Baby food plan
6-8 months:
1. Single-grain infant cereal: Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Gradually introduce other single-grain cereals like oatmeal or barley.
2. Pureed fruits: Offer smooth and easily digestible fruits like mashed bananas, cooked and mashed apples, or pureed pears.
3. Pureed vegetables: Introduce vegetables like cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, or butternut squash. Steam or boil them until soft and easy to mash.
4. Pureed protein: Begin introducing mashed or pureed protein sources like well-cooked lentils, soft-cooked beans, or pureed chicken or turkey.
8-10 months:
1. Expanding fruits and vegetables: Continue offering the previously introduced fruits and vegetables while adding new options like mashed peaches, ripe mango, mashed avocado, or pureed broccoli.
2. Soft finger foods: Introduce soft finger foods like cooked and diced sweet potatoes, steamed carrot sticks, or small pieces of soft fruit that your baby can pick up and feed themselves. This helps develop fine motor skills.
3. Soft meats: Gradually introduce soft-cooked and finely chopped meats, such as well-cooked chicken, beef, or lamb. Make sure to remove any bones and cut them into small, easily chewable pieces.
10-12 months:
1. More textures and flavors: Continue offering a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins with different textures and flavors to encourage diverse eating habits.
2. Finger foods and whole grains: Expand finger foods to include cooked pasta, small pieces of cooked whole grains like quinoa or rice, and soft cheese cubes.
3. Offer family meals: As your baby's eating skills improve, you can start offering modified versions of family meals, ensuring they are well-cooked and suitable for their age.
Always ensure the food is prepared and served in a safe manner, avoiding any choking hazards. Avoid adding salt, sugar, honey, or any potential allergens before consulting with your pediatrician. Each baby is different, so it's important to observe their reactions and consult with a pediatrician for personalized guidance. As your baby grows, continue to adapt the food plan to meet their changing nutritional needs and preferences.
1. Single-grain infant cereal: Start with iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Gradually introduce other single-grain cereals like oatmeal or barley.
2. Pureed fruits: Offer smooth and easily digestible fruits like mashed bananas, cooked and mashed apples, or pureed pears.
3. Pureed vegetables: Introduce vegetables like cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, or butternut squash. Steam or boil them until soft and easy to mash.
4. Pureed protein: Begin introducing mashed or pureed protein sources like well-cooked lentils, soft-cooked beans, or pureed chicken or turkey.
8-10 months:
1. Expanding fruits and vegetables: Continue offering the previously introduced fruits and vegetables while adding new options like mashed peaches, ripe mango, mashed avocado, or pureed broccoli.
2. Soft finger foods: Introduce soft finger foods like cooked and diced sweet potatoes, steamed carrot sticks, or small pieces of soft fruit that your baby can pick up and feed themselves. This helps develop fine motor skills.
3. Soft meats: Gradually introduce soft-cooked and finely chopped meats, such as well-cooked chicken, beef, or lamb. Make sure to remove any bones and cut them into small, easily chewable pieces.
10-12 months:
1. More textures and flavors: Continue offering a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins with different textures and flavors to encourage diverse eating habits.
2. Finger foods and whole grains: Expand finger foods to include cooked pasta, small pieces of cooked whole grains like quinoa or rice, and soft cheese cubes.
3. Offer family meals: As your baby's eating skills improve, you can start offering modified versions of family meals, ensuring they are well-cooked and suitable for their age.
Always ensure the food is prepared and served in a safe manner, avoiding any choking hazards. Avoid adding salt, sugar, honey, or any potential allergens before consulting with your pediatrician. Each baby is different, so it's important to observe their reactions and consult with a pediatrician for personalized guidance. As your baby grows, continue to adapt the food plan to meet their changing nutritional needs and preferences.