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Child Of 6 Months. What Are The Solid Food And Quantity That Should Be Introduced?

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Posted on Sat, 1 Jun 2013
Question: Hi Doc,
I have a son who is 5 1/2 month old. i wanted to start him on solid food. i introduced him to mashed rice with little bit of formula and water. but he doesnt seem to like it at all. Just want to know at 5.5 months can i introduce him to some daal and khicadi with haldi and hing instead of the blant plain rice?Also when he is having rice do i need to give him water? how much water should i give?i dont want to make him constipated.
at 5.5 months is it ok to introduce XXXXXXX and other fruit purees? or shud i wait it out till he turns 6 months?
doctor
Answered by Dr. E Venkata Ramana (1 hour later)
Hi XXXXXX

Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.

You can start weaning (complimentary) food from the start of 6 months onwards.
It is better to start with mono cereals, followed by multi cereals and cereal-pulse combination.

Cereal like rice is the best choice to start weaning as it is gluten free and easily digestible.

You have give sips of water from 6th months in between the weaning food and whenever child is thirsty.

The quantity of water should be decided by his thirst and to maintain an adequate urine output.

You can give cereal based porridge like ragi, suji, and rice.

After 6 months onwards you can introduce mashed rice with pulses, mashed tubers and vegetables, soups can be given.

You can give fruit juices after completion of 5 months.

You can start daal and mashed khichidi from 6 months.

And I advise you the general principles in giving weaning food as follows:

1. Start only one new food at a time in small quantity and gradually increase it
over days.

2. If you find any problem with new food stop it.

3. Don't start two or more foods at a time as it will be difficult to find out which is
suitable and which is not suitable.

4. If you want to introduce an another new food, introduce it later in a similar
fashion with starting in small quantity and increasing gradually over a week to
10 days.

Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. E Venkata Ramana (57 minutes later)
thanks for the response. I want to know is there any health benefits in giving the baby plain mashed white rice? since he is below 6 months old can I now add moong dal in the mashed rice? he already had rice for 4 days and doesnt seem to like the bland taste neither he is allergic.can u please suggest if I shud continue the same rice till he is 6 months old or can I now introduce XXXXXXX pure or khicadi one by one...
doctor
Answered by Dr. E Venkata Ramana (23 minutes later)
Hi XXXXXX

Thank you for getting back.

Weaning food is usually started with rice because of the benefit of easy digestibility and gluten free. So there are no allergic problems or indigestion with rice as a starting food.

If the child is completed 5 months of age, you can start giving mashed rice and you can add cooked and mashed moong dal.

But start this combination in a small quantity and look for any problem.

If there is no problem you can gradually increase the quantity.

You can start XXXXXXX puree or khicadi but gradually in aforementioned fashion.

Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.

Regards.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. E Venkata Ramana

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3176 Questions

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Child Of 6 Months. What Are The Solid Food And Quantity That Should Be Introduced?

Hi XXXXXX

Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.

You can start weaning (complimentary) food from the start of 6 months onwards.
It is better to start with mono cereals, followed by multi cereals and cereal-pulse combination.

Cereal like rice is the best choice to start weaning as it is gluten free and easily digestible.

You have give sips of water from 6th months in between the weaning food and whenever child is thirsty.

The quantity of water should be decided by his thirst and to maintain an adequate urine output.

You can give cereal based porridge like ragi, suji, and rice.

After 6 months onwards you can introduce mashed rice with pulses, mashed tubers and vegetables, soups can be given.

You can give fruit juices after completion of 5 months.

You can start daal and mashed khichidi from 6 months.

And I advise you the general principles in giving weaning food as follows:

1. Start only one new food at a time in small quantity and gradually increase it
over days.

2. If you find any problem with new food stop it.

3. Don't start two or more foods at a time as it will be difficult to find out which is
suitable and which is not suitable.

4. If you want to introduce an another new food, introduce it later in a similar
fashion with starting in small quantity and increasing gradually over a week to
10 days.

Hope I have answered your query, if you have any clarification please let me know.

Regards.