Exclusive breastfeeding ends at six months, and the child is introduced to other food options to aid the little one’s growth and development. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies start taking solid food immediately after they turn six months. However, not all types of solid foods can be introduced to them as their digestive and excretory system is still tender.

Here, in this article, we will look at the 15 best food for 6 months babies.

15 Best Food For 6 Months Old Babies

It is advised to consult a pediatrician before introducing solid food to your little ones. Below are the best foods for 6 months old babies.

1.      Milk

Milk, either breast milk or formula milk, should remain the staple food of your baby until one year. You can breastfeed the child every three hours or on demand. Alternatively, give the child 24 to 37 ounces of formula milk daily. Feed your baby with their first solid food in between nursing sessions or after you have breastfed them

2.     Stage 1 veggies

Suitable veggies for the baby include green beans, baby marrow, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, green peas, and butternut. These veggies must be boiled and smashed before feeding them to the baby.

3.     Stage 1 fruits

Introduce fruits to the baby at this stage. However, the fruits must be in puree or mashed form. Examples of fruits you can introduce to them include avocados, apricots, bananas, mango, chikoo, apples, plums, prunes, nectarines, peaches, papaya, pears, pumpkin, and kiwi pulp.

4.     White meat and fish

You can add stewed and pureed fish and white meat to the baby’s diet. Ensure you remove all the bones so as not to choke the baby. Avoid processed meat such as sausages, hams, or salami due to their high sodium content, which is not suitable for the baby’s health.

5.      Pulses and cereals

Babies can digest boiled and mashed pulses and cereals. such as barley, oats, rice, and lentils. They are good options because they contain carbohydrates, protein, and minerals growing babies need.

6.     Carrots puree

This is a good breakfast food for 6-month-old babies. Slice a medium-sized carrot, blend and puree it and serve it to the baby. Carrots are essential to provide them with Vitamin A needed for good sight.

7.     Vegetable combo

To make a nice vegetable combo, you need a quarter cup of peas, fresh beans, chopped carrots, and zucchini squash. Cook and puree them together in a blender. Add some water as desired, and it can serve as dinner for the baby.

8.     Apple sauce

Looking for a healthy breakfast to serve your 6-month-old baby? Apple sauce is a good option to start with. Simply boil the apples, slice them and mash them accordingly.

9.     Banana puree

Another good breakfast option! Banana is an excellent source of potassium needed for the proper development of the baby’s bones. One ripe banana is okay for the baby. Just blend it, mash and add water or milk to thicken it.

10. Rice cereal

Rice cereal is one of the best foods for a 6-month-old baby. The baby can take it as lunch. To make rice cereal, you need a half cup of rice, 2 tbsp formula milk, and a cup of water. Wash and boil the rice and mash afterward. After it has mashed, you can add the formula and water appropriately.

11.    Mango Delight

To make mango delight, you need a fresh mango, peel it and blend the chunks in a

blender or food processor. Add formula milk afterward to take and thicken.

12. Apricot puree

This is another great breakfast recipe for 6 months old babies. To make an apricot puree, you need a pound of dried apricot, 3 cups of apple juice, pear, or white grape juice.

13.    Barley apple porridge

Barley apple porridge is one of the best foods for 6 months old babies. You can make one by bringing a quarter cup of ground barley, 2 tbsp formula milk 3.5 cup water, and a cup of cubed apple. Firstly boil water, add barley and cook for 10 minutes. Add the apple cubes and cook for two minutes on low heat. Puree the mixture afterward.

14. Oatmeal cereal

To make a rich oatmeal cereal, you need a quarter cup of ground oats, 2 tbsp formula milk, half a cup of water, and half a sliced banana. Boil the oats for ten minutes and add the sliced banana and milk to boil further on low heat for three minutes.

15. Pumpkin puree

To make a pumpkin puree, you need a medium-sized sugar pumpkin. Deseed the pumpkin, half it, and drain the pumpkins in a baking pan. Bake it for about 40 minutes in the oven preheated to 400°F. Once the halves are soft, scoop the squash meat and place them in a food processor to puree. Add water afterward to smoothen it.

Non-Suitable Foods for 6 Months Old Babies

Below are the foods that you should never serve to your baby.

1. Never serve your baby adult cereals. When buying cereals, go for iron-fortified or single ingredients cereals specifically designed for 6 months old babies.
2. Do not give your baby cow milk at this stage. You can only introduce cow milk when the baby reaches a year.
3. Avoid honey because it contains spores that cause botulism in the baby.
4. Never serve fruit or finger foods in sliced forms to six months old babies, as it might choke them.
5. Avoid highly processed sweetened baby food as they lack the nutrients the baby needs at this stage.
6. Avoid biscuits as they contain preservatives, refined flour, and sugar, which are not suitable for the baby’s health.

Precautions When Serving Your 6-Month-Old Baby

These are precautions to take while feeding 6-month-old babies.

1. Wash your hands appropriately before feeding your baby
2. Feed your baby in a clean and calm environment
3. Use a sterile glass or steel cup to serve milk or water to the baby. Avoid feeding bottles and sippers.
4. When introducing fruits or veggies to the baby, don’t introduce multiple types of fruits or veggies at once. Introduce one at a time and observe the baby for allergic reactions. Follow a four-day wait rule where you serve the baby and watch for any sign of intolerance. When you noticed the baby is okay with it and has adjusted to the taste and digestibility, you can begin introducing others accordingly. Start with single-ingredient recipes. After some while, you can introduce multiple ingredients dishes, like a vegetable combo.
5. Never heat the baby’s food in a microwave. This creates pockets of heat that can easily burn the baby’s mouth during consumption. To heat the baby food, place it in a food bowl and put it in a bigger bowl of boiling water to heat.
6. Serve the baby’s room-temperature water. The water shouldn’t be cold or hot.

How Much Should A Six-Month-Old Eat?

You can start with a serving of one-two teaspoon or 5-10ml. Increase the amount gradually as the baby progresses. Initially, the baby might eat only a half spoon of food. Ensure you don’t force-feed them. Let them progress at their pace.

Be observant and careful while feeding the baby solid at this stage because the stomach is still tender, and the baby might struggle with the food at first and slowly gets used to it. However, if your baby doesn’t progress in food consumption after some time, consult a pediatrician for help.