Your baby needs to get the right nutrition. From the time of their birth until their first year, it is a very crucial and important journey. During this period, babies develop their likes, preferences, and overall health. Allow me to guide you through every phase, starting with nursing or using a formula and ending with supplementary feeding, which involves giving your child solid, nutrient-rich foods.

Stage 1: 0–6 Months: Breastfeeding or Formula Feeding

Breast milk has it all. It provides all the vital nutrients, antibodies, and hydration that your baby needs. For the first six months of an infant’s life, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding. Formula feeding is a secure and effective replacement for breastfeeding in those cases where breastfeeding is not feasible.

Important Tip: Observe your baby’s cues to determine if they are hungry or full. Because each baby has a unique feeding schedule, don’t stress too much over the amount.

Read Also: A Lactation Diet for New Moms

Stage 2: 6 Months +: Introducing Solids

In addition to breast milk or formula, your baby is ready for solid food or complementary feeding, when they are six months old. This is the moment to introduce your kid to new tastes and textures! Start with easy-to-digest, single-ingredient foods to monitor for allergies and digestive readiness.

1. Rice & Banana Porridge

Product: Sproutling’s Freeze-Dried Rice & Banana Porridge
Age: 6 Months +

Key Ingredients: Freeze-dried rice powder, freeze-dried raw banana powder, almond powder
This nutrient-rich porridge (daliya) is made from blanched and freeze-dried rice powder for easy digestion, freeze-dried raw banana powder and almond powder to support your baby’s growth. 

How to Serve: Add ½ c (120 ml) warm water or breastmilk to 20 g (2 tbsp) freeze-dried rice banana baby porridge (baby daliya). Continuously stir to make the daliya (porridge) lump-free. Check the temperature of the baby food and feed it with a clean spoon.

3. Pumpkin Khichdi

Product: Sproutling’s Freeze-Dried Pumpkin Khichdi

Age: 6 Months +

Key Ingredients: Freeze-dried rice powder, freeze-dried moong dal powder, freeze-dried pumpkin powder
This pumpkin khichdi offers a delicious blend of rice, lentils, and pumpkin, ideal for your baby’s delicate digestive system. It’s nutritious, mild in flavor, and packed with vitamins.

How to Serve: Add ½ c (120 ml) warm water to 20 g (2 tbsp) freeze-dried pumpkin khichdi. Continuously stir to make the baby khichdi lump-free. Check the temperature of the khichdi and feed it with a clean spoon.

Meal Plan for 6 Months Old

Stage 3: 7 Months + – Exploring New Textures

Your kid is switching from breastmilk or formula to a more diverse diet at the 7-month stage. Now you may introduce them to more complicated flavorful ingredient combinations and thicker purees.

4. Jowar Makhana Phirni

Product: Sproutling’s Freeze-Dried Jowar Makhana Phirni

Age: 7 Months +

Key Ingredients: Freeze-dried jowar powder, dry roasted makhana powder, almond powder
This delicious and nutritious phirni combines the goodness of freeze dried jowar, roasted makhana, and almonds. Jowar, a super grain, is rich in fiber and energy, while makhana adds vital minerals.

How to Serve: Add ½ c (120 ml) warm water or breastmilk to 20 g (2 tbsp) freeze-dried jowar makhana phirni. Keep stirring the baby food to make it lump-free. Check the temperature of the baby phirni and feed it with a clean spoon.

Meal Plan for 7- 8 Months old

Stage 4: 9 Months + – Balanced, Nutrient-Rich Meals

Once the babies are nine months old, they are usually ready for softer, more diversified, well-cooked foods. It’s important to include a balance of vegetables, protein, and carbs at this phase.

1. Quinoa Dal Khichdi

Product: Sproutling’s Freeze-Dried Quinoa & Dal Khichdi
Age: 9 Months +

Key Ingredients: Freeze-dried quinoa powder, freeze-dried moong dal powder, freeze-dried peas powder, freeze-dried carrot powder. This khichdi is an excellent way to provide your developing kid with the critical amino acids they need, as quinoa is a complete protein. When paired with carrots, peas, and lentils, this dish is full of nutrition.

How to Serve: Add ½ c (120 ml) warm water to 20 g (2 tbsp) freeze-dried quinoa dal khichdi. Continuously stir to make the baby khichdi lump-free. Check the temperature of khichdi for baby and feed with a clean spoon.

Meal plan for 9-12 months old

General Tips for Introducing Solids:

•  Start Gradually: Every three to five days, introduce one new meal to check out for any allergies.
•  Textures Matter: Work your way up to thicker, lumpier textures starting with silky purees.
•  Timing of Meals: Start with one meal a day and gradually increase the frequency of solid food offerings as your baby gets used to eating.
• Hydration: Serve meals with small amounts of water in a cup after solids are introduced.
•  Patience is essential: Some babies may take a little longer to adjust to new flavors, so exercise patience. After a few days, just reoffer the food without putting any pressure on them.