Diet Chart for 9 Month Baby Girl

CHAPTER 1

Nursing is a wonderful way for a mom and her new baby
to develop a special bond. Here are a few age-old tips for
the new-age mom to get through the life-changing phase of early motherhood..

Whether you are a first-time mom or an experienced parent, breastfeeding is always a big milestone to cross. From feeding schedules to latching techniques, each baby nurses at his/her own pace, leaving it up to the mom to figure out what works best for her child. This is particularly so because one of the benefits of breastfeeding is that your milk contains all the nutrition your baby needs for the first six months of their lives.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories per day!

Apart from being packed with nutrients, being readily available and having just the right consistency for your baby's immature digestive tract, there are many more benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child.

• It is the best nutrition for your baby

  Your child gets all the nutrition they need from breast milk. Prior to the full flow of breast milk, your body secretes a nutritive fluid called colostrum. This fluid is a storehouse of antibodies with high levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) that helps develop your baby's immune system. Apart from fighting viruses and bacteria, colostrum also improves gut health and plays a crucial role in developing your baby's newly-formed digestive system.

• It helps your baby fight ds

  Exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of numerous diseases and infections including diabetes, asthma, celiac diseases, eczema, gut infections, ear infections and childhood leukemia, to name a few. Furthermore, apart from protecting your baby from various infections, it creates a healthy foundation with lasting effects till adulthood.

• It contributes to a healthy weight gain

  One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that breast milk promotes the growth of good gut bacteria in your baby which, in turn, curbs fat storage and plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy body weight. It also reduces the risk of obesity in babies by around 20% and the future risk of the disease by 4%. However, making your child less vulnerable to obesity is just the tip of the iceberg. Since it is your baby who latches on to you and nurses till he/she is full, they learn to self-regulate and develop better eating habits in the process.

• It promotes post-pregnancy weight loss

  Weight loss can be one of the more suprising benefits of breastfeeding. Lactation plays a key role in burning fat, especially after 3 months of giving birth. This is mainly because your body's hormonal levels are very different when you are nursing. Owing to the energy boost of 500 calories per day to feed your child, you will be prone to an increase in appetite. However, it is vital to keep in mind that effective weight loss can only be achieved with a good combination of exercise and healthy eating.

Breastfeeding positions

While breastfeeding is one of the most natural processes of life, it doesn't come as second nature. As a new mother, you and your baby will have to find a rhythm and position that works specifically for both of you together. Here are some commonly recommended best breastfeeding positions that will help soothe your baby, while ensuring they get a good latch.

Cradle Hold Breastfeeding

Cradle Hold breastfeeding is one of the easiest positions to try. All you need to do is find a comfortable chair with armrests that lets you sit upright. Hold your little one directly in front of you, cradled in the arm on the same side as your nursing breast. Ensure your baby's head is in line with the rest of their body and not facing your sideways. not only will this cause you little one discomfort, but will also prevent them from latching on correctly.

The Cross-Cradle Hold

The Cross-Cradle hold is the best breastfeeding position for new mothers. Similar to the Cradle Hold, you need to sit down in a comfortable armchair, holding your baby directly in front of you. Cradle their body with their head facing the opposite breast you are going to nurse from. Cradle your little one's head in your palm and using your other hand, support your breast in a U-shape hold. Now all you need to do is guide your baby mouth to latch on to your breast.

The Football Hold

The Football Hold for breastfeeding position is also referred to as the Clutch Hold. The Football hold for breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for women who:

• are recovering from a C-section
• have large breasts
• have twins
• have delivered a premature baby

The Football Hold takes your baby's weight off your tummy. To begin, bend your elbow and place your baby's head in your open palm. Their back will rest in your forearm, similar to how you would hold a clutch. With your other free hand, hold your nursing breast in a C-hold, to ensure your baby latches on correctly.

The Side-Lying Hold Breastfeeding

As a new mother, there are bound to be times when you feel tired or drowsy. In these situations, the Side-Lying hold becomes the best breastfeeding position to try while nursing your little one. Simply lie on one side of your bed with your baby lying directly in front of you. Prop yourself up with one arm and use your other hand to bring your baby closer to latch on to your breast. The Side-Lying Hold is the best breastfeeding position for mothers who have undergone a C-Section.

Koala Hold Breastfeeding

Also called the Upright Hold, the koala hold breastfeeding position works well for babies suffering from acid reflux, as well as older babies who can sit upright by themselves. Here, you will have to support your baby sitting position with one hand, and holding your nursing breast with your other hand.

The Laid-Back Hold

For this laid-back hold breastfeeding position, you will be need to recline against a sofa or your bed and support your back with pillows. Hold our baby tummy-to-tummy. The direction your little one rests in doesn't matter, as long as both of your are comfortable and your baby can latch on to your breast with ease. Now all you have to do is relax and let your baby nurse.

Laid-back hold breastfeeding is the best breastfeeding position for women with:

• Small breasts
• Newborns with sensitive tummies
• Babies suffering from acid reflux or GERD

The Twins Hold Breastfeeding

If you have the double-blessing of twins, you can try the twins hold breastfeeding position. Depending on how comfortable your are, you can either nurse both your babies at the same time or one at a time. Maximise your comfort by placing a large pillow under your babies to support their back while they nurse.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak in India:

According to WHO, COVID-19 cannot transmit through breastmilk or breastfeeding. However, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, it is possible to spread the virus through droplets if you sneeze, cough, or talk. It is crucial to follow baby safety guidelines to prevent the virus from spreading to your baby. Here are a few new born baby care tips that you should follow:

• Thoroughly wash your hands before and after touching/ contacting your child
• Wear a mask while breastfeeding
• Babies suffering from acid reflux or GERD
• Disinfect all the surfaces that you touch
• If you are severely ill, it is best to express and store your breast milk. Let someone else in your house feed the baby with your expressed milk.

Looking for more advice on breastfeeding? Consult your city's top pediatricians online in just 1 step!

Cradle Hold Breastfeeding

Cradle Hold breastfeeding is one of the easiest positions to try. All you need to do is find a comfortable chair with armrests that lets you sit upright. Hold your little one directly in front of you, cradled in the arm on the same side as your nursing breast. Ensure your baby's head is in line with the rest of their body and not facing your sideways. not only will this cause you little one discomfort, but will also prevent them from latching on correctly.

The Cross-Cradle Hold

The Cross-Cradle hold is the best breastfeeding position for new mothers. Similar to the Cradle Hold, you need to sit down in a comfortable armchair, holding your baby directly in front of you. Cradle their body with their head facing the opposite breast you are going to nurse from. Cradle your little one's head in your palm and using your other hand, support your breast in a U-shape hold. Now all you need to do is guide your baby mouth to latch on to your breast.

The Football Hold

The Football Hold for breastfeeding position is also referred to as the Clutch Hold. The Football hold for breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for women who:

• are recovering from a C-section
• have large breasts
• have twins
• have delivered a premature baby

The Football Hold takes your baby's weight off your tummy. To begin, bend your elbow and place your baby's head in your open palm. Their back will rest in your forearm, similar to how you would hold a clutch. With your other free hand, hold your nursing breast in a C-hold, to ensure your baby latches on correctly.

The Side-Lying Hold Breastfeeding

As a new mother, there are bound to be times when you feel tired or drowsy. In these situations, the Side-Lying hold becomes the best breastfeeding position to try while nursing your little one. Simply lie on one side of your bed with your baby lying directly in front of you. Prop yourself up with one arm and use your other hand to bring your baby closer to latch on to your breast. The Side-Lying Hold is the best breastfeeding position for mothers who have undergone a C-Section.

Koala Hold Breastfeeding

Also called the Upright Hold, the koala hold breastfeeding position works well for babies suffering from acid reflux, as well as older babies who can sit upright by themselves. Here, you will have to support your baby sitting position with one hand, and holding your nursing breast with your other hand.

The Laid-Back Hold

For this laid-back hold breastfeeding position, you will be need to recline against a sofa or your bed and support your back with pillows. Hold our baby tummy-to-tummy. The direction your little one rests in doesn't matter, as long as both of your are comfortable and your baby can latch on to your breast with ease. Now all you have to do is relax and let your baby nurse.

Laid-back hold breastfeeding is the best breastfeeding position for women with:

• Small breasts
• Newborns with sensitive tummies
• Babies suffering from acid reflux or GERD

The Twins Hold Breastfeeding

If you have the double-blessing of twins, you can try the twins hold breastfeeding position. Depending on how comfortable your are, you can either nurse both your babies at the same time or one at a time. Maximise your comfort by placing a large pillow under your babies to support their back while they nurse.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak in India:

According to WHO, COVID-19 cannot transmit through breastmilk or breastfeeding. However, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, it is possible to spread the virus through droplets if you sneeze, cough, or talk. It is crucial to follow baby safety guidelines to prevent the virus from spreading to your baby. Here are a few new born baby care tips that you should follow:

• Thoroughly wash your hands before and after touching/ contacting your child
• Wear a mask while breastfeeding
• Babies suffering from acid reflux or GERD
• Disinfect all the surfaces that you touch
• If you are severely ill, it is best to express and store your breast milk. Let someone else in your house feed the baby with your expressed milk.

