Why six months is the right time

For the first six months, breast milk alone gives a baby everything they need. From six months, a baby needs more energy, iron and other nutrients than breast milk can provide. This is the time to start other foods, while continuing to breastfeed until two years or beyond.

How to start

  • Begin with soft, mashed foods that are thick enough to stay on a spoon, not watery soup or thin porridge. Examples: thick rice or wheat porridge (such as soft shola), mashed potato, pumpkin or carrot, well-cooked lentils (dal) and mashed banana.
  • Start with a few spoonfuls two or three times a day, and slowly give more food, more often, as the baby grows. By around one year, most children need three to four meals a day plus one or two healthy snacks.
  • Add variety every day: an egg, a little well-cooked meat, chicken or liver, beans, yogurt, vegetables and fruit. Animal foods are especially good for growth.
  • Add a small amount of oil or ghee to the child's food for energy.
  • Do not give sweet tea, sugary drinks, biscuits or packaged snacks. Do not add salt or sugar to baby food.
  • Feed patiently and encourage the child to eat; give them their own bowl so you can see how much they eat.
  • Wash hands, use clean utensils and give freshly cooked food.

Signs of malnutrition

  • The child is not gaining weight or growing well, or looks very thin
  • Swelling of both feet
  • Getting sick often, or being tired and not wanting to play
  • Thin, pale hair that pulls out easily, or dry skin
  • Poor appetite for a long time

Health workers can measure a child's weight, height and the middle of the upper arm with a special tape to check for malnutrition. Malnutrition can be treated, and many health centres have nutrition programmes.

When to see a doctor

Take your child for regular growth checks. See a health worker if your child is not gaining weight, eats very little, or shows any of the signs above. Go to the nearest hospital immediately if a child has swelling of both feet and is not eating, is very weak or sleepy, cannot drink, or has diarrhoea with vomiting.

For advice on feeding your child, book a consultation with a doctor in the app or visit a clinic.