What Foods to Introduce to Your Baby at 6 Months

The most important thing to understand here, before we start educating you on the kind of foods to introduce to you 6 month-old, is the simple fact that babies are like us- they have preferences and unique tastes. So, the foods that are mentioned can become your guide, but you have to observe how your little one takes to them. Give your baby at least two weeks to decide on whether the food appeals or not. At times, you might be perplexed when your baby suddenly refuses to eat the food that has been his favourite the entire week. This is normal as the new born baby is still developing his taste buds. Before introducing a new food, remember to check with your doctor to ensure that it is safe. Also, follow the ‘four day rule’ wherein you are to introduce one food after every four days.

Fruits and Veggies

Your child will enjoy his veggies and fruits in a pureed form. Try to use different fruits to incorporate new flavours. Poaching is the best way if you want a smooth puree. You can try anything from apples and pears to eggplants and avocados. Before pureeing, make sure that you peel the fruits and vegetables have a tough outer skin, as it might irritate your child’s throat, causing regurgitation at times owing to excessive coughing. Providing your baby fresh fruits and vegetables is definitely the better option as compared to canned or frozen varieties.

Meats

Babies require a lot of protein at this age, which they obtain mainly from milk. Hence the benefit of introducing meat into the diet chart of your 6 month-old baby would be because of the extra iron that it provides. Iron is a mineral that starts depleting fast once a baby is 6 months old and since it is an important component of blood, therefore meat becomes a good addition. The best meats to first introduce would be white meats such as turkey and chicken. Once the baby develops a liking to these meats, you can slowly start introducing beef, lamb or pork. Avoid processed meats.

Tofu

Tofu is a great source of protein and is a super food that can be added to the baby food that you prepare at home. However, before doing so, ensure that your child is not allergic to soy.

Fish

Fish has been touted as a perfect food for babies as it is high in vitamins, protein and potassium.

Yogurt

Try to introduce unsweetened natural yoghurt, which you can also culture at home. Add in some pureed fruits to give it that extra punch. Do not sweeten it with honey as it should be completely avoided in children less than one year of age.

Cheese

Ensure that your child is lactose tolerant in order to introduce cheese. Cottage cheese is a good alternative to the stronger Cheddar cheese.

Eggs

Some children are allergic to egg whites, so do check with your doctor first. However, it is safer to use egg yolks which can be mashed and fed or can also be added to thicken purees.

Legumes

Legumes are high on proteins, minerals and vitamins, however, some legumes produce flatulence. Therefore, ensure that you do no solely feed your baby legumes.

Be steady in introducing food to your little one and remember that milk should still be an important component of his diet and should not be replaced with food.

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