Congratulations, your little one is starting solids!!! This is his first step into the real world, and you want to make it as pleasant for him as you can! In many cultures, starting solids is an occasion to be celebrated, with guests coming over to see baby take his first bite of something other than milk.
Now comes the tough part, what should I feed my baby? Since your little one is just starting out, he needs foods that are easy to eat, digest and mild to taste. Not to mention easy for you to make; after all, no Mom wants to spend all night in the kitchen!
So, as a solution to all your problems, we’ve drawn up this ultimate list of 52 first food recipes for babies, thinking of Moms just like you! Just click on the name of the dish to go to the recipe. And no, you don’t need to visit any gourmet supermarket for these; your regular grocery store will do. So let’s get ready to start feeding your little eager beaver!
52 First Food Recipes for Babies
We’ve split the entire list of recipes into type, so it’s easier for you to search for what you like. As for breakfast, lunch and dinner, babies are pretty flexible, so you can feed them any dish at any time!
Soup Recipes for Babies
Soups are a great idea to feed baby when it’s not yet meal time. He’ll feel full, but it wont’ affect his appetite. Experiment with the spices to find your baby’s sweet spot!
- Lentil Soup (Dal ka Paani) – Lentils are rich in protein and garlic is antibacterial and anti inflammatory
- Rice Soup (Chawal ka Paani) – Great way to rehydrate baby
- Barley Water – Non allergenic, making it the perfect first food
- Carrot Beet Soup – Rich in color and nutrients
- Vegetable Soup – Perfect way to use vegetables that baby is already familiar with
- Chicken Clear Soup – Rich Source of Protein and Iron
Puree Recipes for Babies
Purees have been baby’s first foods since time immemorial!! Start out with really smooth purees, and as baby grows, increase the chunkiness slowly, so that she gets used to real ‘solid’ food without any fuss!
- Carrot Puree – Great for developing immunity
- Potato Puree – Generally well accepted among babies
- Pumpkin Puree – High fiber; great for constipation
- Beet Potato Puree – Relieves congestion during cold; anti inflammatory
- Carrot Potato Puree – Filled with goodness of root vegetables; same recipe as Beet Potato Puree
- French Beans Puree – Good source of antioxidants and micronutrients
- Bottle gourd (Lauki) Puree – Good for hydration; contains 90% water
- Sweet Potato Puree – High content of Vitamin A, Betacarotene
- Carrot Palak Puree – Rich in Calcium and other minerals
- Apple Puree – Naturally sweet; good source of Vitamin C
- Pear Puree – Ideal for babies with GERD/Reflux
- Apple Puree with Cinnamon Twist – Warming, with benefits of apple, pear and cinnamon
- Banana Puree – Excellent source of potassium
- Papaya Puree – Relieves constipation
- Papaya Banana Puree – Super combination for good digestion
- Avocado Puree – Great benefits for brain growth and development
- Kiwi Puree – Rich sources of essential vitamins like A, C
- Chicken Puree with Veggies – Thigh and leg meat are rich in easily absorbed iron
Porridge Recipes for Babies
Many people think of porridge in term of oats, but there are several ways to make it!! Here are some sweet and savory recipes that most babies are sure to love!
- Rice Cereal Porridge – Basic recipe; add fruit or vegetables for more taste and nutrition
- Wheat Dalia Porridge – Rich in iron, folic acid and vitamins
- Ragi Porridge – Ideal weaning food
- Sathu Mavu Porridge – Perfect combination of cereals
- Oats Porridge – Filling and rich in various micronutrients
- Apple Oats Porridge – Sweet, filling and great source of fiber
- Semolina (Sooji/Rava) Porridge – Easily digested; good source of trace minerals
- Lotus Seeds (Makhana) Porridge – Good source of magnesium, potassium and phosphorous
- Apple Rice Cereal Porridge – Great way to add fruit to basic rice porridge
Rice Dishes for Babies
When your baby is used to purees, you can begin feeding him well cooked rice, an ideal form of which is khichdi. It’s a great way to introduce baby to foods that are not just smooth pastes.
- Plain Khichdi – Mildly spiced; easily digestible
- Tomato Khichdi – Tangy taste; good source of lycopene
- Carrot Khichdi – Great way to introduce rice with vegetables in chunkier form
- Palak Khichdi – Good recipe to get babies used to eating their greens
- Apple Khichdi – A sweeter version of khichdi
- Pongal – Easily digestible food for fussy eaters
- Ghee Rice – Helps to boost immunity and adds calories
- Steamed Dosa – Can add vegetable purees to up the nutrient quotient
Juice Recipes for Babies
Freshly squeezed juices are the perfect way to get the nutrients of fruit and vegetables, and are also a great way to rehydrate especially during the hot months. Start out with very small quantities though; fruit juices are higher in sugar than just fruit.
- Carrot Juice – Easy on the stomach; non acidic
- Grape Juice – Good source of antioxidants
- Tomato Juice – High in Vitamins A and C
- Pomegranate Juice – Great to control diarrhea
Dessert Recipes for Babies
Even babies need a treat! Forget ice creams that contain all kinds of preservatives, and opt for healthier home made versions. During summer, these can also be chilled before serving.
- Oats Kheer – Great option for a hot day when served chilled
- Beetroot Halwa – Delicious and healthy option for dessert
- Sabudana Kheer – Good to relieve constipation
- Wheat Halwa – Healthy, wholegrain dessert
- Sweet Pongal – Mildly sweet; great for babies used to rice cereal
Stock Recipes for Babies
Stocks are very useful to add to various dishes to increase the nutrient quotient along with flavor. Avoid the use of salt so that baby gets the true flavor of the food you’re making the stock with.
