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Night time food for 6 months baby


9 Best Dinner Foods for Your Baby to Help Him Sleep Peacefully All Night! (With Recipes)

  • How Food Helps in Promoting Sleep in Babies?
  • 9 Dinner Food Recipes for Babies to Help them Sleep Better Through the Night
  • Tips While Feeding Your Baby to Ensure Sleep Throughout the Night
  • Is Your Diet Affecting Your Breastfed Baby’s Sleep?

Last Updated on

Putting your baby to sleep is perhaps one of the toughest tasks you need to accomplish every day. Babies wake up often every night and find it difficult to sleep at a stretch. This also affects your health as you need to stay up with your baby and help him feel better. Very often, your baby finally falls asleep at 6 AM and for you, it is time to get started on the new day! Well, what if you found that making a couple of changes in your baby’s dinner can solve this problem?

If your baby has weaned off breastmilk and been introduced to solid foods, he probably eats a variety of things for dinner. Purees, porridge, rice, fruits…Our purpose is to keep his dinner nutritious, filling and easy to digest. But here’s the interesting part: research suggests that diet has a very crucial role to play in your baby’s SLEEP cycle!

How Food Helps in Promoting Sleep in Babies?

The contents of any food item that we consume have an effect on our overall health. While some foods make us alert and wakeful (think coffee, for adults), there are certain food products that are known to promote sleep. These food items combined with complex carbohydrates help in the release of sleep-promoting substances in the body. This makes your baby feel sleepy and comfortable after his dinner. Simply put, this means he is likelier to nap sooner and for longer!
Did you know that according to some studies in child development, each sleepless hour a night can potentially cut down TWO cognitive years in a baby?

9 Dinner Food Recipes for Babies to Help them Sleep Better Through the Night

Here are 9 dinner foods for babies that are not just nutritious and easy to digest but also help your little one get a good night’s sleep!

1.

Warm Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a wholesome food in itself, extremely healthy for both babies and adults. But here’s the best part: it is also an excellent source of melatonin which helps trigger insulin production. Insulin in turn helps in inducing sleep! You can prepare oatmeal in many different forms, the simplest of which is a porridge, light and easy to digest for babies. We recommend mixing it up with apples to improve both the taste and the nutrition quotient.

Recipe: Oats Porridge With Apples

2. White Rice

Rice is well-known be high in glycemic index. This, according to several scientific studies, has been found to help people sleep better and faster. Now you know why many people tend to feel sleepy after consuming rice! Although brown rice is highly recommended for babies due to its higher nutrient value, white rice has a higher glycemic index when compared to brown. Plus, rice is easily digested by babies and is light on the stomach too. Try this rice pudding with apples again – quite a delicious dinner food to help your baby nap!

Recipe: Apple Rice Pudding

3. Spinach

As mothers, we keep stressing on feeding green leafy vegetables to our little ones. We want them to reap the benefits of nutrients such as iron, vitamins and minerals. But did you know that apart from providing the required nutrients, green veggies are also rich in tryptophan – an amino acid that our bodies use to synthesize proteins? Tryptophan also helps in the production of melatonin – the body’s ‘sleep hormone’! It is also called the body clock hormone as it determines the baby’s sleep-wake cycles. Whew, spinach has so many other health benefits that its sleep-inducing property is just another feather in its cap!

4. Cherries

Cherries are another great addition to your baby’s dinner, for the same reason as spinach – they are replete with melatonin, the sleep hormone! They are also quite delicious which means your baby is likelier to accept them easily. Keep in mind that tart cherries contain the most amount of melatonin so choose them over the sweet ones.

How to Feed: It is best to de-seed and puree the cherries before feeding your baby. This makes them easier to consume and digest.

Watch: An Easy Cherry Puree Recipe for Your Baby

Key Takeaway:

  • All you need are cherries, either frozen or fresh. Defrost the frozen cherries for 4-5 hours before preparing the puree.
  • Puree the cherries in the food processor or blender.
  • Place the mix on a low-medium flame for 5 minutes. Remove when it starts steaming.
  • Strain the mixture to get out the chunky bits with a mesh sieve.