Looking for more advice on breastfeeding? Consult your city's top pediatricians online in just 1 step!

FAQs

When will I begin to produce milk?

Mothers produce a thick yellow fluid called colostrum for the first 3 to 4 days after childbirth. Colostrum is followed by breast milk which is whiter and has a close resemblance to cow's milk. Though every mom produces milk at her own pace and as per the requirements of her baby, after about 3 to 4 days, once the colostrum flows out of your breast, you will begin to produce breast milk.

How often should I nurse my baby?

During the first 2 months, breastfeeding is done more on demand than on a routine. Newborns nurse every 2 to 4 hours every day since their stomachs are still getting used to the intake and get full quickly. This may make you feel like you are nursing round-the-clock, which is a completely normal feeling. After the first 2 months, you and your baby will adapt to a proper feeding schedule, easing your way through the rewarding journey of motherhood.

How do I get my baby to latch properly?

Successful latching is the backbone of breastfeeding. Not only does it make lactation easy and pain-free, it also ensures uniform flow of milk from both the breasts. Start by ensuring your baby and you are always stomach-to-stomach at all times. It is also effective to hold the nipple with your thumb and index finger or index and middle finger for proper positioning in your baby's mouth. Furthermore, ensure you insert the nipple only when your baby opens his/her mouth and latches on completely.

How long should one nursing session be?

The length of your nursing session solely depends on you and your baby. However, there are a list of other factors that play a vital role in determining the length of your nursing sessions:
Latching: Check if your baby is latching on correctly. If he/she is only taking the tip of the nipple and not the areola, it means that your baby is not latched on properly. This can lead to a prolonged nursing session.
The age of your baby: As your baby grows, the nursing sessions are more efficient since he/she has adapted to the schedule. An average session can go up to ten minutes on each side. Infants on the other hand take longer to nurse with an average session being around 20 minutes on each side.
The breastfeeding position: The position in which you are feeding plays a vital role in helping your baby latch properly. It also affects your milk flow and let-down reflex (the reflex which causes milk to flow from the nipple).

How long should I breastfeed my baby/how many months??

This decision is up to you to make. Ideally, babies need to be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives. Solid food can be introduced after six months but only as a complement to your breast milk for up to 2 years. It is always best to let your baby wean off breast milk at their own pace and convenience.

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

CHAPTER 2

It's a known fact that breast milk is a powerhouse of nutrients. However, infant formula is always an option, whether you bottle feed your infant exclusively, or accompany it with breast milk. Here's a rundown of the types of infant formula, bottle feeding tips and pointers to keep in mind during preparation when starting bottle feeding for babies .

Types of infant formula

Infant formula is designed to mimic breast milk and can be given for the first year of your baby's life. It can either be given exclusively or as a supplement with breast milk when you feel you do not have enough milk flow. However, it is important to choose the right type of infant formula with the guidance of a pediatrician. Here are the main types of infant formula you can choose from:

Cow's milk based infant formula

Cow's milk based infant formula is one of the most common type of infant formula used by mothers and the closest type to breast milk. It is made up of casein and whey protein and is recommended by most doctors when breastfeeding is not an option. As the name suggests, the formula is based on cow's milk but is diluted to stay within the protein and nutrient requirements of your infant. However, your infant may show symptoms of being allergic to cow's milk with signs like spitting up, diarrhea, skin rashes or no weight gain. In such cases, it is better to consider other types of infant formula.You may also want to consult with a pediatrician on MFine who will direct you to take an allergy assessment test for your child if required. This can prevent any potential damage in the future.

Soy based infant formula

Soy-based infant formula is a good option when your baby does not react well to the cow's milk based formula. It is fortified and balanced with just the right amount of nutrients as per your baby's requirements. Nevertheless, it is advisable to switch to a soy-based formula only when you are medically indicated to do so by child specialist. This type of infant formula is also a good option when you want to raise your baby in a vegan household.

Hydrolyzed protein based infant formula

This type of infant formula is manufactured exclusively for babies who show an allergic reaction to both the cow's milk-based formula and the soy-based one. It is strictly recommended only under medical supervision. As the name suggests, the formula is derived by completely hydrolyzing the protein in cow's milk in order to nullify the reaction caused by lactase – otherwise known as the sugar present in milk.Consult with top pediatricians online for the best-hydrolyzed formula to feed your baby.

Cow's milk based infant formula

Cow's milk based infant formula is one of the most common type of infant formula used by mothers and the closest type to breast milk. It is made up of casein and whey protein and is recommended by most doctors when breastfeeding is not an option. As the name suggests, the formula is based on cow's milk but is diluted to stay within the protein and nutrient requirements of your infant. However, your infant may show symptoms of being allergic to cow's milk with signs like spitting up, diarrhea, skin rashes or no weight gain. In such cases, it is better to consider other types of infant formula.You may also want to consult with a pediatrician on MFine who will direct you to take an allergy assessment test for your child if required. This can prevent any potential damage in the future.

Soy based infant formula

Soy-based infant formula is a good option when your baby does not react well to the cow's milk based formula. It is fortified and balanced with just the right amount of nutrients as per your baby's requirements. Nevertheless, it is advisable to switch to a soy-based formula only when you are medically indicated to do so by child specialist. This type of infant formula is also a good option when you want to raise your baby in a vegan household.

Hydrolyzed protein based infant formula

This type of infant formula is manufactured exclusively for babies who show an allergic reaction to both the cow's milk-based formula and the soy-based one. It is strictly recommended only under medical supervision. As the name suggests, the formula is derived by completely hydrolyzing the protein in cow's milk in order to nullify the reaction caused by lactase – otherwise known as the sugar present in milk.Consult with top pediatricians online for the best-hydrolyzed formula to feed your baby.

Is your child's weight healthy for their age? Find out with our BMI calculator!

How to prepare a bottle feed?

Unlike breast milk - which is readily available at just the right consistency and temperature - there is, well, a formula to prepare the right infant formula. Now that you have consulted your doctor and arrived at the ideal formula for your infant, here are some bottle feeding for babies tips to keep in mind on how to mix infant formula.

How to mix infant formula

• Start by making sure all the parts of the feeding bottle are disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Fill the bottle with the exact amount of milk powder using the recommended scoop/spoon that comes in the pack. Make sure you do not use extra formula or dilute the milk.
• Clean the scoop/spoon with a dry soft cloth and keep it back in the pack. Ensure it is dry at all times.
• Fill the bottle with recently boiled drinking water that is cooled down to room temperature. Make sure you fill it only to the recommended amount prescribed by your doctor or specified on the pack. Most feeding bottles come in an in-built scale to make the process easier.
• Fasten the teat and the cap of the bottle and shake it to mix the formula. It works best to employ a to-and-fro movement powered by your wrist.
• Once the formula reaches the right consistency with no lumps, you can begin feeding your baby.

How to warm infant formula

Never microwave your baby's formula as it can lead to non-uniform heating.

Though it is not mandatory to feed your baby warm infant formula, you may choose to do so to soothe and comfort your child. If you are wondering how to warm infant formula, here are a few tips. However, make sure you never microwave the formula since this may lead to non-uniform heating and shock your baby. Instead, you can gently hold the bottle under a tap of hot running water or place it in a water bath for a few minutes. Whatever be the case, do not forget to test the temperature by sprinkling a few drops on your pulse. Remember, the milk just needs to be lukewarm.

Tips to store infant formula

As a parent, you always want to give the best of everything to your newborn and well-stored fresh infant formula is no exception. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while storing infant formula when you switch to bottle feeding for babies.

• Store the infant formula powder in a dry, air-tight container, away from direct sunlight. Do not store it in a refrigerator.
• Make sure the shelf life of the product does not exceed the period of a month.
• Mix the formula only for immediate consumption. It is never a good idea to store mixed milk for consumption later.
• Never refrigerate or freeze mixed formula. This will lead to the separation of protein from the fat.
• In general, it is best to always read the label for specific storage instructions.

It's also important that you clean your baby bottles properly to ensure that there are no germs which can harm your baby in it.

Bottle-feeding tips

Just like breastfeeding, bottle-feeding too comes with its own set of guidelines powered by the age-old "trial and error" method. Read on for bottle-feeding tips to keep both you and your little bundle of joy comfortable and satisfied.

Get into position

It is best to mimic the traditional breastfeeding position of holding your baby at a 45-degree angle with his/her head supported by the crook of your arm. Since each session is usually around 20-minutes long (or sometimes longer if you are feeding an infant) it is a good idea to find a position that is comfortable. Make sure you switch arms after sometime to ease muscle tension and give your baby a fresh view!

