As soon as your baby is 3 months or weighs 6 kg. (12 lb.), it is time to start giving the first solid food (in addition to milk feeds).

It must be done gradually

A baby instinctively knows, right from birth, how to suck and swallow liquids. When he first feels a paste-like food on his tongue, it is a strange new experience and he tries to spit it out. Be patient and keep trying. Start with just one teaspoon of semi-solid weaning food and gradually increase the quantity.

Importance of solids

The first solid food is a big adventure for baby. He is introduced to new textures, tastes and flavours. He has to be trained to take solid foods without upsetting his delicate digestion.

Choosing baby's first solid

A purely milk diet is not sufficient for baby's well-being after a while, because it does not contain enough of the important nutrients that solids have. When weaning baby, start by giving him cereals in one form or the other. Cereals like rice, wheat, sago, suji and bajri have to be boiled and mashed before being fed to baby.

These are often inadequate for baby's diet because they consist mainly of carbohydrates (starch) and do not provide the proteins and minerals salts baby needs for normal, healthy growth.

Protein

Protein is the substance from which all cells and tissues are made. It is in the seventh month of pregnancy that baby's brain starts developing. It continues to grow rapidly in the first few months after birth. It is during this phase that protein is required for proper development of the brain. Protein is also necessary for physical growth, which is rapid during the early years.

Mineral salts

Calcium is necessary to build strong bones and teeth. And iron is essential for healthy blood formation.

Tips on starting solid foods

1. Introduce new foods when baby is most alert and happy. Mid-morning of afternoon is best.
2. Be cheerful and relaxed. If baby senses anxiety, he will refuse to take the new food.
3. Let baby set the pace. Don't force him to take more than he wants.

Weaning from breast or bottle

The earliest age to wean baby completely from breast or bottle is nine months. Gradually increase the quantity of milk he receives from a cup. But continue to breast-feed or bottle feed him at the end of each meal, till baby is taking milk only from a cup. Continue breast feeding till you have milk provided he is having cereals and other foods also.

Don't force weaning. Weaning baby away from breast or bottle and the change over to solids must be gradual.

Fruit juice and soups

Fruit juice and clear soups can be started from the age of 3-4 weeks. Clear vegetable or meat soups starting with 2 to 4 spoons and gradually increasing to 90-120 ml. should be given once or twice a day.

New Foods For Baby's Diet

Vegetable

At four months start the baby on a little boiled vegetable. Potatoes, carrots, peas, beans or almost any type of vegetable can be used. Boil the vegetable adequately, mash it and add salt to taste. Feed with a spoon. Increase the quantity gradually.

Eggs

Start with one teaspoonful of a quarter boiled egg. Remember to add salt for taste. By seven to eight months the baby should be able to take one whole egg daily.

Amul Cheese

Amul Cheese is a highly nutritious food which may be given to baby from six months onwards. Made from choice milk, Amul Cheese is easy to digest and is almost completely assimilated by the body. Cheese is an excellent source of protein and calcium, important requirements for your baby. Grate Amul Cheese into different dishes or give baby a piece to chew.

Meat and fish

Meat and fish can be added to the diet a little later. They should be properly boiled and minced and given with a little gravy.

Bananas

Bananas are excellent food for babies - mashed ripe banana can be started from the fourth month onwards.

Weaning diets

In India, diet habits vary from place to place. Consult your family doctor on the best weaning diet for your baby. Specimen weaning menus are given below:

Vegetarian

3 to 6 months

• 6.a.m Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 a.m. One spoon of weaning cereal with a little milk or water. Add a little sugar. Mix into a paste. Feed baby with a spoon. Then breast feed or bottle feed baby.
• 2 p.m. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 6 p.m. Weaning cereal with milk or water. Increase quantity of weaning cereal by one spoon every fortnight. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 p.m. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.

6 to 8 months

• 6 a.m Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 10 a.m. Weaning cereal with milk or water. Then, breast fed or bottle feed your baby.
• 2 p.m. A thin slice of bread and butter and weaning cereal mixed with mashed banana, followed by Amul or breast milk.
• 6 p.m. A biscuit or weaning cereal in mashed vegetables. Breastmilk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 p.m. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.

