The baby is doubling their birth weight and their needs are increasing. You may start with starchy foods. From clear liquids, it is now flowing semi-solids. You can go for options like rice kheer, suji kheer, or phirni (provided you get clearance from your paediatrician about using cow’s milk). Other alternatives are mashed fruits such as banana, chikoo, stewed and mashed apples/pears, or boiled and mashed vegetables such as lauki, tinda, tori, kaddu, potatoes, etc. 

How Much To Give?

Starting from a spoon or two, you may give up to ½ to 1 katori. 

Consistency

The food should be mashed well or you can also blend it.

6-7 months

What To Give?

You can continue with giving starchy vegetables like boiled and mashed potato with butter, fruits like banana mashed with milk, half-boiled egg yolk, and moong dal if your child tolerates it well. If you want, you can also introduce iron-rich infant cereals to your baby's diet plan.

How Much To Give?

For starchy vegetables & fruits, start with 1-2 spoons and increase to ½-3/4 katori. For cereals, follow the instructions of your paediatrician.

Consistency

Mash/blend the food well, depending on the infant’s acceptability. For egg yolk (half boiled), start with half a teaspoon and gradually you may give one egg yolk.

When offering an infant some new food, watch out for any problems related to digestion such as a change in the consistency, unusual smell, or colour of stool, or even for a pattern change. This will indicate what foods your child’s body is accepting well.

Disclaimer: Exclusive Breastfeeding is best for babies for the first 6 months. Breast milk provides the ideal balanced nutrition and protection. However, there may be individual instances where introducing first foods may be required depending on the child's needs and issues related to the mother's milk supply. Please consult a paediatrician to make a more informed choice.