At 6 months old, babies can start exploring solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. Here are some foods that can be introduced to a 6-month-old baby:
- Pureed vegetables (peas, squash, parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot)
- Pureed fruit (apples, bananas, peaches)
- Pureed meat (beef, chicken, lamb, pork)
- Cereals mixed with breast milk or formula
- Pasteurized full-fat yogurt and cheese
Its important to introduce foods that can trigger allergic reactions one at a time, in very small amounts, so that you can spot any reaction. These foods can be introduced from around 6 months as part of your babys diet, just like any other foods:
- Cows milk (in cooking or mixed with food)
- Eggs (eggs without a red lion stamp should not be eaten raw or lightly cooked)
- Foods that contain gluten, including wheat, barley, and rye
- Nuts and peanuts (serve them crushed or ground)
Its recommended to feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day at 6-8 months old. Its also important to keep liquid feeds the same and feed your baby according to their hunger and fullness cues. A 6-month-old can start to drink small amounts of water, ideally a few sips of water introduced at mealtime from an open cup or straw cup, but avoid giving more water throughout the day at this age so it does not displace formula or breast milk.
