Looking for a 6 month old feeding schedule?
What food to give to a six month old? How can I make a food chart for six month old baby?
When to give food? How much to give? Is t his food ok at this age?
Will that food cause allergy?
When your baby is ready for solids, you as parents would be super excited for touching a new milestone and at the same time you are left with so many doubts and worries.
To help you find answer to these questions, here is an insight of the various foods that could be introduced for a 6 month old baby. Also there is a printable food chart for a complete month to make things easy.
- As per pediatricians six months is the recommended age for introducing any food other than breast milk or formula milk in a babies diet. So wait for your baby to be 6 months.
- Signs like sitting with support, showing readiness to accept food or chew food, showing interest in food etc shows that its time to introduce solids in your baby's menu.
- Always follow the golden rule or 3 to 7 day rule while introducing new foods to your baby.
- Know the symptoms of food allergy and also the precautions to avoid food allergy
- Introduce new food items as breakfast. Avoid giving new food items during dinnertime. This is to help you watch your baby for food allergy and also to know whether he/she has any discomfort after having the new food.
- Introducing solids can cause constipation in some babies. Read the article 5 ways to tackle constipation in babies to know more
- Know the quantity of water a 6 month old baby needs
Babies who are under 6 months of age don't require water as breast milk or formula milk will meet their entire water requirement. But for babies of age 6 months and above and who have started on solids can have 2 to 4 ounces of water per day. This includes water in any form including soup, plain water or gruel water. To know more read the articleIs Your Baby's Daily Water Intake Enough? - Also some 6-month-old babies may not be ready for 3 meals a day. If your little one is not showing interest in having solids for any of the three meals, replace it with breast milk or formula milk.
- You can start by offering 1 or 2 tablespoon of each food. If he/she is showing more interest you can give her more. Never force-feed.
- Start giving food in purees/liquid consistency and slowly thicken the consistency of the food taking cues from your little one.
Foods that can be included in a six month old baby's diet:
What should 6 months old be eating is the most confusing question that every parent faces. To help you get an answer to this question, I have provided the various food items that can be introduced to your 6-month-old baby. You can start with any of these foods while starting solids in your baby's diet.
Grains/Cereals/Pulses: Oats, Barley, Rice, Semolina (Rava/Sooji), Split yellow gram (moong dal), whole green gram. Wheat can be introduced during the last week of 6th month.
Fruits: Apples, Peach, Banana, Avocado, Plums, Chikoo, Pear and Dates
Vegetables: Carrots, French Beans, Sweet potato, Beetroot, Sweet Pumpkin
Non-Vegetarian foods: None
Dairy: None. Avoid giving cow's milk as the main drink till your little one is 1 year old. Stick to breast milk or formula till then. To know why click here.
Avoid sugar and salt from a 6 month old baby's diet.
Ideal 6 Month Old Feeding Schedule:
Here is an ideal food chart for 6 months old.
Keep in mind that breast milk or formula should be the major part of a six-month-old baby's diet. So breastfeed or bottle-feed first and then give him solid food.
As we have to follow the three to seven day rule, we can introduce not more than 6-8 new foods in a month.
The given food chart is to give you an idea of how to start solids for your baby. Please customize it as per your requirements/ comfort. For example if you want to introduce dal ka pani first, then go for that first.
Formula would be heavier than breast milk hence formula feed babies might not receive the foods on the exact time as defined in this chart.
The timings given are just for reference. Adjust the timing according to your baby's schedule for both breastfed and formula fed babies.
Week wise 6 month old feeding schedule:
Here is the week wise food schedule for a six month old baby.
Week 1In the chart given for reference, I have started with Apple puree. You can start with raw banana powder porridge, avocado puree etc. depending on your preference.
How much should 6-month-old eat is another question that confuses a mom. Start with 1 or 2 tablespoon of baby food once in a day, preferably morning.
After one or two days try giving solids 2 times a day and then gradually increase to 3 times a day.
If your baby is not interested to have meals 3 times a day, don't force feed.
Every baby is different and he/she will let you know when he is ready.
Please continue with the night feeds, either breast milk or formula, as per your baby's usual schedule.
Week 2By week 2 your baby may be ready for 3 times meals a day. If not you can give him breakfast and dinner.
Offer breast milk at night according to your night feeding schedule.
Week 3By the end of week 3, your baby will be introduced to at least 6 new baby foods. Give these foods for lunch, dinner or breakfast according to your baby's preference.
If your kiddo shows only interest in one or two type of food, don't worry. It is normal. It takes multiple attempts from mom's side to make kids accept a new food.
Week 4By week 4 your baby will be eating at least 8 new food items.
You can also start mixing food items and come up with different tastes to please your munchkin.
For example here I have introduced Sweet potato and lentil mash in week 4.
Some options for you are carrot-dal mash, Carrot - Rava Porridge, etc.
But whenever you make mixed vegetable porridges or mixed fruit purees, make sure that the food items used are individually introduced to your baby earlier and your baby has no food allergy towards these.
Hope this food charts gives you an idea on how to introduce food to a 6-month-old baby.
Which was the first food that you gave your baby?
When did he start accepting 3 meals a day?
Do share with me in comments please.
Editor's Note June 2016: This post was originally published in April 2013 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.