Food Chart For Your 6 Month Old Baby
Most parents are very apprehensive about what their baby should eat in the first month after starting solids. It is important to remember here that breastmilk is the main source of nutrition for babies in the first year because the immature digestive tract cannot digest
By Dr. Debmita Dutta
Most parents are very apprehensive about what their baby should eat in the first month after starting solids.
It is important to remember here that breastmilk is the main source of nutrition for babies in the first year because the immature digestive tract cannot digest starches from plants. Most of the food eaten is therefore thrown out undigested in the stool. It is therefore very important to keep breastfeeding on demand. Do not try to schedule breastfeeds to match the solid meals.
The role of solid food in the first month is –
- To get the gut used to solid food
- To slowly increase the quantity of food
- To slowly increase the variety of food
- To get the baby used to different tastes and textures
- To get the baby used to different combinations of tastes and textures
What to keep in mind –
- Ensure that your baby is sitting upright when eating solids
- Offer fresh food prepared at home
- Use a flat small spoon and offer tiny quantities
- Avoid lumps in the food to prevent choking
- Always keep an eye out for food allergies.
It is best to start weaning with fruits – then move on to starchy vegetables and then to cereals like rice followed by dal.
This is the sequence that I have followed in the food chart below.
Please check with your doctor before you begin using this food chart.
The quantity of food eaten is not important so do not get worried if your baby eats less or more than what is mentioned. The amounts mentioned are for guidance only.
Food chart for your 6-month-old baby
Week 1
9:30 AM 1 PM 4 PM Day 1 ¼ teaspoon mashed banana Day 2 ½ teaspoon mashed banana Day 3 1 teaspoon mashed banana Day 4 1 tablespoon mashed banana Day 5 1 tablespoon mashed banana 1 tablespoon mashed banana Day 6 1 tablespoon mashed banana 1 tablespoon mashed banana 1 tablespoon mashed banana Day 7 1 tablespoon mashed banana 1 tablespoon mashed banana 1 tablespoon mashed banana
Week 2
9:30 AM 1 PM 4 PM Day 1 1 tablespoon pureed stewed apple 2 tablespoons mashed banana 2 tablespoons mashed banana Day 2 3 tablespoons mashed banana 1 tablespoon pureed stewed apple 3 tablespoons mashed banana Day 3 3 tablespoons mashed banana 3 tablespoons mashed banana 1 tablespoon pureed stewed apple Day 4 2 tablespoons pureed stewed apple
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
1 tablespoon pureed stewed apple
+
2 tablespoons mashed banana
1 tablespoon pureed stewed apple
+
2 tablespoons mashed banana
Day 5 3 tablespoons pureed stewed apple 2 tablespoons pureed stewed apple
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
2 tablespoons pureed stewed apple
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
Day 6 3 tablespoons pureed stewed apple 3 tablespoons mashed banana 3 tablespoons pureed stewed apple Day 7 3 tablespoons pureed stewed apple 3 tablespoons mashed banana 3 tablespoons pureed stewed apple
Week 3
9:30 AM 1 PM 4 PM Day 1 1 tablespoon boiled mashed potato
After an hour
2 tablespoons mashed banana
1 tablespoon boiled mashed potato
After an hour
2 tablespoons pureed apple
1 tablespoon boiled mashed potato
After an hour
1 tablespoon mashed banana
+
1 tablespoon pureed apple
Day 2 2 tablespoons boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon apple puree
2 tablespoons boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
2 tablespoons mashed banana
+
1 tablespoon pureed apple
Day 3 3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon pureed apple
3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon mashed banana
Day 4 1 tablespoon boiled carrot puree
After an hour
1 tablespoon of mashed potato +
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
1 tablespoon boiled carrot puree
After an hour
1 tablespoon of mashed potato
+
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
1 tablespoon boiled carrot puree
After an hour
1 tablespoon of mashed potato
+
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
Day 5 2 tablespoons of boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of potato mash
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
2 tablespoons of boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of potato mash
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
2 tablespoons of boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of potato mash
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
Day 6 3 tablespoons of boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
3 tablespoons of boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
3 tablespoons boiled carrot puree
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
Day 7 3 tablespoons of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
3 tablespoons of boiled mashed potato
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
3 tablespoons of boiled mashed carrot
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
Week 4
9:30 AM 1 PM 4 PM Day 1 1 tablespoon boiled mashed rice
After an hour
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
1 tablespoon boiled mashed rice
After an hour
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
1 tablespoon boiled mashed rice
After an hour
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
2 tablespoons of banana apple mash
Day 2 2 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
2 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
2 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
Day 3 3 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
3 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of banana apple mash
3 tablespoons boiled mashed rice
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed potato and carrot
Day 4 3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato and carrot with rice
+
1 tablespoon banana apple mash
3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato and carrot with rice
+
1 tablespoon banana apple mash
3 tablespoons boiled mashed potato and carrot with rice
+
1 tablespoon banana apple mash
Day 5 1 tablespoon dal water
After an hour
2 tablespoons of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
1 tablespoon dal water
After an hour
2 tablespoons of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
1 tablespoon dal water
After an hour
2 tablespoons of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
Day 6 2 tablespoons dal water
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
2 tablespoons dal water
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
2 tablespoons dal water
+
1 tablespoon of boiled mashed carrot and potato
+
1 tablespoon of rice
Day 7 4 tablespoons of rice, dal water, potato mash and carrot mash
4 tablespoons of banana apple mash 4 tablespoons of rice, dal water, potato mash and carrot mash
Weaning your baby to solids should be approached as if it is an exciting new journey. Be cautious but not afraid. And be persistent but not adamant. At no point should eating solids become a power struggle between you and your baby. If that happens, stop and re-evaluate your approach in consultation with an expert.
Written by
Dr. Debmita Dutta
Dr. Debmita Dutta MBBS, MD is a doctor, a parenting consultant, and the founder of WPA whatparentsask.com She conducts online and offline workshops on parenting for schools and corporate organisations. She also conducts online and offline prenatal and infant care classes. She is a well-known thought-leader in parenting and an expert on play, learning and eating habits. She is the author of 7 books on parenting published by Juggernaut Books and her books are among their most read books. She is frequently quoted in national and international publications of repute for her empathetic and compassionate approach and her application of physiology and neuroscience to parenting.
Smart Mums Journal