Go with the flow

As new moms, we tend to worry a lot about our babies getting enough feed. However, it is best to go with the flow. Once your baby gets accustomed to your feeding routine, they will release the teat or just move their head away when they are full. Tip off the process by burping your baby after every feed. This is to release any excess air they swallow in through the bottle and ease digestion.

Stop the snooze

If your baby dozes off midway during a feeding session, it is time to relook at your feeding schedule. If your feeding time is overlapping with nap time, consider feeding them a bit earlier to ensure the bottle is empty. Sometimes, babies tend to close their eyes and truly savor the experience of being fed. In such cases, gently graze over their cheeks or tickle their feet to discourage dozing.

Book an instant appointment with top pediatricians for personalized bottle-feeding tips

CHAPTER 3

There is no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to weaning your baby. Here are a few tried-and-true tips on stopping breast milk and managing it with external food for a smooth transition.

Your baby's growth is directly proportional to their nutritional needs. After the first six months of life, their body gets depleted of the nutrients absorbed in the womb, making it the right time to introduce solid food and start the process of weaning. Apart from providing your baby with a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and wholesome fiber, weaning also comes with a list of underrated benefits. Few of them are discussed below.

Importance of weaning

Make way for the little foodie

Stopping breast milk gradually and introducing your baby to a varied diet at an age of just 6 months paves the way to good eating habits and a healthy appetite. Your little one is also less likely to be a fussy eater when they try new tastes and textures accompanied with breast milk or infant formula. However, it is important to keep in mind that every baby has their own pace and preferences. If they do not react well to a flavourful bowl of mashed banana or boiled carrots, try again after a few days. Encourage them to savour their meals rather than forcing them into it.

Welcome them to the table

At the adorable age of six months, your baby should be able to sit up with support, making it time to introduce the coveted "high chair" to the dining table. Alter your feeding schedules in such a way that they coincide with family meals. This way, your little one will get a positive outlook on food and also contribute to fond family memories to reminisce about when they get older.

Chewing like a pro

Weaning pushes your little bundle of joy to master the skill of chewing and swallowing. It activates the salivary glands which, in turn, leaves them wanting more. Furthermore, chewing and swallowing triggers the use of face muscles and helps in establishing good speech patterns. Not to mention, giving them finger foods to nibble on also increases their hand-eye coordination.

Understanding the importance of weaning and stopping breast milk over a period of time is half the battle won. However, the real challenge lies in the type of food to begin with that strikes the perfect balance between tickling your baby's taste buds and providing wholesome nutrition. It is also important to look out for sure shot signs that your baby is ready to wean. Here are a few pointers to keep you covered.

Signs your baby is ready to wean

Is your baby sitting up, chewing on toys, always hungry or
reaching out for food? It might be time to start weaning them!

Though it is best to start weaning your baby from the age of six months and accompany their intake of solids with breast milk up to the age of 2 years, consulting a child specialist before making this shift in diet is advisable. Here are a few tell-all signs to look out for.

Sitting up -

Babies usually sit up by the age of six months. This also means that their tender neck muscles are strong enough to support the movement of their heads.

Chewing on toys –

Are you constantly pulling out your baby's hand from their mouth? Maybe it's time to give them something nutritious to nibble on!

Frequent feeds –

If your baby wants to breastfeed or drink infant formula more often than scheduled, then it is time to introduce solid food to keep them full for longer.

Reaching out to food –

This is a solid sign that your baby is ready for solid food! Opening their mouth when you eat or reaching out to grab your food is a big sign of baby-led weaning. This is when you should check out the newborn baby food chart.

Weaning food to begin with

Fresh fruits

Babies are naturally inclined towards sweet food and fruits have just the right proportions of sugars, nutrients and fiber to keep your baby satiated. Mashed apples and bananas are your best bet when it comes to choosing the right weaning food. You can also mash two fruits together to try new tastes and textures.

Steamed vegetables

If motherhood was a bandwagon, "Eat your vegetables!" would probably be the bumper sticker on it! Steamed vegetables is a great dish to wean your baby off breast milk with since it is highly nutritious, readily available and easy to prepare. However, make sure you opt for organic produce that is free of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides.

Juices and soups

Juices and soups are convenient options when it comes to weaning food since they have the added advantage of hydrating your baby while boosting their nutritive intake. They also make the transition to solid food easy and hassle-free since they are semi-solid in form. But make sure you stay away from packaged juices – though they might be labeled "fresh", but they come with a generous dose of preservatives that are harmful for a baby.For tips on how to prepare food for your baby, read our blog on best baby food recipes for 5 month olds. For a more personalized Indian baby food diet, consult a dietitian online to get recipes that cater to your baby's bodily needs from the comfort of your home.

Water

Last but not least, it is important to hydrate your baby with small sips of water both during and after a meal. This aids in digestion, detoxifies the body and keeps your little champ's digestive system in the pink of health. But your baby needs water only after a certain age, so check with an online pediatrician first.

Apart from these basic types of weaning food, you can also introduce your baby to mashed cooked food, meats, eggs and legumes to keep their palette intrigued.

Fresh fruits

Babies are naturally inclined towards sweet food and fruits have just the right proportions of sugars, nutrients and fiber to keep your baby satiated. Mashed apples and bananas are your best bet when it comes to choosing the right weaning food. You can also mash two fruits together to try new tastes and textures.

Steamed vegetables

If motherhood was a bandwagon, "Eat your vegetables!" would probably be the bumper sticker on it! Steamed vegetables is a great dish to wean your baby off breast milk with since it is highly nutritious, readily available and easy to prepare. However, make sure you opt for organic produce that is free of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides.

Juices and soups

Juices and soups are convenient options when it comes to weaning food since they have the added advantage of hydrating your baby while boosting their nutritive intake. They also make the transition to solid food easy and hassle-free since they are semi-solid in form. But make sure you stay away from packaged juices – though they might be labeled "fresh", but they come with a generous dose of preservatives that are harmful for a baby.For tips on how to prepare food for your baby, read our blog on best baby food recipes for 5 month olds. For a more personalized Indian baby food diet, consult a dietitian online to get recipes that cater to your baby's bodily needs from the comfort of your home.

Water

Last but not least, it is important to hydrate your baby with small sips of water both during and after a meal. This aids in digestion, detoxifies the body and keeps your little champ's digestive system in the pink of health. But your baby needs water only after a certain age, so check with an online pediatrician first.

Apart from these basic types of weaning food, you can also introduce your baby to mashed cooked food, meats, eggs and legumes to keep their palette intrigued.

Safety protocols for baby feeding during COVID-19:

During COVID-19, a diverse diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein can boost your child's immunity. Make sure your child consumes fresh, unprocessed foods, stays hydrated, and avoids high amounts of salt and sugar. If you or your baby have been infected with COVID-19, follow these baby safety tips before and after you have close contact with each other.

• Regularly wash your hands with a hand wash/ hand soap and water or sanitizer.
• Cover your face with a mask at all times. Use tissues while you sneeze or cough.
• Practice social distancing, even with mild symptoms until full recovery.

Need more guidance on making the shift from breastfeeding to weaning? Consult with a pediatrician in 1 click!

Weaning food to begin with

Weaning is a milestone on its own. Each baby weans at their own pace, leaving it up to the parent to use tried-and-tested techniques to make the process easy and smooth. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to nurture your baby into healthy eating.

Remember the process takes time

Weaning cannot be done overnight. It is a time-consuming process that demands a lot of patience, perseverance, encouragement and nurturing. Not to mention, you might also make a few mistakes along the way to learn what your child likes and dislikes. Look at it as "moving towards weaning" than calling it weaning itself.

Do not offer, do not refuse

Baby-led weaning is the best kind since this makes your baby in charge of what they want to eat. Wait for them to reach out to your food and then offer them some more to encourage a healthy pattern of eating. Remember, there will be spills and leaks – but that is all part of the game!

Keep it balanced

The main objective of introducing solid food is to meet the nutritional requirements of your growing baby. While your baby might love their mashed apples, it is also vital to make them eat other foods in the spectrum like leafy vegetables and legumes. If they spit it out initially, try again after a few days. Remember, consistency is key! Refer to our charts for meal plans.

There will be tears

The journey will almost certainly have its ups and downs. While your child might love eating off a spoon during some meals, they will also have their down days where they flat out refuse to eat even a mouth of food. Be patient and nurse them if required. But do not always give in and make it a pattern, because this will discourage your baby from eating solid foods.

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

CHAPTER 4

Your baby is now twice their birth weight so you can only
imagine their nutritional requirements! Here's a guide on signs
your baby is ready for solids and new recipes to try. Also look into our newborn baby food chart for additional guidance.

