Let’s look at the food items which can be included when you plan to start your baby on solids.
List of food items to include in baby’s diet
1) Fruits
- Banana
- Apple
- Avocado
- Plums
- Peaches
- Prunes
2) Vegetables
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potato
- Carrot
3) Cereals & Grains
- Ragi
- Rice
- Barley
- Semolina/ Rava
- Sabudhana
- Amaranth
- Phool Makhana
- Quinoa
4) Pulses
- Yellow moong dal
How much serving per day is ideal?
The quantity of food depends on your baby’s appetite. Start with a tablespoon of fruits or vegetables and gradually increase the amount.
When giving a piece of fruit or vegetable, keep in mind that it’s finely chopped or minced to avoid any choking hazards.
Introducing solids
- Properly cleanse the spoons and bowls to be used for feeding the baby to make it safe for eating.
- When starting solids, never introduce more than one food at a time.
- Steer clear of any sugar or salt until the age of 1.
- Check for an allergy symptom in case of introducing a new food item. Stop and consult your doctor in case you find any symptoms of rash or irritability in your child.
- Ensure that the food is cooked properly.
- Taste the food, odds are if you don’t like the food, your baby won’t either.
- In the initial stage of introducing solids, try to keep it runny as your baby is accustomed to swallowing. As your baby works up on eating skills from the spoon, you can offer a thicker consistency.
- Breastfeeding is still the way to go, as most of the nutrients will come from it. So, don’t taper back on it yet.