5.

Bananas

Bananas are loved by many babies for their soft, sweet taste. But did you know that they contain a good amount of magnesium which is a natural muscle relaxant? Relaxed muscles mean your baby feels sleepier after dinner and eventually sleeps better! Apart from this, bananas also have good amounts of melatonin and serotonin. We recommend the following banana puree recipe for your little one.

Recipe: Banana Puree

6. Chicken

 

If you are a non-vegetarian, you may be considering introducing chicken in your baby’s diet. You have a great reason too! Chicken contains high levels of tryptophan. And as we discussed, this amino acid will definitely make your baby sleepy post dinner! Needless to say, chicken will also take care of the protein requirements of your baby. It is a great idea to begin with shredded pieces and soup post the age of 8 months. Here is a recipe you can try to reap the double protein benefits of chicken and lentils. If your baby is old enough to self-feed, serve it in a bowl that has his favourite cartoon characters for maximum attention! 😉

7. Walnuts

Walnuts help the body in the production of serotonin – a chemical that soothes the brain and affects the mood of a person, making them more relaxed. This helps them sleep better and longer. Walnuts also contain melatonin which, as we saw, is great for napping. We recommend adding walnuts to your baby’s dinner after making sure there are no small pieces that can induce choking. Nuts are recommended for babies after they have crossed the one year milestone so as to minimise risks of allergies. Consult your paediatrician to discuss this further.

8. Chickpeas

Legumes, in general, are high in protein as well as tryptophan and hence a great sleep promoter. But apart from high protein content, chickpeas are also high in iron, potassium, fibre and vitamins K, C and B-6. This makes them a great, nutritious dinner food! It is advised to boil the beans and mash them to include in your baby’s diet. This makes it easy for them to consume as well as digest chickpeas.

9. Dairy Products

Finally, this one is no surprise – the milk before bed-time is certainly a great idea. But even apart from milk, other dairy products like cheese and paneer are also packed with tryptophan. Hence, something like a bowl of bananas mashed in milk an hour prior to bedtime will ensure your baby sleeps comfortably through the night. Also, if going for cheese, opt for swiss and cheddar as they have the maximum amount of tryptophan. You can also make the following recipe part of your baby’s dinner sometimes, for a special treat! It is tailored especially to a baby’s taste and digestive power.

Did You Know:

Certain foods like sugar and caffeine are stimulating in nature and hence the term ‘sugar rush’ is actually a real thing. It is therefore advisable not to include food items containing these properties right before bedtime. As a rule, go easy on the sugar you add to any baby food to also protect your child from the risk of tooth decay and developing unhealthy eating habits.

Tips While Feeding Your Baby to Ensure Sleep Throughout the Night

When babies first begin eating solid foods, they may experience discomfort that also affects their sleep. There can be several reasons for this. For one, their digestive system is still coping with the sudden change from liquids to solids. The timings between the feeding of solids and milk probably haven’t been properly worked out yet. Sometimes, the quality of the food matters more than the quantity consumed. Apart from this, there may be certain things in the breastfeeding routine of the baby that is holding up their sleep schedules. You can follow these following tips to induce a long night’s sleep in your baby!