Multiple medical authorities including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the UK Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend introducing your baby to solid food only once they have reached 6 months. This is because a mother's breast milk or formula, is all your baby requires to meet their daily nutritional needs for the first 6 months of their life.

Some pediatricians, however, recommend starting your baby on solids food at the age of 4 months. While this may pose a dilemma to parents everywhere, remember, no one knows your baby better than you! Even at the age of 4 months, your tiny daughter or son might show signs of being ready for solid food. Here's how to get started!

Supplement your baby's breast milk or formula feed with the following:

Pureed fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are the perfect foods to include in your 4 months baby food chart. Peel your fruits and cook them for a short while in a pressure cooker. Once done, wait until the fruits cool down before mashing them by hand or in a blender. You can try a single fruit at a time or giving your little one a mix of multiple fruits. Since fruits contain natural sugars, your baby is sure to enjoy this delicious treat!If you are using fruits with a harder peel like apples and pears, be sure to mash them up thoroughly and pass it through a sieve to get rid of any trace of fibre. This is an easy recipe to add to your food chart for 4 months.

Semi-liquid, iron-fortified cereal

Your pediatrician will give you the go-ahead to start your baby on iron-fortified cereal so you can add it to your 4 months baby food chart up to your 6 months baby food chart. You will need to mix it with either water or breast milk and make it runny enough for your little one to consume.

Dal or rice cereal

This is an extremely popular first food for baby, especially if you wish to introduce them to an Indian diet. They are also very simple to add to your Indian baby food chart for 4 months and your baby food chart for 6 months. All you need to do is grind down the rice or dal of your choice to a fine powder and mix in a cup of water or breast milk. This will ensure the mixture is runny enough for your baby to digest.

For more ideas, read our blog on the best baby food recipes for 6 month olds.

Pureed fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are the perfect foods to include in your 4 months baby food chart. Peel your fruits and cook them for a short while in a pressure cooker. Once done, wait until the fruits cool down before mashing them by hand or in a blender. You can try a single fruit at a time or giving your little one a mix of multiple fruits. Since fruits contain natural sugars, your baby is sure to enjoy this delicious treat!If you are using fruits with a harder peel like apples and pears, be sure to mash them up thoroughly and pass it through a sieve to get rid of any trace of fibre. This is an easy recipe to add to your food chart for 4 months.

Semi-liquid, iron-fortified cereal

Your pediatrician will give you the go-ahead to start your baby on iron-fortified cereal so you can add it to your 4 months baby food chart up to your 6 months baby food chart. You will need to mix it with either water or breast milk and make it runny enough for your little one to consume.

Dal or rice cereal

This is an extremely popular first food for baby, especially if you wish to introduce them to an Indian diet. They are also very simple to add to your baby food chart for 4 months and your baby food chart for 6 months. All you need to do is grind down the rice or dal of your choice to a fine powder and mix in a cup of water or breast milk. This will ensure the mixture is runny enough for your baby to digest.

For more ideas, read our blog on the best baby food recipes for 6 month olds.

How much can your baby eat?

Your baby's stomach is only the size of your fist!

When you start your baby on solid food for the first time, remember they will not be able to complete an entire meal. Your baby's stomach is only about the size of your fist! So for the first few months of their lives, their digestive system will not be able to handle more than breast milk or formula. As they keep growing, so will their appetite. This is when you can begin increasing their portion size, which will be closer to the 6 month point. A meal plan is imperative during this time.

Tips to keep in mind

Follow your baby's lead - This is a completely new experience for your tiny son or daughter, so they might show some resistance in the beginning. Follow their cues. If they refuse to eat or turn their head away, don't force them. Make their first eating experience fun, rather than a chore. Include easy-to-digest foods to your Indian baby food chart for 6 months to help them get used to it.

Start slow - It may take many attempts for your little one to accept solid food, particularly because it will be through a spoon. Remember, up until this point, your little human has only encountered only breastfeeding or his or her bottle for mealtimes. The shape, texture and feel of the spoon will be completely new to them. So be patient with your baby as you go on this new adventure together!

Watch out for algs - Just like adults, babies, too, are susceptible to algs. When introducing your baby to solid food for the first time, be sure to watch them closely for algs. The sooner these algs are detected, the sooner you will be able to figure out the best ways to prevent them and protect your little one. If you or your partner and respective families suffer from any hereditary algs, make sure to consult your pediatrician before creating your baby's food chart.

Learn to love the mess! - Considering it's your baby's first time at the grown ups' table, be sure to expect a messy high chair, gooey fingers and a sticky face. But don't fret! Remember that at this stage, you are building the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Foods to avoid

When preparing your babies first solid food, be sure to avoid the following::

Honey - While honey is a wholesome and natural food that you would gravitate towards as a parent, keep it away from your baby until he or she is at least a year old. Honey might contain spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria which can harm your little one's premature digestive system, leading to infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal disease.

Certain vegetables -You do need to cook and puree all of the vegetables you feed our baby. However, there are still a few vegetables you need to avoid until your little one turns a year old. These include spinach, beets, lettuce, fennel and collard greens. The levels of nitrates found in these vegetables are too high for our baby's stomach acids to break down. This will in turn, block your baby's blood from carrying oxygen resulting in low oxygen levels called Blue Baby Syndrome.It can also be one of the reasons for constipation in toddlers. Opt instead for soft, high-protein and low-nitrate veggies like squash, peas, sweet potato, etc.

Dairy products - Your baby's digestive and immune system blow the age of 12 months can support and digest only breast milk and formula.If you are planning to supplement breast milk for baby, consult with your pediatrician on the best options. Cow's milk or even soy milk can cause bleeding in your little one's intestines. While ghee is good for your baby, be sure to use it sparingly. Avoid cheese at all costs as well.As your baby grows older, you can slowly introduce calcium-rich foods in their diet to encourage healthy bone development.

Citrus fruits - While fruits are a real treat for your baby, you must avoid citrus fruits as part of your toddler's diet. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and grapefruit are too acidic for your little one's stomach to handle. They can cause an upset tummy and even rashes on your baby's back and diaper area.

Water - It may come as a surprise to you, but your tiny human won't need water as part of their diet. The expert-recommended amount of water to give your baby is only two ounces per 24 hours, once they have crossed the nine-month mark. Before this milestone, there is no need to include water in your baby's diet. Water contains no nutrients for a newborn and will only fill them up and potentially cause them to lose interest in milk. Having a meal plan in hand helps you keep track of things.Consult with a pediatrician to ensure your baby's meal plan is the right fit for him/ her. Follow-ups are essential to keep track of your baby's nutritional journey. Through MFine, consultations have been made easier as you can book appointments instantly from your home.

Rice cereal

Day of the week	early morning	breakfast	Mid-Morning	Lunch	Evening Snack	Mid-evening	Dinner	Night
Monday		Banana puree		Moong dal soup	Yoghurt (flavoured with fruit)		Ragi porridge
Tuesaday		Cheeku puree		Pureed khichdi	Lentil soup		Suji kheer
Wednesday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Apple sauce	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Carrot mash	Boiled Vegetable bowl	Breastmilk or Formula milk	RRice gruel	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Thursady		Suji halwa		Pumpkin pureee	Carrot badam Kheer		Sweet potato kheer
Friday		Sweet potato mash		Masoor dal soup	Banana		Dal rice puree
Saturday		Rice cereal		Pumpkin and carrot mash	Banana		Moong dal soup
Sunday		Avocado puree		Ground (lauki) and sweet potato puree	Banana		Suji kheer

We Partner With The Best Paediatric Hospitals

We Partner With The Best Paediatric Hospitals

Need more guidance on making the shift from breastfeeding to weaning? Consult with a pediatrician in 1 click!

CHAPTER 5

What's that? Did you just spot your baby's first tooth?
It's time to add various textures to your baby's food chart. Here are a few
tips to keep in mind and eating schedules to consider when creating your baby food chart for 7 months .

When your baby reaches the seventh-month mark, you will notice significant changes - from their first little teeth to an increase in energy levels and a growing appetite! you can now introduce semi-solid food two to three times a day depending on your little's one appetite and energy levels. To make this time enjoyable for you and your little one, here are a few basic tips to keep in mind before adding recipes to your baby food chart for 7 months.

Things you will need

Since your baby's diet at this point will include semi-solid food, there are a few gadgets you will need to keep handy in your kitchen. These include a pressure cooker, steriliser, blender or mixie-grinder, high-chair, baby feeding bowls and spoons. Make sure all the equipment you use while preparing your homemade baby food is clean and sterilised. This includes your kitchen countertop, dining table, and any other surface you might use to prepare your homemade baby food.

Don't forget to check out our blog on how to prepare food for babies safely and naturally for more in-depth information.

