I Can Keep My Baby
Growing Healthy!
Pick 1 of these ideas or
write down 1 or 2 things
you would like to do in
the next week or two.
Tomorrow, when I give ________ to my baby, I
will start with 1 or 2 tablespoons and see if he
wants more.
Keep Your
6 Month Old
Growing Healthy!
Start
solid foods
the right way.
I will only give my baby __ ounces of juice each
day, ____ times next week.
Give healthy foods –
and the right amount
– from the start!
When I go to the store next week, I will check to
see if the juice I buy is 100% juice.
pages 2-7
I will ______________ with my baby for _____
minutes each day, ____ times next week.
I will turn off the TV when my baby is in the room
_____ afternoons next week.
Be active with
your baby.
________________________________________
Put her on a blanket
on the floor
with some toys
and play together!
________________________________________
________________________________________
Breast milk
or formula
are the only drinks
your baby needs.
Your baby does
not need juice.
pages 8-10
page 11
________________________________________
© 2011 by Vanderbilt University, New York University School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and University of Miami.
All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission from the authors. For permission, copy right, and acknowledgements please see: www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/greenlight
6 Month Core Booklet - English
It’s time
for solid
foods!
Be Active With Your Baby
Your baby will learn to sit, crawl, and pull herself up to
stand over the next few months. Be active with your
baby at least 2 times a day – 20 minutes each time!
Tummy time play
Your baby is learning to sit on his own, to hold things,
and to put them in his mouth. He is now ready to eat
solid baby foods from a spoon. Soon he will learn to
feed himself.
How do I start solid food?
• Make a liquid mixture of a little iron-fortified rice cereal with breast milk or formula.
• Put a little bit on a baby spoon and see if he can swallow it.
He may spit the food out or make a face. Be patient. Try again
another day.
• As your baby gets used to eating this mixture, you can begin to make it a little thicker.
• In a few weeks you can try another pureed food like a vegetable or fruit.
2
• Clear a safe space on the floor and
put your baby down on her tummy.
• Put a toy like a soft ball, rattle, or
baby mirror just out of her reach.
She will push herself around on her
belly or crawl to get the toy.
Sitting time play
• While she is on her back, let her hold your fingers and gently pull her up so she is sitting.
• Is she ready to practice sitting on her own? Use pillows to support her. Roll a soft ball to her and clap when she tries to get it or roll it back.
Choose active things to do with your baby!
TV time is not active time – and can lead to
behavior problems.
11
It is best not to give any juice.
How often should I give solid foods?
If you do give juice, give 100% juice.
Do not give more than 4 ounces in one day.
• With cereal, start with 1 time a day – until he gets used to eating it.
There is a lot of sugar in 100% juice. The sugar in juice,
even 100% juice, can make babies gain too much weight –
and can be bad for their teeth. If you do give juice, give it
in a sippy cup – never in a bottle!
• After that – 2 times a day.
• Once your baby is used to taking solid food, you can give 3 feedings in a day.
How much solid food should I give?
• Every baby will eat a different amount.
• Start with 1 or 2 tablespoons in a small bowl.
Your baby will let you know when he is hungry or full.
How can I tell if the juice is 100% JUICE?
• Once your baby is used to taking solid food, you can give 2 to 4 tablespoons each time.
• Look for the words “100% JUICE”!
• Or make your own juice out of fresh fruits and vegetables!
• Remember, it is best not to give any juice.
Stage 2
Stage 1
} 2 tablespoons
}
100%
41%
10%
10
Look for signs that your baby is full.
Babies do not need to finish all their food.
3
Breast milk or formula are the
only drinks your baby needs.
What can I feed my 6 month old?
Breast milk or formula are
still the most important
foods. But soon, your
baby will be taking more
solid food and less milk.
Breast milk is still the best milk for
your baby for her whole first year
of life.
You can make your own pureed baby food in a
blender or food processor – it’s easy and saves
money. Help your baby like the real taste of food.
There is no need to add any salt, sugar, spices, or
butter.
breast milk
You can buy baby food in a jar or pack. Make sure
it has only one food in it. No mixtures. Start with
Stage 1 foods.
formula
Give healthy baby foods – you can try one new food
every 3 to 4 days.
Your baby is starting to learn to sleep
through the night! Do not put your
baby to sleep with a bottle or the
breast. She needs to learn to go back
to sleep without feeding.
• Cereals – give rice cereal and then try oat or
barley cereal. Wait until your baby is older
before you give wheat cereal.
Your baby should not drink more than
32 ounces in 1 day (24 hours).
• Vegetables (pureed) – try cooked and pureed
green beans, carrots, and squash. Show her how good it is by saying “yum”!
Your baby can start drinking small
amounts of water.
• Fruits (pureed) – try cooked peaches, pears, apples, and mashed bananas.
• Meats – Pureed chicken can be added at 7 months. Pureed beef can be added at 8 months.
4
How often should I breast or
bottle feed my baby?
• Daytime: every 4 to 6 hours
• Night time: every 6 to 8 hours
water
in small amounts
She can take 1 or 2 ounces in a sippy
cup each time. You can give her water
1 or 2 times a day.
9
What drinks should
I give my baby?
Give your baby
Try not to give
Examples of healthy baby foods...
Do not give
your baby
carrot
breast milk
formula
water
in small amounts
100% fruit juice
juices that are not
100% fruit juice
squash
peach
banana
pear
sweet potato
soda
sweet tea
sports drinks
8
green beans
Start solid foods the right way.
Give healthy foods – and the right amount –
from the start!
5
Feeding tips for your 6 month old
A sample menu once your child gets
used to taking solid foods…
• Start with a small amount of food (1 or 2 tablespoons) in a small bowl. Add more if he is hungry. That way you will
not overfeed your baby or
waste food.
• Your baby may make a face or spit out new food. He needs to get used to how each food tastes and feels in his mouth. Don’t force him! Offer it again another day. You may have to try up to 15 times!
• Let your baby have his own spoon to hold. It may look like he is playing but he is starting
to learn to feed himself.
• When possible, let the baby eat with the rest of the family. Make sure the TV is not on when you eat.
• Try not to buy junk foods, like French fries, sweetened foods, and soda. Babies learn to eat what they see people around them eating. If you eat healthy foods, your baby will eat healthy too.
6
1st breast milk or formula feeding
7 AM
or
Breastfeed
6 ounces formula
Rice cereal
Water
2 tablespoons
2 ounces
10:30 AM
12 noon
2nd breast milk or formula feeding
Fruit
3 PM
2 tablespoons
Rice cereal
Vegetable
2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
5 PM
5:30 PM
3rd breast milk or formula feeding
8 PM 4th breast milk or formula feeding
(if awake)
11 PM
5th breast milk or formula feeding
(when the baby wakes up)
7