When Should One Can Start Solid Foods For A 5- Month Old Baby?

Posted on Tue, 21 Aug 2018

Question: hello, my little one is 5months old. when can i start solid food and how to start. when to start giving water.

Answered by Dr. Arun (48 minutes later)

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service
Thanks for writing to us.
You can start water and food apart from breastfeeding after 6 months. Till then breast milk alone will be sufficient.
After 6 months start with boiled vegetables and fruits initially. A week later add rice gruel, ragi etc.
Add ghee or oil to each feed you prepare. If home cereals and pulses are difficult to prepare, go for ready made ones like nestum, or cerelac.
Frequency: one or two food feeds per day.
Increase the number of feeding by one every month.
Keep the consistency watery for the first month, gradually thicken foods and introduce semisolid every month later.
Avoid cow's milk, salt, sugar, spices, egg white till one year.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards
Dr. Arun

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng