Starting solids at 6 months is an exciting milestone in every parent’s journey. When my baby turned six months old, we began our solid food adventure—filled with cultural traditions, messy hands, and a few unexpected lessons along the way.
A Traditional Start: Sweet Pongal for Baby’s First Solid
In our Tamil culture, it’s customary to begin the solid food journey with a small taste of sweet pongal. It’s more than just food—it’s a tradition that marks your baby’s transition to the world of solid foods. We offered a tiny spoonful, and just like that, her first food memory was made.
Our Daily Baby Meal Plan (6 Months Onward)
After the traditional first taste, we introduced a variety of healthy and easy-to-digest foods. Here’s what we started with:
- Mashed apples
- Poha porridge
- Boiled sweet potato
- Ragi porridge
- Chikoo
- Red banana
I encouraged baby-led weaning by letting her try feeding herself. It was messy (as expected), but it gave me a bit of freedom, and more importantly, it helped her explore textures and tastes at her own pace.
The Mistake That Taught Me a Big Lesson About Baby Hunger Cues
Like most new parents, I believed I had to feed my baby every 2 hours—no matter what. I had a feeding timetable and followed it strictly.
But one day, things got hectic, and I accidentally missed her scheduled mealtime.
Usually, she would fuss or refuse food, but this time, she was clearly hungry. I gave her some ragi porridge, and to my surprise, she finished the whole bowl in just 10 minutes! The same food had taken 30–45 minutes the day before.
That day, I learned something crucial:
Babies eat better when they’re hungry, not when we force them to eat.
Since then, I’ve become more relaxed. Instead of strictly timed feeds, I now pay attention to her hunger cues—like sucking her fingers, getting cranky, or looking at food curiously.
Baby Snack Ideas: Finger Foods That Work for Us
For morning and mid-day snacks, I started offering simple baby finger foods, especially things she could hold and eat by herself:
- Boiled apple slices (cut like French fries)
- Soft-boiled carrots
- Homemade aloo tikki (without spices)
These are easy for little hands to grasp and safe for babies learning to chew and explore on their own.
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Baby, Not Just the Clock
Starting solids at 6 months is not just about nutrition—it’s about learning, bonding, and trusting the process. One of the biggest lessons I learned is this:
Let babies lead the way. When they’re hungry, they’ll eat. When we force it, mealtime becomes a struggle.
Every baby is different, and it’s okay to adjust as you go. Whether you’re doing traditional weaning or baby-led weaning, the key is to stay patient, observant, and flexible.
