Signs of Readiness
- Good head and neck control and the ability to sit with support.
- Interest in your food and reaching for it.
- Reduced tongue-thrust reflex, so food goes in rather than straight back out.
First Foods, Indian Style
- Soft khichdi, mashed dal, ragi porridge, and well-cooked mashed vegetables are excellent, nutrient-dense starters.
- Mashed banana, steamed apple, and curd suit many babies.
- Introduce common allergens like egg and peanut (in safe, smooth forms) early and one at a time, as current evidence supports.
How to Feed
- Offer, do not force; a baby turning away is communicating, not misbehaving.
- Let them get messy and explore textures; this is learning, not waste.
- Keep milk as the main nutrition through the first year, with solids alongside.
Safety First
- Always supervise; never prop a bottle or leave a baby alone with food.
- Avoid whole nuts, hard raw pieces, and added salt, sugar, and honey in the first year.
- Learn the difference between gagging, which is normal and protective, and choking, which is silent and needs action.