The most common question of parents about food is what to offer, when to offer and how much to offer. Every child is different and every parent is unique.

Some people introduce semi-solid food to their baby after 6 months, some other start semi-solid food diet after completion of 4 months and a few people prefer to start it after 7-8 months. It is always advisable to discuss with your baby’s pediatric regarding food plan before introducing any new food item to your baby.

I am sharing some tips based on my experience of being a mom for three years.

Baby food chart month by month

Food for newborn babies

What to feed

Only food for infants is breast milk or infant formula to meet all their nutritional needs.

Recommended milk is breast milk only. You should start giving formula or any other substitute in case breast milk supply is not sufficient for the baby or she feels hungry even after having mother’s feed.

Feeding Tips

You should increase baby’s diet as baby’s digestion system is developing. Stomach size is the size of baby’s fist.

Food Chart for Breastfeeding Babies

*Age(Months)*	*Time (Hours)*	*Feeding(ml)*
Birth to 1 month	Every 2 hours	60–120 ml
1 to 4 months	Every 2 to 3 hours	120-210 ml

Food Chart for Formula Babies

*Age(Months)*	*Time (Hours)*	*Feeding(ml)*
Birth to 1 month	Every 2 hours	60-120 ml
1 to 3 months	Every 2 to 3 hours	120-150 ml
3 to 4 months	Every 2.5 to 3.5 hours	150-210 ml

Introductory food for baby of 5 to 6 months

At this stage, your infant’s milk or formula intake will increase (up to one liter in a day). You will also notice that your baby will start showing the signs “momma, I am ready to eat solid foods”

You should watch for signs

Baby’s neck is stable
Can sit with back support on chair
Showing interest in food (staring at your food)
Seems hungry after sufficient breast feed (crying, uneasiness, thumb sucking)
Put a spoon in her mouth and see if she can open and close mouth around the spoon.

Semi-solid food for 6, 7 and 8 months baby

By this time your baby’s first teeth will emerge. At this stage, your baby starts crawling.

Her digestive system is developing. You should introduce new foods while your baby is busy in exploring the world. She is doing more physical activities, so she needs more solid foods along with milk.

What to feed to baby

Breast milk or formula
Iron-fortified cereal like rice, oats mixed with milk
Fruit Pureed like banana, peaches, pears, plum, mango. Mix two fruits together to taste it better.
Vegetable pureed (completely cooked) like sweet potato, carrots, squash, beans and potato.
Pulse soup after boiling pulse in sufficient water.
Rice water after boiling rice in clean and filtered water. Give your baby just strained water.
Unsweetened yogurt from low-fat milk (very small quantity)
Small portion of Tofu or cheese

Solid food for 8 & 9 months baby

Your baby already started crawling and sitting without support. She is more active and engaged in her plays.

She might refuse to eat her foods because she has more important activities to do like pulling pillows
down, tearing newspaper and opening drawers or kitchen racks. This is the time when parents need to be more alert and active. You can’t leave your baby alone even for a second.

What to feed

Breastmilk or formula
Introduce new grains and millets in your baby’s diet. Try with rajgira(amaranth), jau(barley), ragi(finger millet), til(sesame), pasta along with rice & oats.
You might like to introduce wheat, kuttu(buckwheat) at this stage. (If your baby has any kind of food allergies then talk to your doctor)
Fruits: Apples, banana, dates, grapes, mango, kiwi, plums, peaches, pears, litchi.
You can mash any soft fruit (banana or apple). You can cut grapes into small pieces and give it to your baby. Don’t ever give her whole grapes. It may choke in her throat.
Vegetables: completely cooked/steamed: Carrots, beans, broccoli, onion, peas, sweet potatoes and cauliflower and onions.
Try foods like tofu, cottage cheese, fish, egg yolk.
Fish and eggs can be allergic. So whenever you introduce it into your baby, monitor your child for any signs of allergic reactions. In the case of any allergies, talk to her pediatric immediately.

Feeding Tips

At this stage, your baby may start to refuse food. Don’t force. Just try it again after some time.

ALSO READ Food Safety: What You Must Know in the Kitchen

Complete food for 10 to 12 months baby

Now your baby’s taste buds are developing. She will love to try new food and flavors.

Preparing your baby’s food will be easier as no more pureeing and mashing. At this time, you will better understand your baby’s tastes. You will know what she likes and dislikes. But don’t give only her favorite food. Babies love different shapes, colors, textures. Try same food in different forms. It is also the time to introduce spices that we Indians love.

What to feed

Fruits: banana, pear, apple, peach, papaya, melon, grapes, kiwi fruit, mango, plum, litchi

Vegetables: potato, sweet potato, carrots, squash, peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, tomato, spinach, capsicum

Cereal and grains: Jowar(sorghum), bajra(Pearl millet), oats, rice (white/brown), ragi(finger millet), jau(barley), wheat, kuttu(buckwheat), rajgira(amaranth) and pasta

Pulses: Rajma(kidney beans), White Channa(chickpea), green peas and lentils

Dairy: Low fat yogurt and cheese

Non-veg: Fully cooked egg yolk, egg white, fish and meat

Little bit of spices

You can make khichdi by mixing rice & pulses together

Feeding Tips

Your baby will be able to digest anything after one year of age. You can start offering the same food to your baby that you have prepared for your meal.

Between You and Me

Baby food and health are two prime concerns of any parent. Feed good food and cure cold, cough & loose motion with help of home remedies. It’s not yet over, there is a lot to share with my readers and awesome moms. Let me know in comments if you have any thoughts to share with me.

Article originally published here.