Feeding Your 9-to-12-Month-Old Baby

Find tips for feeding a 9-to-12-month old baby and some recipes that you can include in his or her diet.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this articleMoong Dal KhichdiSuji (Semolina) PorridgeNachni Sattva (Ragi Porridge)Mixed Grain PorridgeChapati PorridgeVegetable Khichdi---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It is important to take proper care of the babys diet during the initial years of his or her growth and development. The stage during which the baby develops from an infant to a toddler is extremely important. So, during this stage parents must ensure that the baby gets all the essential nutrients through food. As such right kinds of foods must be included in the diet of the baby. As per the recommendations of paediatricians, it is necessary to breastfeed the baby exclusively for the first 6 months. After 6 months, solids can be introduced in the diet of the baby along with breastfeeding. Even if solids are introduced in the diet of the baby, mothers should not stop breastfeeding.Not only right foods but also parents must ensure that the baby is fed the right way and a proper feeding routine is followed. In this way parents can make sure that all the adequate nutrients are received by the baby and the baby grows in a healthy manner. Let us now take a look at the things that parents should keep in mind while feeding a 9-to-12-month-old baby.Ideal Feeding Routine for a 9-to-12-Month-Old BabyHave a quick look at the ideal feeding routine for a 9-to-12-month-old baby.1)Ideally solids are introduced to a baby when he or she completes 6 months of her age.2) When solids are introduced for the first time it is usually recommended that the baby is fed on solids only once a day.3) As the baby starts getting used to it the number of feeds can be increased to 2 times a day.4) When the baby is almost 9 months old the number of feeds can be increased to 3 to 4 times a day.5) The baby can be fed on solids as per the usual meal timings of an adult when the baby is between 9 to 12 months old.6) Babies can be fed during the breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner time of other family members.7) It is better if the baby is fed when other family members are having their meals.Cooking PrecautionsAs your baby’s digestive system is very delicate, you need to take the right precautions while cooking for him or her. Listed below are some of these precautions.Make sure that you always cook the food well.Make sure that you always add the additives like salt, sugar, oil and ghee in minute quantities as the digestive system of your baby is still developing.Ensure that the porridges that you make are light and well-cooked while you are introducing them in the diet of your baby.Precautions to Be Taken While Feeding the BabyHere are some precautions that you must take while feeding your baby.Do not force your baby to eat if he or she is not hungry.Let your baby finish what he or she is eating before feeding her another morsel.Make sure that you feed a little water when you baby is done with eating.Burp your baby when you finish feeding her.Avoid giving packaged baby foods to your baby.Try to feed the traditional foods that are fed to the babies in your family since ages.Always feed the freshly prepared food to your baby.Avoid feeding the food that is stored for a longer period of time.Always check the temperature of the food before feeding it to your baby.Introduce new foods in your baby’s diet gradually.Indian Recipes for Feeding BabiesIt is very important to include homemade food in the diet of babies to ensure their healthy growth and development. Take a quick look at some baby food recipes that are usually introduced in the diet of the babies in most of the Indian households.Moong Dal KhichdiMoong Dal Khichdi is one of the traditional Indian baby food recipes. This recipe is very easy to prepare as well as light on the delicate stomach of babies. This is one of the first baby foods that is introduced in the diet of babies by most of the Indian parents. It can provide essential nutrients like calcium, zinc and magnesium to babies.Moong Dal Khichdi RecipeTake a quick look at the recipe for making moong dal khichdi.Ingredients:Here are a few ingredients that you will need for preparing moong dal khichdi.1 small cup rice1 small cup Moong DalGheeA pinch of turmericA very small pinch of saltWaterProcedure:Here is a quick way for making Moong Dal Khichdi.Mix Moong Dal with rice in a vessel and wash it very well before you start cooking.Put the vessel on the stove and add water to it. Water should be four times as much as the quantity of the mixture of Moong Dal and rice.Turn the stove on.Add a pinch of turmeric and a very small pinch of salt.Add a very little ghee.Let the Khichdi cook until it becomes paste like consistency. (You can also make a puree of the Khichdi with the help of the grinder.)Feed the Khichdi to your baby once it cools down.The calcium content in the Moong Dal Khichdi helps in building strong bones and the zinc content helps to have healthy skin. This Khichdi is not only healthy but also tasty. You can include this recipe in your baby’s diet during lunch time. As this recipe is stomach filling, it can help to keep your baby happy and cheerful for a longer time.Suji (Semolina) PorridgeSuji