The baby’s diet must be exclusively breast milk until the 6th month of life, but breastfeeding can be continued in a complementary form until the age of 2 or more. Furthermore, following the recommendation of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, from the 6th month onwards it is important to start introducing foods into the baby’s diet, with guidance from a pediatrician or nutritionist.
From the 6th month onwards, porridge should be offered for lunch or dinner, with cereals or tubers, fresh vegetables, animal protein and beans, and for small meals, fresh fruit porridge. Do not sift, liquidize or use mixerprioritizing meals mashed with a fork or scraped (in the case of fruits), to help develop chewing, breathing and recognizing the different flavors and textures of food.
It is important that the baby’s meals are eaten with the family, in a calm environment, without TVs or cell phones, so that a good relationship and acceptance of new foods are created. Furthermore, it is recommended that the baby can hold the spoon and even pick up food, with parental supervision, as this stimulates the development of motor coordination, being a similar approach to the BLW method. See more about the BLW method.
How should the diet be
In the first meals, the baby eats little, as the nutritional needs are lower than those of adults and he is still developing the ability to chew and swallow food. Therefore, it is important not to force the baby to eat more than he accepts.
Furthermore, it is important to try to serve food separately with a spoon, to help develop the child’s taste buds. It may be necessary for the baby to taste some foods between 8 and 10 times, as this is the time needed to recognize the flavor, texture and accept them.
A 6-month-old baby needs, in addition to breastfeeding, to have 3 meals a day, which must be rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, proteins and good fats, present in foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, cereals and meat:
1. Papa principal
It is recommended that the porridge is only served at lunch or dinner, mashed with a fork or in the form of a puree, and can be seasoned with fresh herbs such as parsley, chives and rosemary, without adding salt and must be composed of:
- Cereals, such as rice, pasta or tubers, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes and cassava;
- Legumes, such as beans, soybeans, lentils, chickpeas;
- Animal protein, such as beef, liver, fish, chicken or eggs.
Furthermore, it is important that it is made up of vegetables such as pumpkin, broccoli, beetroot, carrots and cabbage, as this way it is possible to obtain all the essential nutrients for the baby’s development.
2. Fruits
Fresh shaved or mashed fruits should be given to the baby for morning and afternoon snacks. Some examples of fruits for a 6-month-old baby are apples, pears, bananas, papayas, avocados, persimmons and watermelon.
3. Breast milk or infant formula
It is recommended to offer breast milk to the baby as a complement to the main porridge and fruit, and on demand, which is when the baby wants it. On the other hand, infant formula should be given to the baby following the pediatrician’s recommendations.
Sample menu for 6 month old baby
When starting to feed your 6-month-old baby, it is important to clean fruits, vegetables and utensils used to prepare meals. It is also important to serve the meal with a plastic spoon, so that the baby does not get hurt.
See an example of a 3-day menu for feeding a 6-month-old baby:
The menu above is just an example, which may vary depending on whether the baby is breastfed or not, whether the food is accepted and whether there is a change in the baby’s health, for example. Therefore, it is essential to have a consultation with a pediatrician and a nutritionist to adapt the diet to the specificities of each baby.
The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics also recommends that the baby be offered some water, which should be served in a glass between meals, to avoid overloading the kidneys. Understand more about how much water to give your baby.
Recipes for 6 month old baby
See below two simple recipes for complementary feeding for a 6-month-old baby:
1. Colored rice (egg, carrot and zucchini)
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of raw rice;
- 1 ovo;
- 1 tablespoon full of raw grated carrot;
- 200 mL of water;
- 3 tablespoons of raw grated zucchini;
- 1 teaspoon of chopped raw garlic;
- 1 teaspoon of chopped raw onion;
- 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil;
- 1 and a half cups of water.
Preparation mode:
Heat the oil in a small pan, add the garlic, onion, carrot and sauté. Add the rice and sauté. Add the water and cook until the water dries and the rice is soft and, finally, add the zucchini. Cook the egg separately for 8 minutes. Chop the egg into 4 parts and serve with the rice.
2. Boiled fish
Ingredients:
- 1 small piece of fish steak;
- 1 teaspoon of grated raw onion;
- 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil;
- 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley;
- ¾ cup of water.
Preparation mode:
In a pan, sauté the onion in olive oil. Add the fish and water and let it cook for 15 minutes. At the end, add the fresh parsley, mixing well with the fish and serve with other complements such as rice, beans and vegetables.
