When little babies turn 6 months old, it is time to include something else into their diet other than milk. New mums always wonder; what can my 6 month old baby eat? How can I plan my 6 months old baby diet? What are the right quantities? You will find the answers to all your questions in this article.
Planning a 6 months old baby diet
First, keep in mind
While including a variety of food in your baby diet is important. It does not change that milk is the number one source of nutriment for little babies. You must include milk in their daily diet whether through breastfeeding or formula. Introducing solid foods to your baby at this age is good for them. But it definitely does not mean to exclude milk from their diet.
What is the first meal in a baby diet?
Experts and experienced mums recommend grain cereals for infants as their first meal during the day. Those grain cereals are made specially for babies either from rice or oatmeal. In addition, some mums like to skip grain cereals and offer mashed foods to their babies. But experts recommend including grain cereals in your baby’s diet. That is because those cereals contain several important minerals that babies need at this age.
Everything you need to know about grain cereal
Introducing grain cereal for babies can be tricky. So here are a few tips to help make this easier for you and your little baby:
- 1| Avoid mixing it with baby milk in a feeding bottle.
- 2| Do not mix it with breast milk. Your baby might not eat it, so don’t waste the milk you pumped.
- 3| make sure the texture of grain cereals is more liquid than solid. You can gradually make it thicker later.
- 4| Start by making one tablespoon of those cereals and see how your baby likes it. If all goes well, make it a little more gradually as well.
- 5| Once your baby is used to those cereals, you can introduce other solid foods.
The best mashed foods for babies
When it comes to introducing mashed solid foods to a baby, it is best to start with vegetables before fruits. Many experts believe that building good eating habits from this age is important. As it will reflect their eating habits as they grow. Therefore, starting with vegetables will help you get your kids to eat their veggies as they grow. Include yummy and nutritious veggies for your baby such as carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchinis, and peas. When your baby is used to eating those veggies, you can start gradually introducing fruits, like bananas.
How to introduce mashed foods to your baby?
1| Make sure they are not allergic.
When you introduce new solid foods to your baby, make sure he or she is not allergic to them. The best way to do so is to feed your baby the same vegetables for three days in a row.
2| Avoid mixing vegetables together.
In addition to feeding your baby the same kind of veggies for three days straight. Avoid mixing different kinds of veggies together. This will help you know what your baby likes and dislikes.
3| Make sure to wash everything well.
When making mashed foods for your baby, make sure you wash the veggies well. Also, boil those veggies well. Finally, make sure to use a good food processor to prepare your baby’s meal.
4| Introducing solids should not be at nighttime.
When you introduce your baby to solids, it is best to start during daytime. This will help you keep an eye on your baby. Introducing new foods can cause colic or stomach aches. So, avoid feeding solids to your baby for the first time at night.
5| Don’t forget about milk.
When planning a baby diet, make sure to include milk constantly throughout the day. It is important not to fill your baby with solid foods. As that will leave no room for milk. Which is the most important source of nutrition at this age.