Basic feeding rules

Follow the 3-day rule when starting your baby on semi-solid foods: Introduce them to a new food every 3 days

• From the seventh month onwards, you can start your baby on semi-solid food either twice or thrice a day depending on their appetite. Breastfeeding is still your baby's major source of nutrients and nourishment; semi-solid food will continue to be supplementary at this point.
• The quantity of each feed will be around 90 ml to a litre. Your baby's stomach is only the size of their fist, so they will not be able to handle larger quantities!
• During 4 to 6 months, the consistency of your little one's food had to be as runny as possible to imitate breast milk or formula. Now you can reduce the quantity of liquid gradually until your baby is comfortable enough to eat it. As a rule of thumb, the consistency of the food should be such that is stays on a spoon without spilling.
• Always keep your baby seated in an upright position while feeding them. This will limit the chances of choking.
• Remember to follow the 3 Day Rule when starting your baby on semi-solid food. The 3 Day Rule refers to technique where you introduce your baby to a new ingredient every three days. This will give them time to get accustomed to the new flavours and textures and will give you the chance to learn about your baby's tastes and preferences.

New foods to introduce

With their new little set of baby teeth and eagerness to steal things from your plate, this is the perfect time to add new foods to your baby food chart for 7 months. Here's a quick list:

Porridge -Porridge made from single grains make for a delicious meal for your baby as they offer substantial nutrition to your little one. Opt for cereals like rice, millets, barley, natural oats, wheat etc. Grind them up to a fine powder and mix them with a little bit of water or milk before feeding them to your baby. You can also try mixing in some mashed fruit or veggies for additional taste and nutrition!

Meat puree - At 7 months, you can start introducing your little one to chicken, meat and fish. Meat, poultry and seafood are rich in protein and energy and will help your little one develop their muscles for all running around they will do later. Remember to thoroughly clean the meat and remove all traces of skin, sinew and bones. Mash and grind the meat and pass it through a sieve once again before feeding it to your baby.

Eggs - Eggs are a wonderful source of protein and healthy fats. Starting your baby on eggs early on in their diet will help them develop strong bones and a healthy immune system. They are also one of the best foods for baby weight gain. Boiled eggs are the best way to introduce them to your baby. Remember to cut them into tiny, bite-size pieces, making it easy for your little one to chew and swallow.

Khichdi -Khichdi is usually made out of rice, wheat or dal with mild spice and salt is a filling and nutritious meal and also serves as their first taste of adult food. However, since your baby's stomach and digestive system are still developing, makes salt and spices a big no-no. Make a small batch for your baby, before adding in condiments for your family later.

How does your child's height ideal for their age?
Find out now with our Growth Calculator

Food recipes for 7 month old

Here are a few delicious and nutritious recipes you can try for your tiny son or daughter!

1) Apple and Ragi Porridge:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Ragi flour
• ½ an apple
• 1 teaspoon of ghee
• Water - Add as required

Preparation:

• - Cut and peel apple into small cubes. Steam it in a pressure cooker for a few minutes until soft and mash until it becomes a smooth paste.
• - Mix water a ragi flour in a separate pan. combine until smooth and cook on low until the mixture starts to bubble gently.
• - Add the apple puree to the ragi flour mixture and cook for another five minutes.
• - Once cooked, take off the heat and add ghee.

2) Pear Puree:

Ingredients:

• 1 whole pear
• ¼ cup of water or milk

Preparation:

• - Peel and cut the pear into tiny cubes. Be sure to remove seeds thoroughly as well as any hard pieces of the core.
• - Add the pieces of fruit into some boiling water and cook with a closed lid.
• - Once cooked, mash the pear in a blender or mixie.
• - Add milk or water to create a smooth consistency.

3) Moong dal khichdi:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of moong dal
• ½ cup of rice
• ¾ cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds (finely ground)
• 1 teaspoon of ghee

Preparation:

• - Thoroughly clean dal and rice and soak for half an hour
• - Drain and add a pinch of turmeric and cumin seeds
• - Cook the mixture in the cooker with water until soft
• - Mash the mixture with a blender or ladle before feeding

>1) Apple and Ragi Porridge:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Ragi flour
• ½ an apple
• 1 teaspoon of ghee
• Water - Add as required

Preparation:

• - Cut and peel apple into small cubes. Steam it in a pressure cooker for a few minutes until soft and mash until it becomes a smooth paste.
• - Mix water a ragi flour in a separate pan. combine until smooth and cook on low until the mixture starts to bubble gently.
• - Add the apple puree to the ragi flour mixture and cook for another five minutes.
• - Once cooked, take off the heat and add ghee.

2) Pear Puree:

Ingredients:

• 1 whole pear
• ¼ cup of water or milk

Preparation:

• - Peel and cut the pear into tiny cubes. Be sure to remove seeds thoroughly as well as any hard pieces of the core.
• - Add the pieces of fruit into some boiling water and cook with a closed lid.
• - Once cooked, mash the pear in a blender or mixie.
• - Add milk or water to create a smooth consistency.

3) Moong dal khichdi:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of moong dal
• ½ cup of rice
• ¾ cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon of cumin seeds (finely ground)
• 1 teaspoon of ghee

Preparation:

• - Thoroughly clean dal and rice and soak for half an hour
• - Drain and add a pinch of turmeric and cumin seeds
• - Cook the mixture in the cooker with water until soft
• - Mash the mixture with a blender or ladle before feeding

7 month meal chart

When planning your baby's feeding schedule, the following timetable can help you immensely. With time, you can begin creating your own schedule and swapping out the recipes below for your own.

Day of the week	early morning	breakfast	Mid-Morning	Lunch	Evening Snack	Mid-evening	Dinner	Night
Monday		Ragi Apple Porridge		Ghee Rice	Yoghurt (flavoured with fruit)		Millet Porridge
Tuesaday		Pear Puree		Broken wheat Khichdi	Lentil soup		Curd Rice
Wednesday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Khichdi	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Rice with curd	Boiled Vegetable bowl	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Rice Porridge	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Thursady		Wheat Pancakes		Fish puree	Carrot badam Kheer		Raggi Porridge
Friday		Idli with Dal		Khichdi	Banana		Moong dal khichdi

CHAPTER 6

Your baby has probably begun crawling by now! What are you doing to keep up? Now is a great time to introduce finger food with our innovative ways to keep them happy and full.

At 8 months, your baby is at a very interesting stage of growth. They are gulping down their mashed food and are reaching out to grab things from your plate! You will now need to start thinking about nutritious food that challenges your baby's developing chewing ability, while simultaneously completing their dietary requirements. Here's everything you need to know about feeding your 8 month old!

Basic feeding tips

Keep the texture of your baby's food slightly grainy.This will help them adjust to chewier foods!

• Always feed your baby in the same spot, seated in the same position. This will help them associate feeding time with that designated position.
• Ensure the consistency of your baby's food is a little grainy. This will help your little one make the transition from mashed food to slightly more chewier food.
• Considering your baby will be crawling around, trying to get their attention will be a little difficult - they are curious about things around them and don't want to eat. When their amount of food intake reduces, don't force them to eat. This will give them an aversion to food. Instead, try to reduce the quantity of food and increase the frequency of feeds.
• Many 8 month baby food recipes can be made a few days in advance. Remember to always store your baby's food in either glass or steel containers as some plastics contain harmful chemicals that can enter your baby's food.

8 month old baby food menu

Your 8 month old baby food menu must consist of wholesome foods replete with carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins. There are several natural and homemade foods you can opt for to give your baby a mix of these nutrients. Typically, your 8 month old baby food menu can include a few of the following options:

Fruits and vegetables - You started off your baby on simple fruits like apples, pears, bananas and papayas. You can now include a few more fruits like kiwi, strawberries, pomegranate, etc. While you have been serving fruits and vegetables to your baby pureed or mashed up until now, at this stage, you can add more texture to their food. Instead of pureeing it to a smooth consistency, you can keep a few chunky bits to help your baby start chewing. However, you do still need to ensure that the ingredients are completely cooked and soft, because your baby will not be able to process it otherwise.

Seafood - Fish is an extremely important source of nutrition for babies at 8 months of age and should be a part of your baby food chart for 8 months. Tuna, salmon and rohu are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids that are excellent for your baby's growing brain. You can puree the flesh or feed your child fish broth. Just be sure to double-check for bones as these can hurt your baby.

Tofu or paneer - Tofu and paneer are both excellent sources of complete proteins, the building blocks of healthy muscle development. At 8 months, you can finally introduce your little one to both these nutritious foods. If your baby is lactose intolerant, tofu is a great way to help them meet their nutritional requirements. You can also look for tofu that has been fortified with vitamin D for added nutrients.

Chicken - Being a source of lean protein, chicken is also very healthy for your growing baby. You can start your little one on chicken at 7 months in the form of a puree, since they won't be able to chew pieces just yet. In your baby food chart for 8 months, you can introduce your child to a simple chicken soup which they will love! Just boil a few pieces of chicken (along with the bones) and a few vegetables in some water and feed the broth to them.

