Starting Semi-solids and Solids

Semi-Solid Foods:

When a baby is 6month old introduce the baby to semi-solid foods such as cerelac, Khimki, puree, soups etc.

You can start semi-solid food as soon as the baby is 6 months old. Do not start it early and too late also. Starting early can cause choking, indigestion and starting late can cause the baby to refuse to eat later.

Some Semi-solid food recipes you can try for your baby:

1.Nestle Cerelac:

Directions: 

1. Take Luke warm water in a bowl. (Boil the water and use it when it is lukewarm). 
   
   
   
2. Add Cerelac powder and stir until no lumps are there and a thick paste is formed. (3 scoops for 75ml water)

(There are various flavours available for a particular age group, you can buy for your baby as per their age).

2. Home-made Porridge (Khimti): 

Ingredients:

Rice and yellow lentil(Moong Dal) powder, water.

Steps to prepare rice and yellow lentil powder:

1. Take one bowl of rice and one bowl of yellow lentil(moong dal) 
2. wash properly, let them towel dry and then roast until golden brown(both separately). 
3. Grind both together into fine powder. Store this powder in an airtight container. 

Directions:

1.  Take a vessel. add clarified butter(ghee) to it.
2. Add 2tbsp of this powder(as per baby's hunger).
3. Roast it well in ghee and then add water to it, stir continuously until a thick paste is formed (to avoid lumps keep the flame on low). 

3.Ragi (Nachani Satwa): 

Ragi is very easily digested. Ragi Malt is easily available in the market. It is Ayurvedic (I still sometimes give it to my daughter).

Ingredients:

Ragi malt and water.

Preparation:

1. Take a vessel
2. Add the amount of water you want to prepare ragi porridge, keep the flame low and add ragi powder. Keep stirring until it is a thick paste.

4.Fruits or vegetable puree: 

Ingredients:

Fruits: Apple,banana,chickoo, papaya,watermelon,avacado etc.

Vegetables: Tomato,carrot, cucumber, peas,corn,potato etc.

Directions:

1. Cut any fruit or vegetable into small pieces.
2. Boil it until cooked.
3. mash or grind it. 

Note: Don't add salt or sugar to baby food until 12 months. salt and sugar are not good for the baby's health so it's better to avoid them. Instead use garlic, ginger, turmeric and herbs to add flavours to baby food.

If the baby is not eating semi-solid food then try giving Rice or moong Dal water.

Directions:

1. Take 2tbsp of rice or moong Dal 
2. wash properly in clean water.
3. Add one cup of water and let it cook until rice or dal becomes soft.
4. Use a strainer to take out the water. Feed this water to the baby.

Solid Foods:

When a baby is 7 month and comfortable with semi-solid foods you can slowly introduce solid food to your baby.

Some Solid food Recipes you can try:

1.Dal khichdi: 

Ingredients:

Rice,yellow lentil(moong Dal), carrot,tomato,corn,peas,garlic,turmeric, cumin seeds(jeera). 

Directions: 

1. wash Rice, yellow lentil and all vegetables
2. Cut the vegetables into very small pieces. 
3. take a vessel, Add (oil or clarified butter(ghee)), add cumin seeds and pinch of turmeric powder mix well.
4. Add all the vegetables, rice, lentil and water to it. Mix well and let it cook.
5. After everything is cooked well take a Masher and mash everything and feed the baby. If the baby is facing a choking problem then instead of mashing, grind the khichdi and give.

2. Boiled Egg: 

Boiled egg can be given to baby (do not give egg white). 

Ingredients:

Boiled egg, black pepper powder.

Directions:

1. Boil the egg properly, remove the shell and egg white.
2. Take the yolk, add a pinch of pepper powder.
3. Mash all the ingredients together well.

3. Fruity Paneer Puree:

Ingredients:

Banana or apple and  paneer(Cottage cheese)

Directions:

1. Take 1 cube of paneer and 1 banana or 2 pieces of apple(remove peel).
2. Add the ingredients to the grinder and grind well. Very easy, healthy and loved by all babies(my personal experience).

4. Mixed Fruit or vegetable puree:

Ingredients:

Fruits: Apple,banana,chickoo, papaya,watermelon,avacado etc.

Vegetables: Tomato,carrot, cucumber, peas,corn,potato etc.

Directions:

1. Cut the fruits or vegetables into small pieces.
2. Boil it until cooked.
3. mash or grind it. 

5. Sweet semolina:

Ingredients:

Semolina (Rava or Suji), breastmilk or formula milk, almond powder, clarified butter (Ghee).

Directions:

1. Take a pan and heat on low flame.
2. Add 1tbsp clarified butter (Ghee) to it and then add 2-3 tbsp semolina.
3. Roast nicely in ghee until golden brown.
4. Add half cup breast milk or formula milk and keep on mixing gradually. ( Instead of milk you can use water also but I prefer using milk).
5. Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 minutes until the semolina is soft.
6. Now add a pinch of almond powder to it (avoid using sugar). Stir and check the consistency, If it is thick add more milk. (Almond powder can be skipped).

6. Spicy semolina:

Ingredients:

Semolina (Rava or Suji), water, olive oil(any vegetable oil), turmeric powder, chilli.

Directions:

1. Take a pan and heat on low flame.
2. Add 1tbsp olive oil to it then add 2 thin shreds of chilli and 2-3 tbsp semolina.
3. Roast nicely in oil until golden brown.
4. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and a half cup of water and keep on mixing gradually.
5. Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 minutes until the semolina is soft.
6. Stir and check the consistency, If it is thick add more water.

The complete food chart for 6-12 months baby...Read More. 

The chart will let you know which fruits or vegetables you can introduce to baby food at a particular age.

Note: Always introduce one food at a time to check if the baby has an allergic reaction. If you mix fruit or vegetable you will be confused by which baby has an allergy.

Note: The recipes I have mentioned are ones I had given to my daughter. You can try any other that your baby likes.

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