Solid Food Chart For Babies Age 4 To 6 Months

Solid Food Chart For Babies Aged 4 To 6 Months 

Breastmilk is one of the healthiest food for babies for the first six months. Many pediatricians recommend that the baby starts solid after 6 months of age. Just because your baby has turned 4 months old it doesn't mean that you've to introduce him/her to solid foods. The baby's digestive system becomes ready for solid food by 4 months or so. You should start introducing solid foods to your baby when he/she shows signs of readiness. Solid foods are the foods that transition your baby from milk to adult food. After a period of about 4 to 6 months, the baby needs solid foods to meet his/her nutritional requirements. Introducing solid foods to your little one is a very important milestone in a baby's development.

Solid Food Chart For Babies

Offer a good variety of solid foods that provides nutrients to your infant. Remember not to add salt or sugar to the baby's food. You can add the following healthy and nutritious solid foods to your baby's diet:

Cereals

Cereals are less allergenic foods that make them a good food choice for infants. You can prepare it with breastmilk or formula. Rice and oatmeal cereals are the best cereal for infants as they are less allergenic.

(Also read: Green Peas During Pregnancy - Nutritional Value And Health Benefits )

Veggies

Veggies like butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, peas, green beans are healthy and nutritious. These veggies are easy to digest and don't cause constipation in babies. Serve cooked veggies to your little one.

Fruits

When you introduce solid foods to your baby you can offer him/her fruits like bananas, avocados, apples, pears as they are soft and easy to digest. Mash the flesh of banana, avocado with a fork or puree the flesh and give it to your baby.

When to introduce solid food to your baby?

You can introduce solid food to your baby after four months of age.

Foods for 4 to 6 months old baby

Some of the foods for 4 to 6 months old baby are listed below:

Banana

Banana is soft, mashable, and easily digestible fruit. It is loaded with vital nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin B6, folate, and many more. All these nutrients are essential for the overall development of your baby. Mash the banana properly so that your baby can swallow it easily.

Avocados

Avocados are rich in nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, calcium, zinc, selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, niacin, and all these nutrients are highly recommended for your growing baby. Avocados contain healthy fats which are beneficial for your baby's overall development. These healthy fats contribute to the baby's physical and mental growth. Mash the avocado's pulp to feed your baby.

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Apples

Apples are rich in fiber and easy to digest so it's one of the good food choices for your baby's developing digestive system. Prepare apple puree and serve it to your baby. Serve cooked apple to your baby.

Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash is highly nutritious and is filled with vitamin A and potassium. It is easy to digest and doesn't cause allergies. It is a good source of beta carotene too. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Bake it for 40 minutes at 400 degrees. Place it in a blender and puree it until smooth. If you don't want to bake it then boil or steam it until tender and then puree it until smooth and serve it to your little one.

Pears

Pears contain essential vitamins and minerals which are required for your baby's development. Peel pear cut it into chunks. Steam it until tender. Place it in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Serve this puree to your little one.

Green Beans

Green Beans are an excellent source of Vitamin A ad fiber. Place the green beans in a steamer and cook them for 5 minutes. Puree these steamed green beans in a blender or food processor until smooth. You can also mix this puree with carrots or sweet potatoes purees. 

(Also read: Eating Peach During Pregnancy - Benefits, Side Effects, Precautions & Is It Safe)

Carrots

Carrots are healthy, nutritious, and full of vitamins. Carrots are perfect to introduce as a solid food to your baby. Peel carrots and cut them into chunks. Steam these chunks until tender. Place these chunks in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and one of the perfect first food for your baby. These are a good source of beta carotene, vitamin A, C, and E. Give it in the form of puree to your baby.

Signs that show infant is ready for solid foods

Look at the following signs to find out your baby is ready for solid foods:

-> If your baby can keep his/her head in an upright position and is able to sit in a high chair or a feeding seat. 

-> Significant weight gain or baby has nearly doubled his/her birth weight. 

-> If your baby shows interest during mealtime and is curious about what you eat, watch you eating, reach for your food, or seem eager to be fed.

-> If your baby can move food from the spoon to his/her throat.

(Also read: How To Burp A Newborn: Step-By-Step Guide)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What changes to expect after introducing solid foods to babies?

A baby's stool becomes more solid and also varies in color. Beets can make it red, peas, broccoli or green vegetables can make it green, and carrot can make it orange. 

2. Does an infant need water?

Breastmilk or formula provides all the fluids that your infant needs. However, when you introduce solid food to your baby you can add water to his/her diet.

(Also read: How to take care of a newborn baby?)

3. Can I give juice to my baby?

No, babies don't need juice. You shouldn't offer juice to babies younger than 12 months. After 1 year of age, you can offer only 100% fruit juice to your baby.

4. What baby food should I introduce first?

You should introduce those solid foods to your babies first that are healthy, nutritious, and easy to digest. Some of the fruits that are healthy, and easily digestible are sweet potato, banana, oatmeal, rice or barley cereal, butternut squash, apples. 

5. How many times a day should I feed solids to my 6 months old?

You can feed solids to your 6 months old baby 2 or 3 times a day.


Watch this video to know all about the healthiest solid food for your baby aged 4 to 6 months. These solid foods help your baby to grow properly. 

Your pediatrician can give the best advice on when to introduce solid foods to your little one. So, consult your pediatrician before introducing solid foods to your baby.



Also, read other pregnancy-related articles:

• 12 bad habits to avoid during pregnancy

• Eating Peanuts (Groundnuts) During Pregnancy - Nutritional Value, Health Benefits, Side Effects And Is It Safe To Eat

• Consuming Jaggery During Pregnancy - Nutritional Value, Health Benefits, Side Effects, Is It Safe To Eat

• Eating Nuts During Pregnancy - Health Benefits, Side Effects, Is It Safe & When To Avoid Them

• Eating Walnuts During Pregnancy - Nutritional Benefits, Health Benefits, Risks, and Side effects

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