  • While breastfeeding, keep the light turned off so as to make it clear that it’s not daytime. Alternatively, you can use a nightlight or dimmer switch. Use white noises (such as the hum of the fan) in the background which can help soothe the baby.
  • Ensure that you burp your baby after breastfeeding; otherwise, trapped air in his stomach can cause him to wake up.
  • Fixing a schedule for the baby’s eating and sleeping patterns is beneficial for the baby’s overall development. From the months of 4 to almost 18, it is ideal that bedtime should be between 7 to 8 pm, depending on where your baby is along the age line. Accordingly, dinner should be timed an hour or 1.5 hours before the baby’s bedtime.
  • It’s not just dinnertime that should be fixed. The baby’s daytime routine also plays an important role in getting him to sleep through the night. Schedule timings for his meals and naps as is age-appropriate. Eventually, this can help the baby naturally feel drowsy by his bedtime.
  • One of the main reasons for babies to wake in the middle of the night can be indigestion, because of which the child faces discomfort. ‘Tummy Time’ is gaining popularity among new parents now, owing to its several benefits, one of which is improving digestion. Lying on their tummy during the day (for example supervised floor play) provides the baby’s abdominal organs with a kind of ‘massage’, which also helps to relieve gas, and stimulate normal bowel movements. Keep in mind that this should not be done immediately after a meal. Also, while babies should compulsorily be made to sleep on their back only, tummy time during their waking hours can be of help.
  • It will take up to the age of 8-9 months for the baby to sleep through the entire night (meaning a consolidated 11-12 hours of sleep). To remove the association of feeding and sleeping in their brains, it is important to wean your baby off being fed to sleep. Start with moving his nursing at the beginning of his bedtime routine (rather than at the end). If he persists in waking, make it earlier. i.e right before/after dinnertime.
  • Remember to put your baby down to sleep when he is drowsy, but still awake. Rushing to get your baby to sleep right after nursing can prove to be problematic, as when the baby wakes up, he doesn’t know how to fall asleep on his own. Instead, when he is feeling calm and relaxed and is frequently closing his eyes, put him down to bed, and let him learn to put himself to sleep. Keep in mind that it may take a week or so for the baby to develop this habit.

Along with the baby’s food habits, something that can help your baby’s sleep routine is having your partner take charge as well. Dr. Diana Julian, Child Sleep Consultant, talks about how fathers can be the secret to a baby’s blissful sleep and various techniques they can incorporate. The father can feed the baby a bottle of breast milk during the night feedings, which makes for a dad-baby bonding session as well. Some mothers also claim that since their husbands took charge of rocking their baby to sleep when he wakes, it has proved to be a success! It could be because the baby associates feeding to the mother and expects to be fed when he wakes in the middle of the night and sees her. Try a role-reversal and see how that works out for you!

Is Your Diet Affecting Your Breastfed Baby’s Sleep?

When your breastfed baby refuses to sleep throughout the night, there are doubts that can creep into your mind regarding the effects of your breastmilk on your baby’s sleep. While there is no concrete research which state that elements of your diet can affect your breastmilk, there are certain tried-and-tested techniques by mothers which seem to alter their babies’ sleeping patterns.

The first thing to note is that breast milk is not made up of what you eat, but what is in your blood. So there is no particular list of foods that is applicable for mothers’ to avoid. However, if you seem to incorporate caffeine and sugar a little more than the healthy amount in your daily diet, cutting it down is ideal – it definitely will help to improve your overall health!

There are some mothers who have seen a slight improvement in their babies’ sleep patterns once their caffeine/sugar intake was reduced as well. Another possibility to consider is allergic reactions to some food nutrients that may be passed on through your breast milk to your baby. If symptoms like diarrhea, rashes, fussiness, gas, colic and so on keep your baby up at night, keep a track of what you eat and when these symptoms show up. If you see a link, reduce the suspected food and speak to your health-care provider about further remedies.

So moms, make sure you include these food items in your baby’s dinner to help him sleep uninterrupted. If your baby sleeps well, he will be happy and active the next morning, and so will you! Do you know of more recipes and sleep-promoting dinner foods for babies? Share them with other mommies by leaving a comment below.

6 Months Old Baby Food Chart Along with Recipes

Home Baby Food & Nutrition 6 Months Old Baby Food Ideas

At FirstCry Parenting, our aim is to give you the most elevant, accurate and up to date information.

