Is your baby ready for solid foods? What’s the appropriate baby food for 6 months old child? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months and then continue breastfeeding with the introduction of solids until at least 12 months. However, some babies are ready as early as 4-5 months while others may need more time. Here’s what you can expect when starting solid foods with your infant — and how to know when it’s time!
Is Your Baby Ready to Start Solids?
If your baby is older than six months and meets all of the following criteria, then they are ready to start solids:
- Sits up with no assistance
- Holds head up with no assistance
- Shows interest in food. One good sign is if your baby starts opening his mouth when you offer them food or makes noises when they see you eating something they think is tasty.
- Has lost the tongue-thrust or extrusion reflex (the tendency to push foods out of their mouth to protect themselves from choking). Most babies lose this reflex anywhere from 4 to 6 months old. If yours hasn’t yet, don’t worry, it will eventually go away on its own.
How to Introduce Solids and How Much to Give Them
When you are weaning your baby from breast milk or formula, you may be tempted to introduce a few new foods at once. However, this can cause intestinal upset. It’ll also make it hard for you to detect if they are allergic to the foods.
When introducing new foods, start with one new food for a few days before introducing another. Once your child has become accustomed to the new food and tolerated it well over several days, add another one.
How much should you feed them? The idea is when they start solids, you gradually reduce the amount of milk they consume as you give them more solid foods. Babies know when they are already full, so watch out for signs that they already have enough:
- Pushing the bottle or spoon away or pulling their face away when you try to feed them
- Falling asleep during feeding
- Showing signs that they don’t want to eat anymore, like shaking their head and closing their lips
- Giving the bottle or spoon/food back to you
Baby Food For 6 Months
Keeping the aforementioned considerations in mind, what baby food for 6 months should you give your little one?
The best baby food for 6 months is vegetables and fruits. Cook them until soft (through baking, steaming, or roasting) and then mash or blend them. You can also offer softened veggie sticks – as long as they are well-cooked.
Vegetables
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Spinach
- Squash
- Cabbage
- Peas and green beans (mashed, to avoid choking)
Fruits
- Banana
- Orange
- Apple
- Mango
- Papaya
- Melon
- Avocado
Starch
- Potato
- Sweet potato
- Pasta
- Oats
- Toast
- Porridge
- Rice
- Corn
- Bread
Protein
- Chicken
- Beef
- Fish with no bones
- Tofu
- Beans and lentils
Dairy
- On top of their milk, you can also give them pasteurized, full-fat yogurt or cheeses.
- Cow’s milk, BUT ONLY for cooking or mixing with food. It’s not suitable for them to drink cow’s milk until they are a year old.
Once again, don’t forget to introduce food ONE at a time, particularly if the food is known to induce an allergic reaction. Examples of such foods are eggs, gluten, cow’s milk, seafood, soy, and nuts or products containing nuts.
Key Takeaways
It may be a little overwhelming to give your baby food for 6 months. After all, it’s as if you’re only getting used to them having milk. The best foods to start them on their eating journey are fruits and vegetables. Remember to introduce one food item at a time and watch out for cues that they’re already full. Likewise, be mindful of foods that might cause choking or trigger an allergic reaction. If you feel a little overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to talk to your child’s pediatrician. They will give you guidance on food preparation or recommend store-bought baby food items you can serve with convenience.
Learn more about Baby Nutrition here.
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