Breast-feeds – For several months, atleast till nine months.
Formula feeds if breast milk is inadequate. Avoid Cow’s milk or dairy milk till six months of age.
Juices are introduced at the age of 60 days. Orange juice or tomato juice, given initially diluted with water, after one month undiluted fruit juices.
Introduce semi-solid foods when the infant is six kg or by the age four months (When the baby starts chewing).
Start with small serving sizes of one to two teaspoonfuls; increase gradually to three or four tablespoonfuls per feeding.
First introduce rice cereal, later try other cereals. Mixed cereals (wheat, rice and ragi), heat-treated and powdered, cooked, as porridge will serve as a useful, semi-solid diet. Add a drop of oil or ghee if needed, for more weight gain. If mashed fruits (Banana) 4-5 months, vegetables by 5-6 months (mashed potatoes, carrots, beetroots, green leaves etc). Rice, dhal with ghee, iddli, greens, spinach) etc, by six to seven months.
For older infants, establish a diet plan such with the (following) ‘basic four’ for balance and diversity, depending on personal choice.
a) Milk group.
b) Cereal group.
c) Vegetables/Fruits.
d) Meat/Egg.
Provide an intake of milk 500-750ml daily when the intake of solid food is well established.
Provide solid food of a texture compatible with infant’s ability to chew and swallow.
Give single ingredient foods at a time and continue for five days before introducing another food.
Avoid developing infant’s taste for an excess of salt or sugar.
Biscuits (Marie) by seven months.
Curds by seven to eight months.
Yolk of egg by six to seven months, white of egg seven to eight months, minced meat, fish etc. nine to ten months.
By ten to 12 months, a planned diet according to the family’s choice.
Cucumbers, onion, cabbage be avoided during first year.
In the second year of life, a child no longer needs a special infant diet (but provide less spicy food).
