Now your little one has started growing and you have already discovered his likes, dislikes, appetite, what suits him and what does not suit him. As he grows his appetite increases because he requires more food as his body continues to grow more. From liquid diet now it progresses to semi-solid diet and the quantity also increases.

  • Mommies are always excited to prepare food for their little ones but during this, they should not forget to wash their hands with soap or hand wash before preparing.
  • Your little one always has lovely and colourful bottles, bowls and spoons in which they eat their yummy meals prepared by their mommies and it is very important to keep these things sparkling clean. Bottles, bowls, spoons should be washed with hot water and wiped dry with the help of a napkin. The napkin should not be used for any other purpose. This method is called ‘sterilization’
  • Long pretty nails are what every woman needs but I am sure you will cut them short when you come to know this fact that long nails are a source of germs and bacteria for your little baby.
  • It would be best if those pretty jewellery pieces like rings remain in the cupboard while preparing meals for your little ones. Rings and chains can be a source of bacteria and germs and it is best not to wear while preparing meals.
  • All the mothers always want to give the best food to their babies and this best will come if mommies give their babies freshly prepared foods. Foods that are freshly prepared have more bright colours, they have a fresh taste and most important one they are free from bacteria.

Food selection:

Mommies continue to worry and the list goes on and on what new to give, in what form to give etc. Here goes the list:

What to give?

  • All fruits and vegetables in thick puree forms. 
  • Cereals and dals: all cereals and dals in ratio 3:1 these can be soaked, sprouted, sun-dried and powdered. We can make a supply for 4 days at a time can be fed as a porridge with formula milk, jaggery is a sweetener and has iron.
  • Vegetables – non-gas forming vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, well boiled green peas, French beans in a thin puree.

What not to give?

  • Cow’s milk
  • Nuts
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Honey
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Masalas like haldi and other spices
  • Cheese

How much to eat?

APPROXIMATELY 8 to 12 spoons, 500 – 600ml breast milk, diluted cow’s milk and formula feed.It is best to give your 7-8 months baby pureed + mashed foods and when your baby is 9 months old he is ready to have only mashed foods. The consistency of each meal depends upon your baby if he is able to have thick or thin porridge and so on.

SAMPLE MENU PLANNING (7 months old):

SAMPLE MENU PLANNING (8 months old):

SAMPLE MENU PLANNING (9 months old):

Method of preparation:

A. Porridges:

  1. Take 3 parts of cereal and 1 part of the pulse. Soak it for 4-6 hours
  2. This can now be sun-dried or roasted (with 1 teaspoon ghee). Powder it and store it in a container
  3. In a pan add milk, powered cereal and pulse mixture (1 teaspoon) and powered almonds (1 teaspoon sugar can be added for taste.) and cook for few minutes till thick

(The cereal pulse mixture can be powdered and stored for 7 days/1 weeks and while making porridge 1 teaspoon should be added to 150 ml milk.)

B. Stewed apple/pear:

  1. Peel and grate the apple/pear
  2. In a pan add the grated apple/pear and add water
  3. Cook till the fruit is completely cooked
  4. Strain it and serve

C. Vegetable soup:

  1. Pressure cook the carrot and blanch the tomatoes (add tomatoes to boiling water for 1 minute)
  2. Add water and blend all the ingredients into a puree to make soup
  3. Strain and serve

D. Khichdi:

  1. Take 3 parts of cereal and 1 part of the pulse. Soak it for 4-6 hours.
  2. This can now be sun-dried or roasted (with 1 teaspoon ghee). Powder it and store it in a container.
  3. In a vessel add water (as given above) and add the cereal pulse mixture and cook. Your pureed khichdi is ready.

Milk should be diluted with boiled cool water in ratio 2:1. The amount of water is gradually reduced so that in the course of few weeks the baby receives undiluted animal milk.

Food Refused?

If your baby isn’t keen on any of the new tastes you offer them-simply give them another go at a later date. It can sometimes take up to 10-15 attempts for your baby to accept a new food, So keep preserving!

As your little one grows and changes, so will their taste in food.