Every article that we publish, confirms to stringent guidelines & involves several levels of reviews, both from our Editorial team & Experts. We welcome your suggestions in making this platform more useful for all our users. Write in to us at parenting. [email protected]

  • Video: Food Ideas for 6 Months Old Baby
  • Nutrient Requirements of a 6-Month-Old Infant
  • How Much Food Should Your Baby Eat?
  • Best Foods for a 6-Month-Old Baby
  • What If Your Baby Is Allergic to Particular Foods?
  • Video: Diet Plan for a 6-Month-Old Baby
  • 6-Month-Old Baby Food Chart/Meal Plan
  • Video: 6 Month Old Baby Food Recipes
  • Food Recipes for 6-Month-Old Baby
  • Feeding Tips

Last Updated on

Congratulations, your baby has hit the half-year milestone. In the first six months, she has gained all the nutrients from breast milk. It is now time for your baby to start tasting solids and relish them.

Also Read: 6 Months Old Baby Milestones

Video: Food Ideas for 6 Months Old Baby

Nutrient Requirements of a 6-Month-Old Infant

Here are the nutritional components that 6-month-old baby food should have:

  1. Calcium: Calcium is essential for bone and teeth development.
  2. Iron: Iron helps to carry oxygenated blood to developing parts of the body.
  3. Zinc: Zinc improves cell repair and growth.
  4. Fat: Fat insulates the baby and stimulates brain development.
  5. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide energy for doing day-to-day activities.
  6. Protein: Proteins act as building blocks for cells.
  7. Vitamins: Different vitamins contribute differently to a baby’s growth. Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E and K are essential to a baby.
  8. Minerals: Minerals like sodium and potassium directly influence the growth of a baby.

Also Read: Developmental Activities for 6 Month Old Baby

How Much Food Should Your Baby Eat?

A six-month-old baby is primarily breastfed or formula-fed. However, solid food can be introduced for breakfast or lunch. Introduce only one fruit or vegetable and feed it to your baby for at least three days. If she responds well and does not show any signs of allergy, then you can continue with that fruit or vegetable and also try other foods.

Best Foods for a 6-Month-Old Baby

Expert paediatricians recommend avoiding salt and sugar until the age of one, as it puts unwanted stress on the kidneys.

Some healthy food options for 6 months+ babies include:

  • Fruits Puree: Fruits should be steamed, and mashed or pureed while introducing for the first time. Fruits like apples, bananas, pear, avocado, chikoo and peaches can be given.
  • Vegetable Puree: Vegetables such sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, sweet pumpkin, french beans, etc. can be steamed and given either as finger foods or as a puree.
  • Pulses Soup: A variety of pulses, especially dals, can be boiled with water and the soup can be given to babies.
  • Rice Porridge: Rice is a good source of carbohydrates and vitamins for babies. Broken rice, made with breast milk or formula milk can be given as porridge.
  • Cereal Porridge: Porridge can also be made from a variety of single grain cereals like wheat, millet, barley, oats, etc. These cereals can be dried and powdered together or separately, to make gruel.
  • Vegetable Soup: A variety of vegetables can be boiled in water, and the stock can be given as soup.
  • Yoghurt: Although cow’s milk is not recommended until the age of one, unsweetened yoghurt can be given in moderate amounts as an alternative to purees.

What If Your Baby Is Allergic to Particular Foods?

An allergic reaction can occur in the form of diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes, constipation or pain in the stomach and is a cause for concern. If there is an allergic reaction, stop the food that you have been giving the baby immediately. If the allergic reaction persists, seek medical assistance. You can retry it after a few months if your paediatrician gives the go-ahead.

Also Read: Effective Tips to Take Care of 6 Months Old Baby

Video: Diet Plan for a 6-Month-Old Baby

6-Month-Old Baby Food Chart/Meal Plan

You can prepare a meal plan or chart for your baby’s meals and follow it as much as possible. The chart below can help you design your own 6-month-old baby food schedule according to your baby’s preferences.

Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 1
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Mother’s milk /formula feed
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 2
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Mother’s milk /formula feed
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 3
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Mother’s milk /formula feed
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 4
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Moong dal (yellow split gram) soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 5
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Moong dal (yellow split gram) soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 6
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Moong dal (yellow split gram) soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed
Diet for a 6-month-old – Week 1, Day 7
Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed pear
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Dal (lentil) -spinach soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 1

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed pear
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Dal (lentil) -spinach soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 2

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Spinach-pumpkin puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Stewed apple
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 3

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Spinach-pumpkin puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Stewed pear
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 4

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Spinach-pumpkin puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 5

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 6

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Mashed potato
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 2, Day 7

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Mashed potato
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Dal (lentil) -spinach soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 1

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed pear
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge with mashed carrot
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 2

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Spinach-pumpkin puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge with mashed carrot
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 3

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Stewed apple
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Rice porridge with mashed carrot
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 4

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Carrot-beetroot puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Spinach-pumpkin puree
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 5

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Carrot-beetroot puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Dal (lentil) -spinach soup
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 6

Early morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Breakfast Carrot-beetroot puree
Mid-morning Mother’s milk /formula feed
Lunch Stewed pear
Evening Mother’s milk /formula feed
Dinner Mother’s milk /formula feed

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 3, Day 7

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 1

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 2

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 3

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 4

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 5

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 6

Diet for a 6-Month-Old – Week 4, Day 7

Video: 6 Month Old Baby Food Recipes

Food Recipes for 6-Month-Old Baby

Here are some interesting Indian baby food recipes thaty your baby can try.

1. Apple Stew With Cinnamon

Ingredients:

  • Apple – 1
  • Water
  • Cinnamon powder

How To Prepare:

  • Cook the peeled and diced apple slices in boiling water.
  • Alternatively, you can also cook them in a pressure cooker for two to three whistles.
  • Take the steamed apples and blend them in a mixer jar. You can also sieve it to thin the consistency of the stew.
  • To this, add a pinch of cinnamon powder and mix well.
  • Apple stew is ready.

2. Mango Puree

Ingredients:

  • Mango – 1

How To Prepare:

  • Peel and remove the mango pulp.
  • Blend the pulp to a paste or sieve it.
  • As the fruit has natural sugars, serve without any added sweetners.

3. Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • Powdered Oats – 1 cup
  • Water
  • Breast milk or formula milk – as per requirement
  • Banana – 1/2

How To Prepare:

  • In a pan, boil 2 cups of water.
  • Once the water starts boiling, add the cup of powdered oats slowly to the water and stir continuously to avoid forming lumps.
  • Once the oats are cooked, add 2 tablespoons of milk.
  • You can add the banana paste to give a nice flavour to the dish.

4. Sweet Pumpkin Puree

Ingredients:

  • Sweet pumpkin – 1/4
  • Water

How To Prepare:

  • Deseed a small pumpkin and remove the pulp. Dice it into small cubes.
  • Boil 2 cups of water and add the pumpkin cubes to it. Cover the lid and let it cook for a few minutes.
  • Mash or blend the cooked pumpkin to a fine paste and feed your baby. The natural sweetness of the vegetable gives a good taste to the dish.

5. Rice Porridge

Ingredients:

  • Powdered rice – 1 cup
  • Water
  • Breastmilk/formula milk – as per requirement

How To Prepare:

  • Take water and boil it in a pan.
  • Slowly, add the powdered rice and cook it well.
  • Take care to avoid formation of lumps.
  • Top up the cooked rice with 2 tablespoons of milk and stir well.

6. Potato Puree

Ingredients:

  • Potato – 2
  • Breast milk/formula milk – as per requirement

How To Prepare:

  • Select potatoes that doesn’t have soft spots or cracks.
  • Wash them and peel the skin off. Dice it into small cubes.
  • To a cooker half-filled with water, add the potato cubes and cook for 1-2 whistles.
  • Transfer the cooked potatoes to a bowl and mash them with a spoon.
  • Add breast milk or formula milk.
  • Delicious potato puree is ready.

7. Bottle Gourd (

Lauki) Puree

Ingredients:

  • Bottle gourd – 1/2
  • Moong dal – 1 tbsp
  • Jeera powder – a pinch

How To Prepare:

  • Wash and peel the lauki. Cut it into small cubes.
  • Add the lauki cubes and moong dal to a pressure cooker with 50 ml of water.
  • Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
  • Mash or blend it after it cools down. Add jeera powder (optional) and serve.

