Optimal nutrition at 6 months

Starting at about 6 months, your baby needs other foods in addition to breast milk for healthy growth and development. Commercial baby foods have ingredients that may be harmful to the baby, including extra fat, salt, sugar and preservatives, in addition the consistency is different from the consistency of natural, local foods.  It is important for your baby’s tastes to be accustomed to natural foods.

It is still important to continue breastfeeding your baby on demand both day and night.

Breast milk continues to be the most important part of your baby’s diet.  There is no need to give infant formula or follow-up formulas (which are specially formulated milks for older children from 6 months of age), as breastmilk with a diversified diet provides all the nutrients your child needs.  Remember to breastfeed first before giving other foods.

When giving complementary foods, there are six important things to remember:

1. Frequency: Feed your baby complementary foods 2 times a day
2. Amount: Give 2 to 3 tablespoonfuls (‘tastes’) at each feed.
3. Thickness: should be thick enough to be fed by hand and should not fall of the spoon easily.
4. Variety:
   • Start with one food item at a time, continue for 3 days with the same food and notice how the child reacts to each food item, one by one. If more than one non-dairy food is introduced at the same time, in case of an allergic reaction, it cannot be concluded which is causing the allergy.
   • Do not add any sugar or salt to food. Don’t feed biscuits/cakes, tea or other sugary foods to your baby.
   • Begin with the staple foods like thick porridge made with porridge – made from rice, buckwheat, or oatmeal.
   • First, introduce mashed vegetables such as pumpkin, carrot, spinach
   • Then introduce fruits (banana), and locally available fruits, so your baby can become accustomed to the taste of vegetables.
   • The thick porridge can be enriched with egg, fruits, lentils, leafy greens, meat or dairy.
5. Responsive feeding:  The baby may need time to get used to eating foods other than breast milk. - Be patient and actively encourage your baby to eat. Don’t force your baby to eat. Use a separate plate to feed the baby to make sure he or she eats all the food given.
6. Hygiene: Good hygiene (cleanliness) is important to avoid diarrhea and other illnesses. Use a clean spoon or cup to give foods or liquids to your baby. -Store the foods to be given to your baby in a safe hygienic place. - Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing foods and feeding baby. Wash your hands and your baby’s hands before eating. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and washing or cleaning baby’s bottom.

Foods to avoid at this age

• Whole cow, goat, or sheep’s milk unboiled – (this can be fed to the child, but it must be boiled beforehand)
• Any kinds of nuts and seeds
• Avoid fruit and citrus juices
• Do not add sugar, honey, salt, spices
• Do not feed your child tea (black, green, herbal).

Feeding according to the needs of the child

When you start introducing solid foods, it is a good idea to initially choose a time when both you and your baby are happy and relaxed.  It may take some time for the baby to get used to eating food other than milk. Be patient and actively encourage the child to eat, but do not force him. It takes time and patience for a child to master new skills.

Observe your baby and react to his signals. Feed the child slowly and patiently, following his / her rhythm. Try different combinations of foods, flavors and textures to encourage your child to eat their meal. Wait for the child to stop eating before offering it again. Stop feeding when he shows he has had enough.

Signs by which the baby shows that she is hungry: she is excited when she sees that the food is ready, leans towards you in the feeding chair, opens her mouth.

Signs by which the baby shows that he is full: he eats more slowly, pushes food away from himself, does not want to open his mouth, shakes his head.