Quick Answer
At 6 months old, babies should start eating solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. The recommended amount of solids for a 6 month old is 2-3 ounces per feeding, working up to 4-8 ounces per day by 7 months old. Start with 1 feeding per day and gradually increase to 2-3 feedings of solids per day as your baby’s skills progress. Pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues rather than focusing on the amount eaten.
How Much Should a 6 Month Old Eat?
At around 6 months of age, babies become developmentally ready to start eating solid foods along with breast milk or formula. Here are some general guidelines on how much a 6 month old should eat:
- Breastfed babies: Should continue to breastfeed on demand, before solid food offerings.
- Formula fed babies: Should continue to take around 24-32 ounces of formula per day.
- Solids: Should start with 2-3 ounces (60-90 ml) per feeding, working up to 4-8 ounces (120-240 ml) of solids per day by 7 months.
- Feedings: Start with 1 feeding of solids per day and gradually increase to 2-3 feedings of solids per day as skills progress.
So in summary, at 6 months aim for 1-2 solid feedings per day of around 2-3 ounces each. Let your baby’s appetite and interest guide you on working up to more solid feedings per day in the coming months. Keep offering breast milk or formula as the main source of nutrition at this age.
Tips for Knowing How Much to Feed Your 6 Month Old
It can be tricky to know just how much solid food to offer your 6 month old. Here are some tips:
- Start slowly – Begin with just a teaspoon or two of solids at first.
- Watch for cues – Look for signs of hunger or fullness rather than focusing on the amount eaten.
- Offer a variety – Rotate through different fruits, veggies, cereals, and meats.
- Avoid overload – Too many new foods or flavors can overwhelm baby’s taste buds.
- Respond to interest – Increase amounts and frequency if baby seems eager for more.
- Reduce amounts – Offer less if baby seems to lose interest or gets full quickly.
- Don’t force feed – Let your baby determine how much to eat at each feeding.
- Consider texture – Mash or puree foods at first, moving to spoonable and finger foods.
Paying attention to your baby’s unique cues and responses will help guide you on appropriate portion sizes and how often to offer solid foods. Their intake will likely vary from one meal to the next.
Signs Your 6 Month Old is Ready for Solid Foods
Starting solids is a big transition. Timing it right based on your baby’s signs of readiness is key. Here are some signs your 6 month old may be ready for solid foods:
- They can sit up with support and hold their head steady.
- They open their mouth when food comes their way.
- They seem eager and interested in foods you are eating.
- They can move food to the back of their mouth and swallow it.
- They have doubled their birth weight.
Around 4-6 months of age, babies become able to control their tongues and swallow reflexes. This allows them to eat foods with different textures and successfully move them to the back of the throat to swallow.
If your baby has not yet shown most of these signs, it’s best to wait a bit longer before starting solids. Beginning too early when they are not developmentally ready can increase their risk of choking. Check with your pediatrician if you are unsure.
Choosing First Foods for Your 6 Month Old
When starting solids, there are some great options for first foods to begin with:
- Cereals: Rice, oat, or mixed grain cereals are gentle, easily digested choices.
- Fruits: Try mashed bananas, applesauce, or pureed peaches or pears.
- Vegetables: Options like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, or green beans.
- Meats: Try pureed chicken, beef, pork, turkey or lamb.
- Legumes: Mashed black beans or lentils provide plant-based iron.
Aim for single-ingredient foods at first to check for any allergies or intolerances. Go slowly with new foods and avoid highly allergenic options early on.
Talk to your pediatrician if you have a family history of allergies as some guidelines may vary.
Tips for Starting Solid Foods
Here are some helpful tips when starting your 6 month old on solid foods:
- Start with 1 feeding per day – Lunchtime or dinnertime are good options.
- Offer solids after milk feedings at first.
- Begin with 1-2 teaspoons and gradually increase.
- Mash or puree to achieve a smooth, spoonable consistency.
- Serve only one new food at a time to watch for reactions.
- Offer sips of water from a cup during mealtimes.
- Avoid added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats.
- Make mealtimes fun and interactive – use songs and smiles!
Take it slowly and let your baby set the pace. Watch for any signs of allergies or intolerances. Be patient and supportive as they learn this new skill. Celebrate each milestone along the way!