Feeding Tips

Feeding babies can be a daunting task for mothers. Here are some tips to make your baby’s mealtime happy and stress-free.

  • Always start with just one or two spoons and give more only if your baby likes the taste.
  • Introduce only one new fruit or vegetable at a time and observe her reaction to it, before starting with another foodstuff.
  • Follow the 3-day rule and note down all the new dishes and ingredients you’ve fed your baby. This makes troubleshooting easier if she has an allergic reaction.
  • Do not lumpy foods or finger foods to babies as small as six months. It can sometimes cause gagging and even choking.
  • Decide on a calm and quiet place for feeding like the living room or the kitchen.
  • Avoid distraction feeding, i.e. don’t feed your baby by getting her to watch something on a TV or mobile screen.
  • Prepare and store baby food in sterilised steel or glass bowls instead of plastic containers.
  • Give only homemade food as your baby’s digestive system is still underdeveloped.

Introducing solid foods to babies can be tricky, and mothers may feel confused as to what food is right for their baby. Most of the time, babies love to eat foods that are of varying tastes, textures and colours. A little effort towards tingling their taste buds can go a long way in successful feeding.

Disclaimer:

  1. Each child is different and so use these meal plans as a trusted guide as per your discretion. You can modify the meals according to your child’s preferences / requirements.
  2. Never force-feed a child.
  3. While preparing formula, please follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon provided with it.
  4. While introducing solid food to a baby, initially, one needs to prepare watery gruels/soups. As a child gets older, the caretaker/ mother has to increase the thickness of the liquids slowly according to the child’s capacity to swallow. Foods that are too thick can cause stomach upset/ unnecessary load; while excessively watery food might cause the child to remain hungry.
  5. Some kids may eat less on some days and that is absolutely alright. However, if a child eats less for more than 3-4 consecutive days, please visit a doctor to guide further.
  6. A child may eat less during the teething phase or if he/she may not be feeling well. You could increase breast milk /formula feeds on those days. Re-introduce the foods once the child is back to normal.
  7. Don’t stop feeding if the child is suffering from diarrhoea.
  8. You can alter the taste of the food by adding some natural flavours like cinnamon, jeera powder, lemon juice, curry leaves etc. if the child doesn’t accept the food initially.
  9. If your child suffers from an allergy to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding him/her any foods that may contain them.

Also Read: Food Ideas for 7 Months Old Baby

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Everyone knows that frequent nighttime awakenings when a newborn needs to be comforted or fed is a natural part of motherhood. How pleasant it is to hug a child in the silence of the night and attach it to your chest! But one day there comes a moment when the uninterrupted sleep of the baby and mother becomes more important than nightly breastfeeding.

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Night feeds: until what age?

Many parents are interested in night feedings: until what age should they be kept? When should a child be weaned from night feeding? In this article, we present the opinion of our American colleagues on breastfeeding. Their recommendations may need tweaking, but it's certainly an interesting take on the issue.

BabySleep considers it necessary to emphasize that reducing nighttime feedings at any age does not in any way mean a complete rejection of breastfeeding, unless the mother has such an intention. This is just a reduction in the number of attachments to the chest during a night's sleep. The mother can still continue breastfeeding even if the number of nightly feedings is reduced.

It is also important to remember that breastfeeding is not only a process of satiating the child, but also a time of physical and emotional closeness between mother and baby. In some situations, this factor is of paramount importance and it is not worth reducing the number of feedings.

What do doctors say?

Many children continue to wake up for night feedings from one to several times a night, although, due to their age, they are already able to sleep for a long period of time without awakening. The reason is that they are used to getting calories at night. Very often, nighttime awakenings and the need to breastfeed in order to fall asleep again are caused by an association with falling asleep. This means that when you wake up at the end of your sleep cycle (every 40–90 minutes), the baby simply cannot fall asleep again without sucking, even if at that moment he is not hungry. Some children only need to take a few sips to calm down, and someone eats, consuming calories that the body does not need at that moment.

