Solid Foods for a 7-Month Old

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the best age to introduce solid food in a baby's diet is 6 months. While some babies may start getting such food at the age of 6 months, some may get it after the 8th or 9th month. This depends upon your baby's growth and his body conditions.

Solid foods are not given to a child who is less than 6 months old. The reasons behind this are the underdeveloped intestines, the inefficiency of the child to communicate when his/her stomach is full, and the inability to swallow solid food. Hence, the food is given only after a certain age.

When a child is able to sit and can hold his own neck, then he can have a solid diet. At the age of 5 to 7 months, the baby shows interest towards the food and will intake the food from the spoon. By the age of 7 months the child is capable of swallowing food with some solid lumps and is able to digest the food.

These are just the signals that your baby is getting ready to have solid foods. If your doctor has suggested to wait for some more time to start a solid diet, then you should follow his advice.

Solid diet for infants should include light and easily digestible foods. Although you have started with solids, breastfeeding or formula should be continued in the diet as breast milk is the primary source of nourishment for the growth and development of the child since the time of childbirth. Here are some solid foods to introduce in a 7-month-old child:

Start with the iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with lots of water and then continue to increase the concentration as the days pass. Give this one or two times a day, and continue the rest of the feeding with the milk. Initially, start with single food to avoid any allergic reactions. Carry on with rice for a week and then try cereals like oat or wheat.

These vegetables should be mashed and can be given in a lump form. It should be given in a small spoon with a little quantity so that the child can chew the food properly.

Mashed meat can be given, but the quantity should be very less. Start with meat in the later part of the month or at the beginning of the 8th month. Meat like beef, liver, cooked chicken, turkey, or ground meat can be included in the baby's diet.

Some foods like citrus fruits and juices, egg, and cow's milk should be avoided till the baby turns one year old as these foods can lead to allergies. Fish, other sea foods, peanuts, and tree nuts are also considered allergic to children.

Some of the allergic symptoms are rash, diarrhea, bloating, or an increase in intestinal gas, fussiness after eating, etc. If you observe any such symptoms, try to find out which food has caused the allergy and stop giving it to the child immediately.

So, if your child is 7 months old or just about to complete his 6th month, then follow the aforementioned solid diet and help him grow stronger and healthier.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.