Portion Sizes for Different Food Groups
Once your baby has adjusted to eating solids once per day, you can begin offering a variety of foods from different food groups. Here are some appropriate portion sizes to aim for:
| Food Group | Serving Size |
|---|---|
| Grains | 1-4 tablespoons cereal, rice, pasta, etc. |
| Fruits | 2-4 ounces pureed fruit or mashed fruit |
| Vegetables | 2-4 ounces cooked, pureed, or mashed veggies |
| Proteins | 1-4 ounces pureed meat, fish, poultry, beans, or lentils |
| Dairy | 2-4 ounces plain yogurt or cottage cheese |
Gradually move towards mashed or diced consistencies over purees as your baby’s skills progress. Divide total daily solids intake over 2-3 feedings.
Is My Baby Eating Enough Solids?
It’s common for parents to worry about whether their 6 month old is getting enough solid food. Here are some signs your baby is eating adequate amounts:
- They seem satisfied after eating.
- They are gaining weight appropriately.
- They produce 6 or more wet diapers daily.
- They have regular, soft bowel movements if eating solids.
- They are meeting milestones and developing new skills.
- They appear alert and energetic when awake.
If your baby seems fussy, lethargic or is not gaining weight well, talk to your pediatrician. They can help determine if there are any issues with feeding or nutrition. Sometimes babies go through growth spurts and eat less. But consistent disinterest in solids warrants a closer look.
Signs Your Baby is Full
It’s important to let your 6 month old determine when they are full at each feeding to prevent overeating. Here are signs to watch for:
- Turning head away from the spoon
- Pushing food away
- Keeping mouth closed when offered food
- Decreased sucking or swallowing
- Increased fussiness or agitation
- Spitting out or gagging on food
- Throwing food on the floor
Paying attention to these cues to stop feeding will help prevent overfeeding. It may take some time for your baby to communicate fullness since this is a new skill.
Handling Food Refusal
It’s completely normal for babies to turn down solid foods or new flavors from time to time. Here are some tips for handling picky eating or food refusal:
- Offer rejected foods again in a week or two – tastes change quickly at this age.
- Model enjoying the food yourself.
- Experiment with different textures.
- Try pairing with a favored food.
- Offer a small portion so it’s not overwhelming.
- Reduce distractions during mealtimes.
- Add savory seasonings to enhance flavor.
- Remain patient and low pressure.
If food refusal lasts for more than a couple weeks or leads to poor weight gain, consult your pediatrician to rule out any medical issues.
Common Concerns When Starting Solids
Introducing solid foods is an exciting milestone, but it can also bring up some common concerns for parents:
- Choking: Go slowly, avoid hard foods, and watch for gagging versus choking.
- Allergies: Introduce new foods one at a time and look for reactions.
- Nutrition: Focus on iron-rich foods and limit empty calories.
- Messiness: Cover the floor and use washable bibs – it’s just part of learning!
- Constipation: Offer plenty of fluids and higher-fiber foods.
- Overfeeding: Let your baby determine portions and watch cues.
- Underfeeding: Increase portion sizes gradually if hungry after meals.
Discuss any concerns with your pediatrician. With time and practice, solid feedings will get easier for both you and your baby!
Guidelines for Solids at 7-8 Months Old
As your baby adapts to solid foods over the coming months, here are some general guidelines for ages 7-8 months:
- Total solids intake per day: 4-8 ounces of food
- Number of solid feedings per day: 2-3
- Texture: Gradually introduce mashed, diced, ground, self-feeding
- Foods: Increase variety and introduce allergens
- Iron sources: Meats, iron-fortified cereals, legumes
- Finger foods: Soft cooked veggies, strips of toast
- Self-feeding: Allow your baby to practice picking up foods
- Try spoon-feeding if baby is struggling
- Beverages: Breast milk or formula as main milk, offer sips of water
Follow your baby’s lead on solids – there is a wide range of normal! Check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
Conclusion
The introduction of solid foods is an exciting milestone around 6 months of age! Aim to start with 1-2 solid feedings per day of 2-3 ounces each. Let your baby’s appetite and interest guide you on increasing the amounts. Focus on single-ingredient cereals, fruits, veggies and meats at first. Support self-feeding and expanded textures as skills progress. With patience and practice, your baby will become a solid food pro in no time! Consult your pediatrician for tailored guidance.