When the baby wakes up to satisfy his hunger, he actively sucks and swallows for at least 5 minutes or drinks more than 60 ml. milk from a bottle. If there is an association to fall asleep, or if the baby needs to breastfeed to calm down, the baby sucks out only a little milk. If the baby is really hungry at night, it is not recommended to drastically reduce the number of nightly feedings. If the child is hungry, he must be fed!

How many nightly feedings does a child need?

Before cutting down on a baby's nighttime feedings, the mother should make sure that the baby is ready for it and that her expectations are realistic. If there are no problems with lactation, the baby is healthy, calm, eats well during the day and is gaining weight, you can simply use the table as a guide, which indicates the number of nightly feedings recommended by American baby sleep experts.

Talk to your doctor before starting to cut down on nightly breastfeeding. It is also important to consider the age of the child depending on the EDD (estimated date of birth). If the baby eats at night more often than indicated in the table, but sleeps well, and it suits you, there is no problem. If your baby is eating less often, but your pediatrician is happy with how he is growing and gaining weight, you are doing great too!

The recommendations in this article are for those mothers who are worried about the fragmented sleep of the child due to the fact that the baby often eats at night.

Until what age should night feeds be continued?

Children's nutritional needs differ, but you can focus on the average data from the table:

When should a child be weaned from night feedings?

A child's readiness to reduce night feedings can be tested by answering the following questions:

  1. Is your baby 6 months old or older and eating solid foods well?
  2. Was the baby born at term with a normal weight?
  3. Does the baby need night feedings, rather to calm down than to satisfy the feeling of hunger (applications are very short)?
  4. Feeding for a baby is an association for falling asleep, does he not know how to calm down and fall asleep himself during daytime and nighttime dreams, does he often wake up at night?
  5. Is co-sleeping a necessary measure for you because of the association for the baby to fall asleep (see paragraph 4)?
  6. Do all family members lack sleep and feel constantly tired (as a result of points 4 and 5)?
  7. Are night feedings erratic (time and number of awakenings vary each night)?
  8. Does your child eat more at night than during the day?
  9. In the past, has the baby been able to sleep for three or more days in a row for long periods of time without feeding, or with one feeding between 22:00 and 24:00 (not during illness, etc. )?
  10. Does the baby eat once a night - at 3-4 in the morning - and constantly refuses morning feeding?

If the majority of answers are yes, this shows the child's readiness to reduce the number of nightly attachments.

Reduced night feedings. Where to begin?

If you can't tell exactly what time and how long your child eats at night, watch him for 2-3 nights. When you see patterns in nightly breastfeeding, you can draw up a work plan and gradually wean the baby from breastfeeding.

  1. Start with feedings in the first hours of sleep, when the baby has not yet had time to get hungry.
  2. If nighttime breastfeeding is associated with falling asleep for your baby, separate breastfeeding from the process of falling asleep—feeding before bed to soothe and relax, and then falling asleep without suckling.
  3. Reduce the time your baby spends at the breast at night, or reduce the amount of milk in the bottle.
  4. Increase your daily calorie intake.
  5. If you soothe your baby at night without breastfeeding, but the baby starts crying when you put him to bed after that, this crying is most likely caused by an association with falling asleep. In this case, if you want to reduce the number of feedings at night, you need to help your baby learn to fall asleep without a breast.

If a child has an association with falling asleep, putting together a work plan to reduce bedtime is not an easy task. If you need help and support from a sleep consultant, you can get it in the format of an individual consultation. We'll help you determine what's causing your sleep problem, how it can be managed, and how realistic your desired goals are.

The article was prepared based on materials from sites: happybabysleep.com, childsleepscience.wordpress.com. Transfer BabySleep

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Elena Muradova

Founder of BabySleep, the first sleep consultant in Russia and the CIS

Should I feed my baby at night - until what age should I feed my baby at night

12/13/2018

≈ 2 min read time

Contents

  • Why do babies eat at night?
  • What to feed at night?
  • Babies and artificers: organization of night feedings
  • Up to what age?
  • bottle caries

The grass is green, the sky is blue, and small children eat at night - these undeniable facts are known to all parents. Indeed, most babies from birth to 2-4 years old wake up, and more than once, to eat. How necessary are night feedings and how to organize them correctly?

