What to Feed Your Baby after 6 Months?

Babies need to be breastfed for up to 6 months. After that, parents can give them solid foods, along with breast milk, so they can have the much-needed nutrition. The food provided to a baby is called complementary food/solid food. 

Continue reading this article to know about solid baby food, when to start it, and the right foods to give to infants after six months.

When to Begin Feeding Solid Foods:

Parents can introduce solid foods to babies when they turn four to six months old. The right way to figure out if a baby is ready to consume solid foods is by seeking the given signs:

• If the baby has started sitting up with support
• If a baby can hold their head up with no external support
• When babies lose their tongue-thrust reflex
• A baby has doubled the birth weight
• Babies have started showing interest in other foods around them

Best Diet for Babies after 6 Months:

When introducing solid foods to your infant, start with solid, soft foods that they can easily digest. Such foods include sweet potatoes, mashed bananas, avocados, and applesauce. 

When your baby accommodates to solid foods, start offering them pureed pears, peas, apples, carrots, etc. Even pureed meats like chicken are also a good source of protein for them.

Which Foods to Avoid:

Parents need to avoid giving certain foods until their infant turns one year old. Such foods include cow’s milk, honey, nuts, etc. Cow’s milk may lead to anemia or digestive problems. Nuts can lead to certain choking hazards. And, Honey may cause botulism in babies.

Giving Allergenic Foods:

Adding allergenic foods to your infant’s diet may be a scary thought. But it is vital to start giving such foods from an early age to prevent allergies later on. According to AAP, adding allergenic foods like eggs, peanuts, fish, etc. to the diet of six months old babies can minimize their risk of allergies. 

But give such foods one at a time and then wait for around three to five days before adding another allergenic food to their diet.

Foods to Avoid Choking Hazards:

While adding solid foods to your infant’s diet, be cautious of the foods that may cause choking hazards. Some of these foods include nuts, popcorn, raw carrots, marshmallows, whole grapes, etc. If you want to give these foods to babies, cut them into smaller pieces to avoid choking hazards.

Breast Milk and Formula:

Formula or breast milk must still be the major source of nutrition for your baby for up to one year. Even when the baby starts having solid foods, continue giving breast milk or formula to offer the necessary nutrients. It helps in the better growth and development of a baby.

Conclusion:

The 6-month baby food is a crucial milestone for parents. After all, they want to provide the best nutrient-rich foods to their baby. But parents must know when to add solid foods to their baby’s diet and what foods to avoid for preventing choking hazards or allergies. 

Even when a baby turns 6 months old, still consider breast milk or formula as the major source of nutrition up to the age of one year. For further concerns or queries, consult a professional pediatrician for guidance.

Also, Visit here: Nutrition for Two: Nourishing Yourself and Your Baby during Pregnancy