Yogurt - Homemade yogurt or curd can be given to your little one, especially during summer. You can also add some fruits like blueberries, strawberries or bananas for added nutrition.There are countless creative ways you can use it in recipes for 8 month old bab Yogurt is full of healthy probiotics that can improve your child's overall health. It also contains calcium, vitamin D and protein, making it the perfect snack for your baby.

8 month food chart

Your 8 month old is crawling all over the place, and using up a lot more energy than before. As your baby continues to grow, you will need to give them adequate nutrition for their increasing energy levels. Here is a sample 8 month food chart for Indian baby and a schedule that you can use to start.

Day of the week	early morning	breakfast	Mid-Morning	Lunch	Evening Snack	Mid-evening	Dinner	Night
Monday		Ragi Apple Porridge		Ghee Rice	Yoghurt (flavoured with fruit)		Millet Porridge
Tuesaday		Pear Puree		Broken wheat Khichdi	Lentil soup		Curd Rice
Wednesday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Khichdi	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Rice with curd	Boiled Vegetable bowl	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Rice Porridge	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Thursady		Wheat Pancakes		Fish puree	Carrot badam Kheer		Raggi Porridge
Friday		Idli with Dal		Khichdi	Banana		Moong dal khichdi

Recipes for 8 month old baby

Now that your baby is learning how to chew, you can try newer recipes to tickle your little one's developing taste. Here are a couple of recipes you can try out.

1) Fish broth

Ingredients:

• Fish - any white-fleshed fish will work perfectly
• 1 cup of water

Preparation:

• - Boil the fish in the water until it is fully cooked. You will know it's done once the flesh turns white.
• - Remove from heat. Carefully pick through the flesh and remove any bones. It's best to do this by hand so you can feel any stray bones and remove them.
• - Mix the fish along with the broth and feed it to your baby. You can add a few mild spices like jeera powder or turmeric if you like.

2) Upma

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sooji
• 1 cup - any vegetable of your choice
• 5 to 6 curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon ghee
• ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds
• 2 cups of water
• A pinch of salt

Preparation:

• - Fry the sooji in the teaspoon of ghee and set aside.
• - With a little more ghee, fry the mustard seeds
• - Add the vegetables to this and cook until the vegetables are soft
• - Add water and salt once done
• - When the water begins boiling, add in the roasted sooji and stir continuously to avoid lumps
• - Cook for a few minutes and add a little additional ghee before serving

3) Boiled carrot sticks

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized carrot sliced into sticks
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of pepper
• 1 teaspoon of ghee or olive oil

Preparation:

• - Boil carrot wedges until they reach a soft consistency
• - Saute wedges in a pan along with ghee or olive oil over medium heat
• - Add salt and pepper
• - Serve once cooled

Read our blog for more delicious and easy baby food recipes for 8 month olds.

1)Fish broth

Ingredients:

• Fish - any white-fleshed fish will work perfectly
• 1 cup of water

Preparation:

• - Boil the fish in the water until it is fully cooked. You will know it's done once the flesh turns white.
• - Remove from heat. Carefully pick through the flesh and remove any bones. It's best to do this by hand so you can feel any stray bones and remove them.
• - Mix the fish along with the broth and feed it to your baby. You can add a few mild spices like jeera powder or turmeric if you like.

2) Upma

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sooji
• 1 cup - any vegetable of your choice
• 5 to 6 curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon ghee
• ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds
• 2 cups of water
• A pinch of salt

Preparation:

• - Fry the sooji in the teaspoon of ghee and set aside.
• - With a little more ghee, fry the mustard seeds
• - Add the vegetables to this and cook until the vegetables are soft
• - Add water and salt once done
• - When the water begins boiling, add in the roasted sooji and stir continuously to avoid lumps
• - Cook for a few minutes and add a little additional ghee before serving

3) Boiled carrot sticks

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized carrot sliced into sticks
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of pepper
• 1 teaspoon of ghee or olive oil

Preparation:

• - Boil carrot wedges until they reach a soft consistency
• - Saute wedges in a pan along with ghee or olive oil over medium heat
• - Add salt and pepper
• - Serve once cooled

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Consult with top pediatricians for personalized diet recommendations to complement your baby's growth!

CHAPTER 7

As your nursing sessions begin to get replaced by solid food,
its time to you introduce more variety in your babys diet.Now is also a
great time to introduce wate! We will show you now.

At 9 months, your baby now has their own personality, temperament and likes and dislikes. Your cuddly little bundle of joy is now more energetic than ever, looking for new things to satiate his or her curiosity - and their diet is definitely one of them. Here's a closer look at what you can do for your 9 month old baby food menu.

Basic feeding tips

• Your little one should be more comfortable eating from a spoon now. Gradually use a bigger spoon and let them take small nibbles off it.
• At this stage, your baby should be introduced to most fruits and vegetables so include plenty of these in your baby food chart for 9 months. However, if you or partner and respective families suffer from algs, we advise consulting your pediatrician before creating your 9 month old baby food menu.
• Continue to follow the 3 Day Rule when it comes to introducing new food, tastes or textures. This will give your baby enough time to get accustomed to the new food and it also gives you the chance to check for algs or reactions.

Creating your 9 month old baby food menu

Don't feed your baby more than 2 oz of water each day.

Water and juices -At 9 months, your baby is finally ready for his or her first sip of water and fruit juice! At this stage of your baby's life, experts recommend giving your baby not more than two ounces of water or juice per 24 hours. When feeding your little one juice, ensure it is homemade and free of artificial flavours and sweeteners. Avoid sodas and fizzy, carbonated drinks at all costs. Consult a child specialist to get a clear idea on when to give water to your baby for the first time.

Cereals and oats - Your 9 month old baby food must include a variety of cereals and oats. Oatmeal is a rich source of minerals and fibre - exactly what your baby needs at this stage of their growth. You can supplement their iron-fortified cereal with some oatmeal for an added energy boost. By inculcating a liking for oatmeal early on in your baby's life, you can ensure they avoid constipation and digestive problems.

Grains - While you have already introduced rice and wheat in the form of semi-solid food, you and your little one can now experiment with different varieties of dishes like steamed idli and dosa, wheat rotis and even some cooked pasta! Watch your baby's face light up as they experience these new flavours and textures.

Commercial baby milk powder - Your little one is probably too impatient to breastfeed, and your milk production would have reduced by at this stage. This is the perfect time to turn to commercial milk powder - it contains appropriate nutrients your baby will need at 9 months of age. Ensure your little one gets at least two feeds of commercial milk powder in a day.

Spices - Your precious little one can now explore the wonderful world of spices, albeit in limited quantities. While preparing their meals, you can add in pinches of mustard, coriander, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, curry leaves fenugreek and fennel. Keep the chilli powder aside until they are a little older.

9 month old baby food recipes

While your baby has moved away from exclusively mashed food, you will still need to ensure all the food they eat is extremely soft and easy to chew so as to avoid choking. Here a few delicious 9 month old baby food recipes you can try.

1) Oats and banana mash

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of cooked oats
• ½ ripe banana
• 1 tablespoon homemade curd
• A pinch of cinnamon

Preparation:

• - Cook the oats for about 10 to 12 minutes in either milk or water until it absorbs all the liquid.
• - Mash the banana and add it to the oats along with the curd
• - Stir to combine
• - You can add a pinch of cinnamon for added flavour

2) Whole Wheat Halwa

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon of Atta
• ½ teaspoon of ghee
• 2 cups of hot water (you can add more to bring it to the desired consistency)
• Water or cow's milk (as required)

Preparation:

• - Start by heating ghee in a pan and roast the atta in it
• - Once the atta turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma, add the hot water slowly.
• - Keep stirring quickly to avoid lumps
• - Remove from heat and add milk to make the consistency smoother

3) Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dal (masoor dal or moong dal works best)
• 2 cups water
• ½ carrot
• Pinch of turmeric
• Pinch of salt

Preparation:

• - Add all the ingredients to a pressure cooker.
• - Cook over a medium heat until all the ingredients turn mushy.
• - Wait until the cooker cools down and then open it.
• - Stir everything together to ensure they are fully incorporated.
• - If it's too thick, you can add some water to adjust the consistency.

1)Oats and banana mash

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of cooked oats
• ½ ripe banana
• 1 tablespoon homemade curd
• A pinch of cinnamon

Preparation:

• - Cook the oats for about 10 to 12 minutes in either milk or water until it absorbs all the liquid.
• - Mash the banana and add it to the oats along with the curd
• - Stir to combine
• - You can add a pinch of cinnamon for added flavour

2) Whole Wheat Halwa

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon of Atta
• ½ teaspoon of ghee
• 2 cups of hot water (you can add more to bring it to the desired consistency)
• Water or cow's milk (as required)

Preparation:

• - Start by heating ghee in a pan and roast the atta in it
• - Once the atta turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma, add the hot water slowly.
• - Keep stirring quickly to avoid lumps
• - Remove from heat and add milk to make the consistency smoother

3) Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dal (masoor dal or moong dal works best)
• 2 cups water
• ½ carrot
• Pinch of turmeric
• Pinch of salt

Preparation:

• - Add all the ingredients to a pressure cooker.
• - Cook over a medium heat until all the ingredients turn mushy.
• - Wait until the cooker cools down and then open it.
• - Stir everything together to ensure they are fully incorporated.
• - If it's too thick, you can add some water to adjust the consistency.

