Sample menu for five-month old baby
Week 1
6am or earlier: Breast-feed
9am: Breast-feed
10am: Breakfast
Two to four teaspoons of rice cereal mixed with baby's milk. Only increase to more than four teaspoons when baby clearly wants more.
1pm: Breast-feed
4pm: Breast-feed
7pm: Breast-feed
2am: Breast-feed (if baby wakes)
Week 2
The same as week 1 until 1pm
2pm: Lunch
Two to four teaspoons pureed vegetables. Only increase to more than four teaspoons when your baby clearly wants more. Milk is still the most important part of your baby's diet. Baby still needs at least five feeds in 24 hours.
4pm: Breast-feed
7pm: Breast-feed
2am: Breast-feed (if baby wakes)
Week 3
Same as week 2 until 4pm
6pm: Supper
Two to three teaspoons pureed fruit. Only increase to more than four teaspoons when your baby clearly wants more. Milk is still the most important part of your baby's diet.
7pm: Breast-feed
2am: Breast-feed (if baby wakes)
By now you baby is almost six months old and may lose interest in for example the 9am feed. Offer him or her a little juice instead (from a cup rather than a bottle).
The amount of food taken per meal will increase gradually according to your baby's appetite.
Baby could move onto cereals and mixed egetables.
By seven months or even before your baby could progress to cooked mashed meats and vegetables.
You could also offer meals before milk for example lunch followed by a breast-feed.
Most often, however, breakfast follows a breast-feeding but will be taken earlier.
Your baby may now have cut back the breast-feeds to about four in 24 hours.
Introducing finger foods
Finger foods can be quite an adventure for parents and babies alike.
It is also an important part of every baby's development around six months.
Keep in mind that all finger foods are potentially messy and will be played with - it is all part of the learning experience.
Never leave your baby alone while he or she is eating or in fact even drinking.
Parents often think that babies are choking when they really are gagging on their food.
Remember it is a new learning experience and your baby has to learn to cope with chunky food and chewing at this age.
What to start with
Teething biscuits are great as a starter finger food.
Rice cakes also work well as they dissolve easily in the mouth.
Rusks - those that are cut into rectangles or your own - appropriately shaped for babies to hold.
Stay away from the sweeter biscuits or savoury snacks, as once babies have had these flavours, they tend to refuse other less sweet and healthier foods.
Try a finger shaped piece of cucumber.
A portion of carrot - for sucking and gnawing on, rather than actually eating.
Some babies will enjoy a piece of celery and other unlikely snacks like gherkins.
Fruit. Banana is the most popular or whatever is in season. Most fruits can be peeled and cut into baby-hand size pieces. The exception is apple that must be grated.
Examples include melons, peaches, pear and grapes.
Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and baby marrow could be cut into baby-hand size pieces and parboiled.
A chicken drumstick with the gristle removed is good for gnawing on.
You could make elongated mince and vegetable patties.
Fish fingers - after one year.
French toast cut into strips or fingers. Before one year it needs to be made without the egg white.
By now your baby should also cope with ordinary toast. - Purity