if you have started weaning your baby or thinking to start the weaning process then this article should help you to go about it. but before we get onto the foods which you should let your baby consume as part of the weaning process, you should be aware of why milk isn’t enough for your growing baby anymore.
Why isn’t milk enough for your six months old baby anymore?
- After your baby has reached the age of six months, your baby will require more nutrition than what breastfeeding can provide.
- Iron is one of the main nutrients which your baby requires now even more than ever.
- The first six months of your baby’s growth is all about the development of the immune and digestive system.
- fruits and vegetables along with other cereals and pulses will provide your baby with the necessary nutrients.
- But in case your baby was born premature then you should consult the doctor before you change any major food habits.
What can you feed your baby after six months of age?
Regardless of what you choose from the below list of foods, make sure to not add any salt or sugar to the foods you cook for your baby. When you are weaning your baby ensure you are feeding him unsalted and unsweetened food items. The natural sugars inside fruits and potatoes will add the required energy.
- Carrot puree
- Pumpkin puree
- Potato puree
- Sweet potato puree
- Avocado mash
- Banana mash
- Grated apple
- Muskmelon mash
- Watermelon crushed
- Sapota mash
- Iron-fortified baby cereal
- Cereal with infant formula and milk
- Stewed apple and carrot puree
- Mango pulp
- Steamed bottlegourd
- Mashed peed
- Boiled cabbage
- Steamed broccoli
- Steamed spinach
- Mash vegetables with lentils
- Mashed vegetables with rice
- Mashed potato and rice
- Boiled lentils and steamed rice
- Pureed and mashed lentils
- Pureed and boiled split beans
- Pureed and mashed chickpeas
- Whole milk yogurt
- Grated cottage cheese
- Custard
- Fruit kheer (without cow’s milk)
- In case your baby has started weaning and you want to take the weaning procedure to the next level, then you can feed your baby everything off the below list.
- Ragi
- Oats
- Porridge
- Bulgar wheat
- Baby breadsticks
- Potatoes
- Semolina
- Upma
- Semolina and milk
- Sago
- Couscous
- Bread
- Pasta
- Unsweetened breakfast cereals
- Lentils
- Pulses
- Well cooked eggs
- Paneer
- Curd
- Cheese
- Lean red meat
- Chicken
- Fish, avoid predator fishes
- Green beans
- Sliced bananas
- Pear puree
- Apple puree
- Stewed pear and beetroot puree
- Orange and steamed sweet potato puree
- Stewed peach and carrot puree
- Mango mash
- Mashed papaya
- Steamed apple gourd
- Stewed pear and peas puree
- Mixed boiled vegetables and cereals with water or milk
- Pureed pumpkin and tomato
- Rice and split yellow porridge
- Apple and oats porridge
- Dates and oats porridge
- Ragi and peach puree
- Mango puree and hung curd
- Malted cereal and warm milk or water
- Egg puree (no, it is not mayonnaise)
- Hearty chicken and vegetable puree
- Seasonal fruits sliced, chopped, or even pureed
What foods to avoid while weaning your baby?
- Salt, salt could negatively affect your baby’s blood pressure.
- Honey
- Sugar
- Artificial sweeteners
- Whole nuts
- Fishes which include mercury
- Tea, coffee, and other beverages
- Low-fat food
- Cow’s milk
- Avoid soft-boiled eggs, the chances of your baby contracting salmonella are pretty high. Salmonella bacteria cause food poisoning.
- Soft cheese
- Molded cheese
- Uncooked shellfish
- Avoid every and all sorts of fruit juices. They contain extra added sugars which could result in your baby having diabetes and could even make your baby obese.
- Avoid soy
- Peanuts(avoid them if your baby’s close relatives are allergic to peanuts)
- Milk and baby formula
- Avoid extra fat food
- Calorie rich foods
- Sweets
- Toffees
- Chocolates
- Sugary breakfast cereals
- Ready meals
- Deep-fried snacks
Conclusion
Here is a list of 100 food items that you can feed while weaning your baby. The list also includes the list of food items which is to be avoided by new mothers while weaning their babies.