Ready to start solids? Here’s a list of some of the best food to offer a 6 month old baby.
Your baby is around 6 months old and is grabbing wildly at everything you eat. You know that he’s finally ready to start eating solid food and you’re excited to see him ‘eat’ for the first time ever! The question is, what are some nutritious foods that you can prepare for a 6-month-old baby in the Philippines?
This is where it gets difficult. As excited as you both are, you can feed him just any kind of food. So to make this time a bit less overwhelming for you, here are some information related to the most common questions about baby food.
When is my baby ready for solids?
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According to Gina Shaw of WebMD, most babies are ready for their first taste of solids by the time they are 6 months old. She explains that by this age, babies lose what’s called the “extrusion reflex" that they use for sucking a breast or bottle.
Here are some signs that your baby may be ready for solids:
- He can sit up with support, and also hold his head up well.
- He can keep food in his mouth rather than let it dribble out.
- His birth weight has doubled.
- He shows plenty of interest in what you’re eating.
Food for 6 months old baby in the Philippines
Experts point out that around the time babies are ready to start eating solid food, their natural stores of iron begin to deplete.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you give your baby an iron-fortified cereal, as well as foods naturally rich in iron, as some of his first foods.
Ideal first foods for your new eater
Here are some fruit and vegetable options that are appropriate food for 6 months old baby in the Philippines:
Avocados are considered to be a good option for a baby’s first food because it is not allergenic, have a perfect runny consistency, and are full of essential fats and nutrients for your little one, including vitamins A, C, niacin, and folate; and the minerals potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and calcium.
Avocados are also highly available in the country, which makes them a good choice of food for 6 months old baby in the Philippines.
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Pears
Containing vitamins A, C and folate, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, pears are an ideal first food for your baby. They are also high in fiber which helps in your little one’s digestion.
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Sweet potato
This vibrant orange yam is a super-food and is chock-full of vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and folate, and minerals like potassium, selenium, magnesium, and calcium.
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Pumpkin
A strong favorite with babies, pumpkin is loaded with vitamin A and beta carotene, and is also a great source of potassium, protein and iron.
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Banana
Another popular first food choice for babies, bananas contain vitamins A, C and folate, and minerals like potassium, selenium, magnesium and calcium.
It’s a good choice of food for a 6-month-old baby in the Philippines, as bananas are super easy to prepare and available all year round.
Image from Freepik
Can I make my own baby food instead of buying it?
Of course, you can! In fact, there are so many good options for homemade food for babies 6 months old and above in the Philippines because our country has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Baby food is one of the simplest things to make. All you need to do is puree or mash cooked vegetables, grains or other foods, then add a little breast milk, formula milk or boiled and cooled water to get the desired consistency.
If you are planning to make your baby’s food at home, keep the texture smooth and runny to help your baby enjoy the process of learning how to eat.
It is recommended that you give your baby soft, mashed fruit and cooked strained vegetables. Along with soft protein-rich foods such as soybean curd, cooked and mashed lentils, and finely flaked fish.
As your baby’s ability to chew and bite improves, you could add finely minced meat and finely shredded poultry in his diet.
Preparing your child’s food
- Fruits such as avocado, banana and papaya can be mashed, passed through a strainer and then mixed with breast milk, formula, or water to get the consistency your baby likes.
- Apples and pears can be diced and then simmered in water until soft, following which they can be pureed and mixed with breast milk, formula, or water.
- When cooking vegetables, it’s best to steam them to preserve maximum nutrient content.
- If you are feeding your child rice or other baby cereal, do read and follow the instructions on the box or container.
- Consider giving your child whole grains — there are plenty of wholegrain cereals on the market, including local brands that are cheaper than some of the imported brands.
- If you are thinking of giving your child what the rest of the family is eating, do remember to puree his/her portion before you add salt and/or other seasonings.
To be more economical and avoid wastage, make large batches of purees and then freeze them in appropriately sized containers (many baby shops have great first food storage solutions) or even in ice-cube trays. This way, you only need to thaw the amount you need for each meal.
Remember, resist the urge to re-freeze thawed baby food especially if you have previously offered it to baby to avoid contamination.
Food for 6 months old baby in the Philippines – is store-bought food okay?
If you don’t have the time to prepare your baby’s food at home, store-bought pureed baby food in jars is your safest bet.
Most baby food jars are labeled according to your baby’s stage of development. So if you’re looking for first foods, here are some of the brands you can buy online:
Gerber Banana Strawberry
Gerber is a widely known food brand that produces high-quality purees for babies, which have different yummy flavors. And if you opt to give your child a puree as a start-up food, try on Gerber Banana Strawberry. This pureed baby food is made from natural banana and strawberry,, which will tickle your little one’s taste buds.