9 month old baby food chart

Your baby can now have three full meals along with snacks.Here's a quick baby food chart for 9 months you can follow before creating your own. You can use our 9 month old baby food recipes in the chart.

Day of the week	Breakfast	Mid-Morning Snack	Lunch	Afternoon Snack	Dinner
Monday	Steamed dosa	Veg soup	Plain pongal	Apple fingers	Homemade cereal
Tuesaday	Kheer(sooji)	Boiled egg	Carrot khichdi	Grape	Plain khichdi
Wednesday	Soft, fluffy idlis	Mashed pear	Small pieces of roti/phulka with paneer	Papaya	Wheat almond porridge
Thursady	Oats pancake	Breadsticks	Plain ghee rice	Chickoo mash	Ragi porridge
Friday	Rice cereal	Pumpkin rava sticks	Flavoured rice	Carrot fingers	Oats apple porridge
Saturday	Wheat kheer	Yoghurt	Vegetable khichdi	Frozen banana	Chicken soup
Sunday	Mashed banana pancake	Blueberries/cherries	Tomato khichdi/vegetable rice	Sweet potato fingers	Brown rice cereal

Read our blog for more baby food recipes for 9 month olds.

Foods to avoid

Certain kinds of seafood - While you have started your little one on fish, be cautious not to give them swordfish, shark or tuna. These fish contain high levels of mercury that is very dangerous for your baby's nervous system. It is also not advisable to feed your baby shellfish like clams, mussels or prawns as they could trigger an allergic reaction.

Whole nuts - Nuts of any kind while high in protein, can cause your little one to choke. Experts advise avoiding nuts until the age of at least 5 years.

Salt - While most of our recipes have mentioned salt, remember to incorporate only a pinch. Your 9 month old baby's kidney will not be able to handle more than that amount.

Sugar - Introduce your toddler to natural sugars found in fruits. Artificial and added sugars found in fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, sweets, etc can be detrimental to your baby's developing milk teeth.

Explore our blogs for expert tips on parenting, child nutrition and more

Looking for more nutritional advice for your baby? Consult top pediatricians online now

CHAPTER 8

Your baby has begun reaching out to food and is intrigued
to taste everything! Here's how you can introduce table etiquette and
make them an official member at the table.

Your little one is in his or her final stages of babyhood as it were and is ready to become a toddler! Between the ages of 10 to 12 months, your baby's calorie intake will be related to their weight. However, pediatricians recommend that your baby will need 90 to 120 calories per kilogram of weight. This means your daughter requires 717 calories per day, while your son requires 793 calories. Refer to our baby food chart for 1 year old to make this easier for you.
Considering your baby is almost a year old, they would already have been introduced to all the major food groups. This gives you ample room to play around in your baby food chart for 10 months. In addition, you will need to make sure your little one is receiving the adequate vitamins and minerals to ensure their healthy growth and development.

How much food should your baby eat?

Between the ages of 10 to 12 months, the amount of food your baby consumes will depend on their appetite, quantity of food provided, how much energy they spend, etc. However, as a rule of thumb, take into consideration the following quantities:

• ¼ to ½ cup of cereals like rice, wheat or semolina
• ¼ to ½ cup of fruits and vegetables
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of dairy products (or dairy substitutes if your baby is lactose intolerant
• 4 tablespoons of meat, poultry or seafood

Basic feeding tips

With your baby's first teeth quickly appearing, you can now start feeding them chewier foods!

• You will be introducing your baby to food almost similar to what you eat now. However, remember that there are still many things your baby cannot eat like salt, sugar and spices.
• Be vigilant about any algs
• Adjust ingredients and quantities according to what your baby likes. This will make mealtimes easier for your and your little one.
• When introducing new foods, simply leave them in front of your baby instead of forcing them to try it. This will pique their interest and make the process of trying new foods more natural.
• Give them their own little sets of sippy cups, spoons, forks and bowls. This way they will make them feel like they deserve a spot at the family dinner table and also help inculcate good table manners.
• You must still continue with their breast milk or formula feed, but the amount and frequency will reduce drastically at this point. Balance your baby food chart for 10 months between breast milk and solid food.

10 to 12 month baby food

Your little one will be sporting a few more teeth at this point, but there is still no sight of any molars. However, at this stage of their little lives, your baby will be able to pick up food and eat of their own accord. They will also now graduate to cubes or pieces of food and minced or chopped food. Take this opportunity to introduce a baby to some new textures in the form of:

• Pieces of fruit or vegetable
• Chappatis with dal and ghee
• Baked or cooked shredded chicken
• Sabudana khichdi
• Creamy milkshakes and soups
• Different forms of potato - baked, cooked, mashed , etc.

Baby food recipes for 10 months

We have put together some quick and easy recipes to give your 10 to 12 month old baby. These recipes can be customised to suit their tastes and are packed with nutrients for their overall development.

1) Sweet Pongal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white rice
• ¾ cup moong dal
• 1 ½ tbsp jaggery (you can add more if required)
• Ghee
• Optional - 1 pod crushed elaichi

Preparation:

• - Wash the rice and dal until the water runs clear. Soak it in a bowl of water for at least 30-60 minutes.
• - Add both to a pressure cooker along with 5-6 cups of water.
• - Cook this over a medium flame for about 20 minutes or 4-6 whistles.
• - Once this is done, turn it off and wait for the steam to die down.
• - Open the pressure cooker and give all the ingredients a stir.
• -Drizzle the top with ghee, sprinkle elaichi powder and serve.

2) Scrambled eggs for babies

Ingredients:

• 1 egg (whisked with a fork)
• 1 tablespoon grated cheese (optional)k
• 1 teaspoon olive oil or coconut oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

• - Whisk the egg along with salt and pepper until fully combined.
• - Use a very low flame to heat a pan.
• - Add the egg and gently fold until the egg forms curds.
• - If you are adding cheese, sprinkle it in at this stage.
• - Take it off the heat while it is still a little runny and serve.

3) Sago (Sabudana) Porridge

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp sabudanas
• ½ cup of water (adjust consistency)
• ½ cup milk
• 1 pinch crushed elaichi
• 1 tbsp crushed cashews (optional)

Preparation:

• - Rinse sabudana in water until it is clean.
• - You can soak the beads in water overnight or for at least 2-3 hours to soften them.
• - Bring water and milk to a boil. Add sabudana to it.
• - Once cooked, sprinkle elaichi and cashew powder over it and serve.
• - For more easy recipes, read our blog on best baby food recipes for 10 month olds.

1) Sweet Pongal

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white rice
• ¾ cup moong dal
• 1 ½ tbsp jaggery (you can add more if required)
• Ghee
• Optional - 1 pod crushed elaichi

Preparation:

• - Wash the rice and dal until the water runs clear. Soak it in a bowl of water for at least 30-60 minutes.
• - Add both to a pressure cooker along with 5-6 cups of water.
• - Cook this over a medium flame for about 20 minutes or 4-6 whistles.
• - Once this is done, turn it off and wait for the steam to die down.
• - Open the pressure cooker and give all the ingredients a stir.
• -Drizzle the top with ghee, sprinkle elaichi powder and serve.

2) Scrambled eggs for babies

Ingredients:

• 1 egg (whisked with a fork)
• 1 tablespoon grated cheese (optional)k
• 1 teaspoon olive oil or coconut oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

• - Whisk the egg along with salt and pepper until fully combined.
• - Use a very low flame to heat a pan.
• - Add the egg and gently fold until the egg forms curds.
• - If you are adding cheese, sprinkle it in at this stage.
• - Take it off the heat while it is still a little runny and serve.

3) Sago (Sabudana) Porridge

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp sabudanas
• ½ cup of water (adjust consistency)
• ½ cup milk
• 1 pinch crushed elaichi
• 1 tbsp crushed cashews (optional)

Preparation:

• - Rinse sabudana in water until it is clean.
• - You can soak the beads in water overnight or for at least 2-3 hours to soften them.
• - Bring water and milk to a boil. Add sabudana to it.
• - Once cooked, sprinkle elaichi and cashew powder over it and serve.
• - For more easy recipes, read our blog on best baby food recipes for 10 month olds.For personalized diet chart for your baby, consult a pediatrician who can guide you on the same.

