Planning a balanced diet for 6-12 months old babies

Our babies are super active and this is the main reason why they need higher amount of energy, vitamins and minerals than adults. When I started giving solids to my baby, I was really very confused about the diet and the quantity of the food. As parents start the process of giving solids, it is important to emphasize on foods that are pack with nutrients and support baby’s growth and development.

Starting solids in itself is a milestone but remember, it must be in addition to breastmilk or formula milk. Don’t stop giving milk as it is an important supplement because your baby still receives most of his calories from breastmilk or formula.

Weight Gain and Growth

Between 6-12 months of age, babies gain around 2-4 ounces per week. Breastfed babies gain more weight in the initial months but in the later part, formula fed babies tend to gain more weight than breastfed babies. By first birthday, your baby will weigh three times of his birthweight. Do keep an eye on your baby’s weight gain to track his development.

Nutrients needed for growth of baby

Before designing a fancy diet chart, you must focus on the vitamins and minerals needed for growth of your baby. The major nutrients that must be included in baby’s diet chart are listed below:

● Iron
● Zinc
● Vitamic C
● Vitamin A
● Vitamin D
● Omega 3

Meals and Portion Size

From 6 to 9months of age, babies are still learning to eat solid foods. Your baby may eat in small quanitites so try to feed him 2-3 meals a day. The meal size may vary according to the weight of your little one, but it should not be less than 2-4 tablespoons in each feed. Your baby may also give you cues if he is hungry.

By the time your baby is 9 months old, he is ready to have 3 full meals and 2 snacks each day along with breast milk and formula. The meal size may increase ½ cup per meal. And by his first birthday, your baby will likely eat 3 full meals and 3 snacks per day.

The Diet Plan

Start with a wide variety of fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and berries. You can also offer pureed vegetables, whole grains, eggs, dairy, beans throughout the week.

Let us have a look at the diet plan:

Morning : Breastmilk/ Formula Milk
Mid Morning : Rava Upma/ Rava Idli/ Poha/ Mashed potato/ Dalia/ Cerelac/ Soft cooked pancake
Lunch : Cooked mashed rice/ Khichdi/ Curd-rice/ Mashed moong dal/ Rava- Sheera/ Pureed Vegetables/ Soft chapati
Evening Snack: Pureed fruits/ milk/ mashed paneer/ fruit-shake
Dinner : Dal-rice/ Khichdi/ mashed paneer/ boiled mashed eggs/ pureed vegetables/ rice kheer/ rava-upma/ Soft cooked paratha with sabzi

Along with this, keep in mind to feed your baby at regular intervals with breastmilk or formula milk. It is necessary to get familiar with all the vitamins and minerals in the food that you are feeding your baby.

Summary

Your baby needs a balanced diet for his growth and development. Learn about your baby’s nutritional needs and plan a daily meal plan accordingly. You can also consult a primary healthcare provider and satisfy your baby’s specific intake needs.