Baby is ready for solid food? Here's what you should know!

Look out for these signs to know when you should give solid food to your baby :

• When the baby can sit up with or without support.

• The baby can balance his/her head and neck.

• The baby opens his/her mouth when food is offered.

• When the baby can transfer food from the front to the back of the tongue and swallow.

• The baby can grasp small objects such as toys or food.

Now that we know the signs, the big question is:

What foods to introduce for the very first time?

You can give baby banana puree, mashed pumpkin or carrot, moong dal soup, chicken soup etc. Make sure you keep a gap of at least 3-4 days between each new food. This will help you understand if there is something that your baby is allergic to.

Here are few things that may cause trouble so make sure you avoid them or check with the pediatrician:

• Egg

• Milk products

• Fish

• Sesame

• Peanuts

Last but a very important step:

How to prepare food for your baby?

• Mash or puree fruits and vegetables until they are soft, and make sure there are no lumps.

• Fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots should be cooked before feeding.

• Remove seeds from the fruits if any.

• Make sure to clean chicken fat, skin and bones before cooking.

Word of caution- We always advise all new parents to check with their pediatrician before making any changes to the baby's diet.

Download STREE and msg Barkha in the chat to get a detailed diet plan for your baby.