What’s more to love about this baby food is that it doesn’t contain any artificial color, flavor or sugar. It is also free of preservatives. The product is suitable for babies 6 months old who are just about to start their eating journey. It has a very soft texture, so you are 100% sure that your little one can easily consume it.
Features we love:
- Made from real fruits
- With yummy flavor
- No sugar and preservatives added
Only Organic Baby Food Chicken Cheddar Cheese Cauliflower Rice
Looking for savory soft food for your baby? Check this baby organic meal from Only Organic. This Nutritionist approved mashed baby food contains organic free-range chicken, cheddar cheese from New Zealand and cauliflower. Just squeeze it into your little one’s spoon, and voila! Your baby can easily enjoy indulging in this nutritious meal.
Aside from that, this baby food is perfect for babies 8 months old and up, the age when they learn how to chew. Without any artificial colorings or flavorings and preservatives, you can be sure that your little one is only getting the purest form of food with this product.
Features we love:
- Savory soft food
- Organic
- No preservatives added
Here are some things that you need to check when shopping for food for your baby:
- The expiry date on the jar label/lid
- That the vacuum seal on the lid is intact and hasn’t ‘popped’ — the center of the lid should be slightly indented
- The ingredients — they shouldn’t contain added salt, sugar, preservatives, modified starch or coloring
- Stage 1 foods should ideally contain just one ingredient, i.e., the fruit or vegetable it is made of.
- If you’re aware of any food allergies that your child might have, you can check the ingredients to make sure the prepared food doesn’t contain any of the allergens.
Also, before you open the jar to feed your baby, don’t forget to wipe the lid and then check that when you open it, you hear a popping sound which indicates that the seal was intact.
How long does baby food last after I open the jar?
According to Babycenter.com, in general, baby food containing poultry, fish, meat, or eggs should stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Those made with only plain fruits and vegetables should last 2 days. Do check the jar label, too, for recommendations on how long to keep the food once the jar is opened.
Baby food can be kept for a month or up to 6 months (for plain fruits and vegetables) in the freezer, but take note that freezing does change its consistency.
Keep in mind that liquids tend to expand in the freezer, potentially cracking the jar or causing the container to pop open, so place the baby food in a clean storage container, leaving some room at the top.
If you store leftover baby food in the fridge, make sure you didn’t dip your baby’s spoon in it during feeding, as this could cause bacteria to grow in the food.
Instead of dipping into the jar, scoop a small amount of food into a bowl and feed your baby from that. If you need more, use a clean spoon to dish food out from the jar.
When feeding time’s over, throw out anything that’s left in the bowl. If there’s food left in the jar, put the lid back on and store it in the refrigerator.
Is it okay to heat baby food in the microwave?
You can heat baby food in the microwave, but be very careful about it. Food heated in the microwave tends to get hot very fast and heat unevenly too.
Because of this, it may contain ‘hot spots’ which could be dangerous for your child.
Heating the food on the stove-top may be safer. You could also place the container with the food in a bowl of hot water and it should heat up nicely.
However, if you do use the microwave to heat your baby’s food, scoop it out of the jar (if shop-bought) and into a microwave-safe container. Heat it for only a few seconds.
Take the food out, stir well and let it stand for a few minutes. Always test the temperature of the food before feeding it to your baby — it should be at room temperature.
More tips about baby food
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- In the earliest phase of introducing solids to your baby, the aim is more about teaching him to swallow. So you only need to start with about a teaspoon of solid food and as your baby grows. You can gradually increase the portion size.
- Do take note that the World Health Organization recommend exclusively breastfeeding your child for the first 6 months. Water should not be given before 6 months as well.
- If you are wondering when the best time to feed your baby his first meal is. Pick a time when he is alert and not too hungry — mid-morning is a good time for most babies.
- As your child grows, encourage him to feed himself and introduce plenty of finger foods when he is old enough to handle them.
- Make sure that all of the baby’s plates, utensils, and cups are cleaned thoroughly before letting him use them.
- Always serve your baby clean and safe food, and supervise his eating. Avoid hard foods that could cause him to choke.
- Introduce one new food at a time. Continue to feed your baby the same food for at least 3 days in a row and observe him for any adverse effects such as rashes or diarrhea.
- If your baby tolerates the food well, then add another new item to the menu, if there is a history of food allergy in the family, take particular care to avoid the introduction of the known allergens.
If you have any questions about the best food to feed your 6-month-old baby, don’t hesitate to ask your child’s pediatrician.