Best recipes for 6 month old baby : Introducing Solids
The best time to introduce solids to babies is from 6 moths, early introduction can cause digestive issues for the babies and also making them colic. At the age of 6 months, a baby has developed digestive enzymes and also is able to support his/her head without any help or support which also adds in accepting solids and proper swallowing of the food.
Until Now, the child's diet only included breastmilk or formula milk. Milk is still a vital part of meal for the baby. As the baby is growing, the body demands more other than just the milk.
Tips before starting solids for baby :
1. Always start with a single food, either a fruit, a vegetable or a grain. A mixture of food should be avoided. As you don't know how the baby's stomach is going to react for the first time for a particular food item. Some babies are allergic for some types of fruit, veggie or grains. It’s better to start with mashed or pureed fruit as the digestive enzymes in fruit helps the baby to digest better.
2. Always remember to follow the ‘3 day test rule’ for every food being introduced for the first time. Wait till the 4th day for its result,if its being digested by the baby properly with no signs of allergy or stomach problem then introduce the next new food item.
3. It’s always better to introduce new foods during the day, breakfast or lunch for better digestion. Avoid trying new food during the later time of the day or as dinner.
4. Always feed the baby when he is calm or in a joyful mood. You can sing rhymes to the baby, show him his/her favorite toy or narrate a story about the food. The baby loves when his mother talks, just do that! Avoid watching TV or mobile phones
5. A 6 month old baby can eat only one or maximum two tablespoon of mashed food initially, slowly increase the quantity. Don't force feed the baby, ever.
6. I have always used stainless steel utensils for my baby for preparation of foods and storage of foods. Any kind of plastic ware be it BPA free or with beautiful vibrant colors to attract the baby has never been my choice because they contains plasticizers. It may sound boring to some but using stainless steel is the best choice that I have made for my baby- it’s easy to wash, chemical free and moreover no baby should need colors to get attracted to any food.
7. Always keep water in a stainless steel cup and a spoon with you when you are feeding the baby. The baby might choke on to something so it’s good to have water handy with you.
Below are some tried recipes that I have introduced to my baby at the age of 6 months:
1. Mashed banana or Banana Shake :
Mash banana with a fork or simply run in a blender. If baby is not accepting it in mashed form and is unable to swallow it properly, just add some milk to banana and make banana shake which is smooth and has running consistency and thus easy to swallow. Initially use half a banana for the baby. My baby too liked the shake as it’s almost drinkable and thus pretty easy to swallow and digest.
2. Apple Puree or Apple Sauce
Peel the apple and remove the hard part from it, chop the apple into small cubes. Put the chopped apple cubes in a pan and add water to it. Cover and cook over a low heat, Make sure to add enough water to boil it for 8-10 minutes until really tender. Allow it to cool down. Mash it with a fork or in a blend it to your desired consistency.
3. Chickoo (Sapota) or Chickoo Shake
Mash Chickoo with a fork or simply run in a blender. If baby is not accepting it in mashed form and is unable to swallow it properly, just add some milk to it and make Chickoo shake . make sure to remove all the seeds when you blend it in a blender.
4. Sooji Kheer
Sooji Kheer is easily digestible and tends to fill the tiny stomach.
Steps for Sooji Kheer :
1. Just dry roast sooji in a pan or tawa, (if it is rava sooji, then its best for first time introduction to baby as it has fine particles which makes it easy to swallow)
2. Add water to the roasted sooji without making lumps.
3. When the sooji even out well and the sooji is 3/4 th cooked, add milk and bring it to boil.
4. Add 1 tbsp sugar to make it sweet (preferably add ghee once baby's age is above 6 months).
*Since this recipe is for 6 months baby, then avoid adding ghee in the recipe.
5. Moong Daal Soup or Moong Daal Pani
Steps for Moong Daal Soup or Paani :
1. Wash 1/4 cup Yellow Moong Daal properly.
2. Pressure cook the Moong daal , along with a pinch of salt, turmeric powder, asafoetida (hing) and and half cup of water in a pressure cooker for 3 to 4 whistles and turn off the heat.
3. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Once the pressure is released, add it to a mixer grinder and make a smooth puree.
You can simply feed the above puree to the baby or if your baby is above 6 months, it is perfectly okay to add ghee in the daal as follows:
The next step is to make the tadka for the Moong Dal Pani/ Soup.
4. Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add the asafoetida, turmeric powder and cumin powder and stir for a few seconds. Pour the pureed daal into the ghee tadka and give it a quick boil. Adjust the consistency of the soup by adding water if required and turn off the heat.
5. Serve Moong Dal Pani/Soup to your baby from 6 months onwards as a lunch meal or a dinner meal.
For the rest of the day, feed breast milk or formula feed to the baby.
Disclaimer : Please don’t forget to consult your paediatrician before introducing any food to your baby, the above recipes sure are tested, but individual needs might differ and so the Doctor knows best.
I wish your baby a happy transition from Milk to Solids :)
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