8 to 10 months

• 6 a.m. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 10 a.m. Weaning cereal with milk or water, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 2 p.m. Dal, weaning cereal with mashed banana, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 6 p m a biscuit or rusk, weaning cereal with mashed potatoes, peas or carrots, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 p m Amulspray or Amul Milk.

11 to 12 months

• 6 a.m Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 a.m Rice and dal with weaning cereal. Spinach, tomato or mashed potato, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 2 p.m Weaning cereal, chappati with a little potato or vegetable.
• 6 p.m. Mashed banana with weaning cereal,Amulspray or Amul Milk and a biscuit.

Non Vegetarian

• 3 to 6 months
• 6 a.m Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 10 a.m One spoon of weaning cereal with a little milk or water. Add a little sugar. Mix into a paste. Feed baby with a spoon. Then breast feed or bottle feed baby.
• 2 p.m Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 6 p.m. Balamul with milk or water. Increase quantity of weaning cereal by one spoon every fortnight. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.
• 10 p.m. Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk.

6 to 8 months

• 6 a.m Breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk
• 10 a.m. Weaning cereal with milk or water. Then breast feed or bottle feed your baby.
• 2 p.m. A thin slice of bread and butter, quarter-boiled egg, mashed banana with Weaning cereal, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.
• 6 p.m. Biscuit, toast or chappati, a little mashed vegetable with Weaning cereal, followed by breast milk or Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.
• 10 p.m. Amulspray or Amul Milk Food or breast milk.

8 to 10 months

• 6 a.m. Breastmilk or Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.
• 10 a.m. Weaning cereal in mashed potatoes, boiled egg with water, a little bread and butter.
• 2 p.m. a little rice and dal mixed with Weaning cereal, mashed banana.
• 6 pm. A biscuit or finely mashed vegetable with Weaning cereal or mashed fish, followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.
• 10 p.m. Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.

11 to 12 months

• 8 a.m. Weaning cereal with milk or water followed by Amulspray or Amul Milk Food.
• 10 a.m. Quarter-boiled egg or scrambled egg with Weaning cereal, fruit juice.
• 1 p.m. Bone or vegetable broth or dal with Weaning cereal, rice with boiled and shredded meat and vegetable.
• 4 p.m. Bread and butter with a little jam, mashed banana with Weaning cereal, biscuit or sponge cake.
• 7 p.m. Rice and dal, fruit juice, meat or fish.

FOOD VALUES

Proteins

Proteins are necessary for body building. Milk, meat, fish, eggs, beans, cheese, nuts and dals are rich in proteins.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates contribute energy for the body. Sugar, wheat, rice, syrup, jam, oatmeal, barley, macaroni, sago, tapicoa, sweets, toffee, banana and maize are rich in carbohydrates.

Fats

Fats are necessry for warmth and contain fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are plentiful in butter, ghee, cream, cheese, fish oil, vegetable oil, groundnut, coconut, etc.

Minerals

Calcium is necessary for hardening bones and teeth. Milk is a very good source of calcium. Cheese, egg yolk and fish are also rich in calcium.

Iron is necessary for blood formation. Egg yolk, lentils, green leafy vegetables, oatmeal, dried beans, jaggery and fish contain iron.

Vitamins

Vitamins do not contribute energy to the body. They are essential chemical substances which are necessary for the proper growth and development and normal functioning of various tissues of the body. Vitamin A is necessary for prevention of night blindness and for proper maintenance of normal texture of conjunctive and cornea. Foods containing Vitamin A are : fish liver oils, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, liver, carrots, dates and green vegetables.

Vitamin B Complex is necessary for appetite, for prevention of nervous symptoms and for the formation of blood. Milk, eggs, meat, flour, oatmeat, soya flour, lentil, peas, beans and most green vegetables are rich in Vitamin B Complex.

Vitamin C is necessary for healthy gums and teeth and to prevent scurvy. It is found in most citrus fruits like oranges, limes and lemons, grapes, guavas, tomatoes and chillies and most fresh Fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin D is necessary for the proper growth and development of the bony structure of the body and prevents rickets. It is plentiful in fish liver oil, egg yolk, cheese, liver, fish etc.