10 to 12 month old Indian baby food chart

Your baby is actively eating now more than ever! We've put together a comprehensive meal chart that ensures your growing bundle of joy gets all the nutrition they need, at the right time. Refer to our baby food chart for 1 year old and feel free to change things around to suit your baby's needs and preferences.

Day of the week	early morning	breakfast	Mid-Morning	Lunch	Afternoon	Dinner	Late Night
Monday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Cereal with grated apple	Cut papaya	Rice with chicken broth	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Dosa with sambar	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Tuesaday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Oatmetal Porridge with banana	Banana Slices	Vegetable,rice and grilled fish	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Chicken soup and toast	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Wednesday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Egg yolks with toast	Grapes	Vegetable pulao with curd	Breastmilk or Formula milkl	chapatti with Vegetables	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Thursady	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Della Porridge	Rusk	Khichdi with vegetables and curd	Breastmilk or Formula milkl	chapatti with Vegetables	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Friday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Panner burji sandwich	Water melon	Rice and pumpkin curry	Breastmilk or Formula milkl	chapatti with Vegetables	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Saturday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	French toast	Steamed carrots	Chapatti with sambar and vegetables	Breastmilk or Formula milkl	Rice and steamed fish	Breastmilk or Formula milk
Sunday	Breastmilk or Formula milk	Ragi porridge	Steamed apples	Idly with sambhar	Breastmilk or Formula milkl	Parathas with potato curry	Breastmilk or Formula milk

Looking for a complete baby food chart for every month of your baby's first year? Read on for delicious recipes, easy feeding schedules and Indian baby food charts!

Baby health care tips to remember during COVID-19:

1. Ensure your child stays hydrated:

Not only does water quench thirst, but it also transports nutrients in the blood, removes body waste, and regulates body temperature. The amount of water a toddler needs depends on factors like age, body weight, and temperature. It is good to aim for 500 mL of water for a 2-year-old child (approximately 2 cups) and 750 mL for a 3-year-old child. (approximately 3 cups)

If your child has been infected with COVID-19, make sure he/she drinks plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

2. Include more fresh foods into your Indian baby food diet:

Milk: Make sure your child drinks 3 portions of milk per day. Cow milk can be given after 12 months of age. A child needs to drink whole milk during infancy as this complements brain development. Avoid skimmed milk or low-fat milk until the child reaches 2 years of age.

Fruits and vegetables: Encourage your child to eat fresh fruits and vegetables from a young age. The recommended amount of fruits and vegetables differ based on age, body weight, and physical activity. Aim for 1-2 cups for fruits and 1-2 cups for vegetables for maximum immunity.

Protein: Indian foods like rajma masala. paneer masala, chana dal, moong dal are rich sources of protein. Non-vegetarian foods such as oily fish, meat, and eggs can also be incorporated into your child's diet. Refer to our Indian baby food chart for each month for more information on recipes.

3. Limit your child's salt and sugar intake:

Avoid foods high in sodium and sugar in your Indian baby food diet, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. Babies do not require more than 2 grams of salt for 1 to 3-year-olds and 3 grams of salt for 4 to 6-year-olds.

3. Eat home-made baby food:

Home-made baby food is highly nutritious and is necessary for growing children. Outside food may be high in calories, salt, and sugar content. This is not optimal in your child's development in the long run.

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 outbreak in India:

According to WHO, COVID-19 cannot transmit through breastmilk or breastfeeding. However, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, it is possible to spread the virus through droplets if you sneeze, cough, or talk. It is crucial to follow baby safety guidelines to prevent the virus from spreading to your baby. Here are a few new born baby care tips that you should follow:

• Thoroughly wash your hands before and after touching/ contacting your child
• Wear a mask while breastfeeding
• Disinfect all the surfaces that you touch
• If you are severely ill, it is best to express and store your breast milk. Let someone else in your house feed the baby with your expressed milk.

Safety protocols:

If you or your baby have been infected with COVID-19, follow the previously mentioned baby safety tips along with these guidelines before and after you have close contact with each other

• Regularly wash your hands with a hand wash/ hand soap and water or sanitizer.
• Cover your face with a mask at all times. Use tissues while you sneeze or cough.
• Practice social distancing, even with mild symptoms until full recovery.

As a parent, keep yourself informed about the protocols and teach your child as well if they are old enough to understand instructions. Raising a child during the COVID-19 outbreak can be overwhelming, but it is not impossible! Follow medical advice given by your healthcare providers. Along with a COVID-19 diagnostic test, it is recommended to take a COVID-19 antibody test to measure the level of antibodies fighting against the virus.

From a newborn to a year old toddler, as your baby grows, so do you. The first year of your little one's life is filled with adventure and exploration and their diet is a big part of that. We hope you find our recommendations on baby food chart for Indian baby at every stage useful and incorporate it into your little one's diet. For more tips on your baby's diet consult with your city's top pediatricians on mfine.!

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Schedule an Instant Consultation with the city's top pediatricians

Consult with top pediatricians for personalized diet recommendations to complement your baby's growth journey!

Looking for a complete baby food chart for every month of your baby's first year? Read on for delicious recipes, easy feeding schedules and Indian baby food charts!

FAQs

How much do you feed a 2 month old baby?

You can feed your baby with breast milk or bottle milk once every 2 hours. On an average, a 2-month old baby drinks around 45-90 ml of milk every 2-3 hours, but this amount will vary depending upon your baby's needs. Make sure you don't feed your baby with too much milk as they might vomit.

Can I start my baby on solids at 3 months?

Three months is too early to start solid foods. Typically, doctors advise to introduce solid foods at 4-6 months. However, 6 months is the ideal time. It is better to start simple digestible food as your baby's stomach is not accustomed to take it in new foods all at a time.

How often should a 4-month-old eat?

At around 4 months of age, your baby can be fed with milk once in 3-4 hours. However, the exact schedule will depend upon your baby and their unique needs. If your baby gets fussy or cranky very often between feeding times, you might need to feed them more often.

What food should I give to my 5 months old baby?

This is the ideal time to start introducing solid foods to your baby. However, start foods one at a time and feed it to your baby in small quantities. Prepare foods that are soft and easily digestible. You can start with dal porridge, cooked and mashed vegetables, fruit purees and cereals.

Can 5-month-old eat bananas?

Your baby can eat bananas, but definitely not in the solid form. Cook the banana in a pressure cooker and mash it completely. The fruit has to be in an easily swallowable form for your baby. Fruits are to be given in a puree form to be accepted by your baby's digestive system.

Do babies drink less milk when they start eating solids?

Babies drink less milk when they are introduced to solid foods as their stomach will be filled up. When you first wean your baby, it is better to feed them with solid food once in a day. During the rest of the day, feed them with breast milk as it is a major source of nutrients for growth and antibodies which can protect your child from infection. Breastfeeding is crucial until the age of one year of the child.

Can you feed a baby too much?

It is not advisable to feed your baby too much as they might vomit the excess food. Moreover, your baby's digestive system is not accustomed to having new types of food and thus is better to feed them with small quantities of food to begin with.

What is the best food for baby to start with?

When you are weaning your baby, the best food to start with is fruits. Boil and puree fruits such as apples and pears so that your baby can easily digest it. You can also start add steamed and pureed vegetables like pumpkins, sweet potatoes and carrots to their meals.

When should I give solid food to my baby?

Solid foods are generally introduced around 4-6 months. But doctors recommend to start when your baby is around 6 months old. If you sense that your baby is showing signs of readiness for solids, then 4 months should work fine. Some of the signs that your baby is ready for solid foods includes chewing toys, sucking fingers and readily opening their mouth when food is brought near them.

What can a 6 months baby eat?

Doctors suggest that 6 months is the best time for solid foods for babies. However, make sure you feed them with soft digestible food as their digestive system is not accustomed to complex foods. It is recommended that you start with simple cereals, fruit purees and steamed vegetables.

What foods do you introduce to baby first?

When your baby is around 4-6 months, solid foods are introduced slowly in small amounts. Foods like mashed vegetables, cereals, fruit puree are introduced as the first set of solid foods. Later, foods like eggs, idlis, sambhar, dal khichdi can be given gradually.

When can babies eat eggs?

You can feed eggs to your baby from the age of 7 months onwards. Boiled eggs are the best way to introduce this food babies. Make sure to cut the egg into small pieces that are easy for your baby to swallow and digest. Eggs are good for developing strong bones and muscles and will help make your baby strong.

What should a 1-year old baby eat?

At around the one-year mark, your baby will be developing motor and cognitive skills. Thus, they will require additional nutrients to cater to their growing energy demands. The foods that can be given to your toddler are eggs, fruits, dal khichdi, idli with sambar and rice with vegetables. It is better to draft a food chart for baby to keep track of the foods given to avoid any repetition and also to understand their nutrient intake.

Latest Blogs

Related Blogs

Diet Chart for 9 Month Baby Girl

Source: https://www.mfine.co/indian-baby-food-chart/

Share this post