Foods that can and cannot be given to 6 month old babies

Choosing food for a 6 month baby may feel confusing, especially for new mothers. So that babies’ nutritional needs are met, parents need to know what types of food they can and cannot give them. Good 6 month baby food must be adequate, namely containing complete nutrition such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients can be fulfilled by giving a 6 month old baby food that varies every day.

Various Choices of 6 Month Baby Food

There are various ready-to-eat and instant 6 month baby food products that are easy to find in supermarkets. However, the processing process is too long, causing instant baby food to lose a lot of nutrients. This is why preparing your own food for 6 month old babies is recommended, so that babies can get adequate nutrition.
At first, 6 month old babies are only able to consume around 2-3 teaspoons of food in one meal. Then, the portion will increase gradually over time.

6 month baby food can be made from the following types of food:

1. Sources of animal protein, such as beef or chicken, chicken liver, beef liver, eggs and fish.
2. Sources of carbohydrates, such as rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, or cassava.
3. Nuts and seeds, such as red beans, peanuts, bogor beans, edamame, green beans, and sunflower seeds.
4. Fruit, such as avocado, banana, pear, papaya, mango, orange, apple, melon, guava, and watermelon.
5. Vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, bok coy, mustard greens, green beans, tomatoes and Moringa leaves.

As an introduction to feeding a 6 month old baby, mothers can use one type of ingredient to make porridge, for example avocado porridge, banana porridge, or brown rice porridge. For the next menu, add a variety of other foods consisting of animal sources, staple foods, vegetables, and nuts and seeds.

Research reveals that consuming at least 5 of these food groups every day can meet babies’ nutritional needs and prevent the risk of stunting.

Beware of Food Allergies in Babies

When a new baby tries solid food, the mother needs to pay attention to whether she is allergic to certain foods or not. Eggs, soybeans, fish, shellfish, and wheat are some examples of food ingredients that trigger allergies. Mothers can wait up to 3 days before switching to introducing other types of food to the baby. Generally it takes 3 days to see an allergic reaction, especially if there are family members who have allergies.

You should also be wary of some foods because they can produce gas in the stomach and make the baby uncomfortable. Foods that contain gas include peas, onions, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Avoid giving honey to babies under 1 year old to avoid the risk of food poisoning. Fresh cow’s milk and UHT can only be given after the baby is 1 year old. However, cow’s milk products, for example pasteurized cheese or yogurt, are generally safe to give to babies.

Introducing various kinds of food to 6 month old babies can make babies recognize various tastes and get lots of nutrition. If the baby refuses to eat,  try to give him the food again after a few days because the baby’s taste is still changing. To ensure that the food given to 6 month old babies is correct and adequate, one of the assessment parameters is to monitor the baby’s growth and development. Therefore, have your baby checked by a doctor or midwife to ensure that his growth and development is appropriate for his age.

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