Tried and tested Indian 6 month old baby food recipes (2024)

Fact-checked by MFine | Last Updated : November 6th, 2019

Your 6-month-old baby needs care, nutrition, and health. Ensure all three are given with some of the best recipes for 6-month-old children!...

When your baby has reached the six-month mark, it is definitely a cause for celebration! At this stage, supplying the right nutrients is crucial for the comprehensive development of your little one. Until the age of six months, mother’s milk is definitely the best source of nutrients for your baby. It has been scientifically established that at this age, babies need and want more in terms of food for their overall development. In fact, a delay in introducing your baby to solid food can result in various adverse effects on a baby’s overall development.Also read our blog on When Can Babies See Clearly? Understanding Your Newborn's Developing Vision.

Nutritional requirements at six months

• Iron: This is one of the most important elements required in food as it helps in the development of the brain. It also helps in the generation of haemoglobin that assists in building up an efficient circulatory system.
• Calcium: Calcium-rich foods are very important in your baby’s growing stages as it is needed to develop bones and teeth. It has been estimated the six-month-old babies need a minimum of 260mg of calcium each day.
• Zinc: Zinc is of immense importance as it helps in the development of the immune system and overall growth. It is also effective in repairing the body and fighting against any infections.
• Vitamins: Vitamins need to be an essential component of any baby food menu for 6-month-olds as they support physical growth in all aspects. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E and K should definitely be a part of your baby’s diet.

Fruit Puree

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of peeled and diced fruit.
• A cup of water.

Directions:

• Boil the water in a saucepan. Put in the fruits.
• Stir continuously till the fruits turn into an even puree. Dilute further if needed.
• Cool down and serve.

Vegetable puree

Ingredients:

• Two peeled and diced carrots/potatoes/squashes.
• Half a cup of green peas.
• Two cups of water.

Directions:

• Place the clean vegetable pieces into boiling water.
• Stir continuously until the vegetables turn into an even puree. Dilute further if needed.
• Cool down and serve.

Rice porridge

Ingredients:

• 100 grams of brown rice or rice powder.
• Two cups of water.
• One teaspoon of hazelnut butter.

Directions:

• Boil the water in a pan and add the rice powder
• If you do not have rice powder, simply grind up rice with your blender or mixie
• Stir continuously and let it simmer for 15 minutes in medium flame.
• Add boiled fruits or vegetables if needed.
• Add the butter into the puree.
• Serve while warm.

Pulses and cereals

Ingredients:

• 100 grams of any pulse or cereal.
• 100 grams of peeled and diced carrots.
• Two cups of water.

Directions:

• Boil the water in a pan and add the pulses.
• Boil thoroughly and filter out the extract.
• Boil the carrots separately.
• Add the carrots into the extract and prepare a puree in medium flame.
• Cool down and serve.

Homemade yoghurt

Ingredients:

• 200 grams of milk yoghurt.
• 100 grams of boiled apples/pears.
• A cup of water.

Directions:

• Add the yoghurt and fruits in the water.
• Mix thoroughly in a blender or by hand.
• Dilute the puree as needed.

Basic feeding tips for your six-month baby

• It is best to familiarise your baby with one new recipe at a time and keep three to four days of a gap before introducing another one. This helps your baby adjust to the new food and also allows parents to detect food allergies if there are any.
• Food texture is very important while feeding your baby. It is best to start with baby food recipes for 6-month-olds which are smooth and gradually move towards coarser food items, or ones that are thicker in consistency.
• Feed your baby in a quiet place that is free from distractions. Hold your baby upright while feeding; this makes the mechanism of swallowing easier and reduces the chance of choking.
• Honey should be avoided at this stage is it can contain elements that might not suit the baby’s sensitive stomach.
• Do not feed the baby solid food from the bottle; use a bowl and a clean spoon. If you are feeding directly from a bowl do not store the remaining food, if any. This will prevent any chances of bacterial contamination. Don’t forget to check out our blog on fungal infections and how to treat them.