- Vegetable Stock – Can be added to soups or khichdis
- Chicken Stock – Can be added to chicken soup or for cooking rice for more flavor
Well, we’re pretty sure that covers all the basics!! Now you can create a wide and varied menu for your baby – one that is wholesome and healthy and so easy to make! If you have trouble creating your own menu, check out our baby food charts here. And yes, you can always buy homemade instant mixes for your baby from the My Little Moppet Store!
Here are some more posts that might interest you:
1. 106 Finger Foods for Babies and Toddlers
2. 25+ Fruit Finger Foods for Babies
3. 25+ Vegetable Finger Foods for Babies
4. High Chair or Booster Seat? Your Ultimate Guide to Buying a Feeding Chair
You can also download these recipes as an ebook Here.
We are starting solids for 7 month old this Friday. Could you please suggest for dinner
Hi Himasree,
You can follow our 7 months food chart dear. It includes dinner recipes.
Hii Dr. My son is 3 months old and his waight is 4.200kg so tell me about my son’s waight
Thanks
Hi Monika,
Please don’t worry of weight now dear. He is just in developing stage and it is not to be worried if your baby is active and healthy.
Hi Dr. My daughter is 8 months old and her weight is 6.8 when she born her weight was 2.75. Doctor is saying weight is little bit on lower side. I give her variety of foods. Please suggest. She is crawling, rolling , sittiing for sometime without support. I am little worried about her weight gain.
You should not be worried atall dear, she is achieving all milesstones on time and is active. This itself is a reason to celebrate. Continue feeding her a balanced diet and she is fine.
Mam my son is 1.5 yrs old but his weight is only 9.3 kg…So please suggest what shud I give him so that he gain weight quickly……
Thanks
Tanu if the baby is active then nothing much to worry about. Here are some options you can try for your little one https://www.mylittlemoppet.com/20-super-healthy-weight-gain-foods-babies-kids/
Hi,
My baby girl will be completing 6 months on 4th November 2016. It would be great if you can provide me with some food planner. She is an exclusively breast fed baby as of now.
Dear rashi,
There is a subscription form in the sidebar through which you can avail age wie diet charts
Hi Dr.Hema,
My baby will be one year old after two weeks.I am still bf along with complimentary foods,also giving him rice khichdi.But he gets extremely gassy if I add lentils to khichdi and cries at night.I want to give him lentils.How can in start lentils again without him getting gassy.
Also when should I start giving him cows milk.I am planning to bf till he turns 2 or if he stops by himself.
Thankyou,
Pradnya.
Dr Hema,
My baby completed his third month by today.from it recepies which one I have to start first.he always sucks his fingers and lower lip due to this,he is not showing any interest to drink milk (bf).so I need to give him solids.pls give me any remedies for not habituate of sucking fingers also
Dr Hema,
My baby completed his third month by today.from it recepies which one I have to start first.he always sucks his fingers and lower lip due to this,he is my showing any interest to drink milk (bf).so I need to give him solids.pls give me any remedies for not habituate of sucking fingers also
Dear Tanya
Please start solids only after completion of 6 months, till then exclusive breastfeeding would be ideal
How r u ? I’m a mom for 16 month baby, she doesn’t go potty regularly, minimum one week she doesn’t..its normal…?how to train her…plz advice me…her Menu
mrng breakfast idili/nestum rice/seamia upuma/kanji..
lunch rice/dalrice/rasam rice…
evening snack carrot/omam biscuit/marrie biscuit/digestive biscuit….
dinner same as breakfast.she only taken Breastfeeding milk….
Hi Doctor,
My 7 month old son keeps demanding feed nearly 6 times in the night.. I am giving him wheat or rice porridge of about 200 ml. I thought it was growth spurt but it’s happening since 1 n half months.. Earliee he used to take only 3 feeds. Help me out . I feel if something could be wrong with my meal plan.
hi,
your recipes are amazing ..however i am not being able to download it as a ebook ..a little help please …thanks
Hi my baby completely 5th month now 6th month is running .i need food chat based on my baby age….
Hi Hema,
My baby has completed 3 months yesterday, could you please let me know whether can I start soups/daal ka paani besides breastfeeding since I will be joining office by next month & I won’t be able to breastfeed him for around 12 hours. Please advice which soups / khichdi can be introduced to him by now?
Regards,
Smita
Dear Smita,
Sorry for the delayed reply, hope by now you have started solids for your baby , do email me at [email protected] for more queries 🙂
Hi Dr Hema,
Thank you so much for the recipes. As a first time mom to 6 month old twins living in the US..your recipes are a huge help. I just started with purees for my twins this week and had a couple of questions.
I would like to incorporate fruits, vegetables and grains in their daily meal plan. Can you please assist me to customize it with a menu planner? I started with sweet potato puree for 3 days and now they are having apple puree.
I went through your food chart and menu planner.. If i am waiting 3 days before introducing a new food item..it will be months before i can use your 6 month babies food planner. Which is unfortunate as your planner is exactly what i was looking for. How do i use that planner while at the same time ensure that there isn’t a allergy to the new food? I hope i was able to phrase the question i had on this.
Thank you again
Leena
Hi leena,
I can perfectly understand your thoughts, the 3 day rule was introduced to prevent aleergies in babies who have history of allergy or allergy in the family, if you are sure that your babies do not have a history, you can proceed with giving one new food every alternate day in the mornings