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Is There A Good Chart I Should Follow For A 6-month-old Infant?
Question: hi doc my baby is 6 months old now is there any food chart that i should follow for her
Brief Answer:
Difficult to follow a chart.. Follow these tips
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
I understand that your baby is now 6 months old.
I usually don't advice charts. Each baby is different. One dietary chart may not be followed by all babies.
Instead my advice for feeding
1. Continue breastfeeding till 2 years if possible. This will ensure child gets enough mother milk to help in immunity, resistance, IQ, etc.
2. Start with boiled vegetables and apple now. For next one month you can give one serving of boiled vegetables ( any) and boiled apple. One serving of rice Kanji or any boiled cereal with pulses like dhal mashed nicely can be given.
3. From 7 months start semisolid foods like idli, kitchdi, ragi gruel, boiled egg yellow. Even non veg soups can be started at this age.
4. Things to avoid till one year - salt, sugar, ciws milk, honey, spices, egg white.
5. Number of feeds per day can be increased once per month. Example 6 months - 1 to 2 servings per day.. 7 months -2 to 3 servings per day and so on.
6. Consistency of foods liquid initially, then semi liquid for another 1or 2 months, then semisolid.
7. All vegetables and fruits can be given.
8. If home made food is difficult, you can give cerlac or farex, though I usually recommend home cooked food for my patients.
9. Oil or ghee one spoon is must for each feed for calories.
10. In short food should be balanced.. cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits, oil, ghee and water to drink. You can give liquids along with water like tender coconut water, Lassi, etc to keep him hydrated in summer.
At one year child should be able to eat almost all home foods that adult eat in softer form.
Let me know if you need further assistance.
Regards
Dr Arun
Difficult to follow a chart.. Follow these tips
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing to us.
I understand that your baby is now 6 months old.
I usually don't advice charts. Each baby is different. One dietary chart may not be followed by all babies.
Instead my advice for feeding
1. Continue breastfeeding till 2 years if possible. This will ensure child gets enough mother milk to help in immunity, resistance, IQ, etc.
2. Start with boiled vegetables and apple now. For next one month you can give one serving of boiled vegetables ( any) and boiled apple. One serving of rice Kanji or any boiled cereal with pulses like dhal mashed nicely can be given.
3. From 7 months start semisolid foods like idli, kitchdi, ragi gruel, boiled egg yellow. Even non veg soups can be started at this age.
4. Things to avoid till one year - salt, sugar, ciws milk, honey, spices, egg white.
5. Number of feeds per day can be increased once per month. Example 6 months - 1 to 2 servings per day.. 7 months -2 to 3 servings per day and so on.
6. Consistency of foods liquid initially, then semi liquid for another 1or 2 months, then semisolid.
7. All vegetables and fruits can be given.
8. If home made food is difficult, you can give cerlac or farex, though I usually recommend home cooked food for my patients.
9. Oil or ghee one spoon is must for each feed for calories.
10. In short food should be balanced.. cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits, oil, ghee and water to drink. You can give liquids along with water like tender coconut water, Lassi, etc to keep him hydrated in summer.
At one year child should be able to eat almost all home foods that adult eat in softer form.
Let me know if you need further assistance.
Regards
Dr Arun
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
can i add little bit salt in dal? and also little sugar in suji kheer?
Brief Answer:
As little as possible
Detailed Answer:
Add only very very little salt or sugar.
Salt is not advised as kidneys are developing now. Sugar again will make them sweet craving, selective food eaters. If you can't avoid, at least don't add like you add for adult dishes. Keep both to as minimum as possible.
Regards
Dr Arun
As little as possible
Detailed Answer:
Add only very very little salt or sugar.
Salt is not advised as kidneys are developing now. Sugar again will make them sweet craving, selective food eaters. If you can't avoid, at least don't add like you add for adult dishes. Keep both to as minimum as possible.
Regards
Dr Arun
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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