From a biological point of view, children sleep very differently from adults. Most of the time the baby spends in superficial sleep, when the main development of the brain occurs. This phase of sleep is easily interrupted, and when waking up, the child usually feels hungry or thirsty. On average, a baby in the first six months of life wakes up 1 to 6 times a night, and from 6 months to 4 years - from 1 to 3 times, and this is absolutely normal!

In addition, babies have a small stomach and a very high metabolism, so they need to “refuel” more often than adults. Pediatricians used to recommend taking a 6-hour night break, referring to the fact that the baby's stomach needs rest. Now supporters of breastfeeding, of which there are more and more doctors among doctors, are sure that night feedings are indispensable for the full development of the baby. Therefore, the advice to give the child water at night, rock him to sleep and let him “cry” is a thing of the past.

Of course, if your baby sleeps well through the night, you don't need to wake him up to eat. Such measures are necessary only if the baby is not gaining weight well (often happens in premature babies), and your pediatrician will definitely tell you about this.

Owl baby and lark baby

Oksana Sergeevna Mishchenko

Child psychologist

Child development by months

Approximate mode of a child up to a year

Here are some foods that are suitable for night feedings:

  • Breast milk;
  • Adapted blend;
  • Dairy products for children (kefir, biolact, unsweetened yogurt) - after 6 months;
  • Oatmeal jelly or decoction;
  • Baby milk - after 9 months;
  • Regular cow or goat milk - after 1 year.

You should not give foods that are difficult for digestion (porridge, meat, bakery products), as well as solid food, which the baby, without fully waking up, can choke on.

Formula-fed babies may wake up less often than babies. This is due to the fact that the mixture takes longer to digest.

If you are formula feeding your baby, prepare everything you need before bed. Put a measuring spoon, a sterilized bottle with a nipple, baby water. To simplify the process, you can use a baby bottle warmer. It will maintain the set temperature all night, and when the baby wakes up to eat, you just have to pour the mixture into the already warm water.

Babies usually wake up more often, as mother's milk is absorbed very quickly. By putting your baby to the breast at night, you not only give him the necessary nutrition, but also support your lactation. The fact is that the hormone prolactin is intensively produced at night, from 2 am to 7 am. Its production is stimulated by the sucking of the child.

In order not to run to the crib all night, try moving it close to your bed by removing the side. And for many mothers, co-sleeping in the same bed with the baby is suitable. Over time, you will get used to feeding the baby, almost without waking up.

It would seem that with the introduction of complementary foods, the baby no longer needs night feedings so much: his daily menu becomes more diverse, and the number of meals increases. In fact, it is with the start of complementary foods that most children begin to wake up more often at night to drink milk - after all, there are so many new interesting products in the public domain during the day that you can forget about a breast or a bottle.

Two or three nightly feedings can remain until the end of breastfeeding, and each mother determines this period herself.

Until what age should night feeds be stopped? The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for up to 2 years or more. If the baby is bottle-fed, then after a year the mixture disappears from the diet and is replaced with other food. But this does not mean that your child is already quite an adult and is obliged to sleep through the night without getting up for night feeding. Most children eat at night 1 - 3 times until 2 - 3 years. This is completely natural and should not bother you! A light milky snack will saturate the baby, and he will continue to sleep soundly.

There is no consensus among dentists as to whether night feedings affect the health of baby teeth. Many experts believe that carbohydrates and milk sugar (it is found in mixtures and in breast milk) contribute to the rapid growth of bacteria and the development of caries. At the same time, there are studies confirming that the health of milk teeth depends only on the course of pregnancy, the environmental situation, the immunity of the child and heredity.

Formula-fed babies are more prone to caries - it’s not for nothing that it is called “bottle”. If you notice white or brown spots or other signs of decay on your baby's teeth, be sure to contact your dentist and get ready for the fact that night feedings will most likely have to be reduced.

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