or Semolina porridge is loaded with the goodness of jaggery. Including jaggery in the diet of babies can help to provide them with one of the important nutrients like iron. Iron helps to strengthen the bones and boosts the immunity of babies. It gives them strength to fight illnesses like flu, cough and cold. It also helps to prevent constipation. Suji or Semolina is also one of the important sources of iron for babies. It helps to improve haemoglobin levels in the body as well as the health of the heart. It is also loaded with nutrients and vitamins like proteins, carbohydrates, Vitamin B and Vitamin E.Suji (Semolina) Porridge RecipeTake a quick look at the recipe for making Suji or Semolina porridge.Ingredients:Make a note of the ingredients that you will need for preparing Semolina porridge.1 small cup of SujiA piece of lemon sized jaggeryA small spoon of gheeProcedure:Follow these simple and easy steps for making Semolina porridge for your little bundle of joy.Roast semolina in a pan or Kadhai until it starts changing its colour as well as leaving an aroma.In another vessel add some water and put jaggery in it.Let the water boil until the jaggery melts.After jaggery melts completely, add Semolina to it little by little in such a way that lumps are not formed.Add more water if you feel that the consistency of the porridge is very thick.Add a little ghee to enhance the taste of the porridge.When you make the porridge, make sure that it is not very thick.Nachni Sattva (Ragi Porridge)Nachni Sattva is one of the most nutritious Indian baby foods. This recipe is loaded with iron which is one of the essential nutrients that are required for the overall growth and development of babies. This recipe is also a rich source of dietary fibre that helps to promote digestion in babies. It is a stomach filling recipe which is helpful in keeping the baby full for a longer time.Nachni Satva RecipeHere is a quick recipe of Nachni Sattva just for you.Ingredients:Here are a few ingredients that you will need for making Nachni Sattva.1 small cup Nachni1 cup milkJaggery1 cardamomProcedure:Here is the procedure that you must follow for making Nachni Sattva.Soak Ragi overnight or for at least for 2 to 3 hours.Grind Ragi along with a cardamom and extract its juice.Add jaggery and milk to the extract in a vessel and keep the vessel on the stove.Put the stove on and keep stirring the mixture until it comes to boil.Make sure that lumps are not forming while you are stirring the mixture.You can add more milk or water to make the consistency thinner.Once the mixture is cooked properly put the stove off.Make sure the mixture cools before you feed it to your baby.Mixed Grain PorridgeMixed grain porridge is a very rich and nutritious porridge for small infants. It is made-up of grains like Jowar, Bajra, Nachni (Ragi), Rice, Cashew and Almonds. As this porridge includes all the grains and dry fruits it can provide essential nutrients that are required for a baby’s healthy growth and development. Just like Nachni Sattva, this porridge too can keep the baby fuller for the longer time. As the baby’s stomach stays full for a longer time, he or she can stay cheerful for a longer time. Now, let us take a look at the ingredients that are required and procedure for making this porridge.Mixed Grain Porridge RecipeTake a quick look at the recipe for making mixed grain porridge.Ingredients:Listed below are the ingredients that you will need for making mixed grain porridge.RiceJowarBajraNachni (Ragi)AlmondsCashewsGheeMilkJaggeryCardamomProcedure:Now, note down the procedure for making the mixed porridge for giving a healthy treat to your little bundle of joy.Procedure for Making the Flour for PorridgeHere is the first step that you can follow to make flour for making porridge.Take all the grain that are listed above in equal quantities and wash them thoroughly.Sun-dry these grains after you wash them properly.Take a pan and add some ghee to it.Roast the sun-dried grain in the pan along with a few cashews and almonds.Grind the mixture into a fine powder once it cools down.You can add the mixture to an air-tight container and use it whenever it is required.Procedure for Making PorridgeTake a quick look at the simple steps that you can follow for making porridge.Take milk and a little jaggery as per your requirement as well as judgement in a vessel and add a very small pinch of cardamom powder to it.Add a spoonful of flour that you have prepared and stored in the container.Stir well so that the lumps do not form.Depending on the consistency that you need, add water or milk.Cook until the mixture comes to boil.Do not make the porridge too thick. You can feed this porridge to your baby twice in a day. This porridge can surely help you to strengthen the immune system of your baby and aid his or her growth and development.Chapati PorridgeChapati porridge can help your baby to enjoy all the nutrients that can be gained by eating chapati. It is very simple to make this porridge. Now let us take a look at the ingredients and procedure for making chapati porridge.Chapati Porridge RecipeHere is a quick recipe of chapati porridge for you little bundle of joy.Ingredients:Take a quick look at some ingredients that you will need for making chapati porridge.ChapatiMilkSugar as per tasteProcedure:In a bowl take some warm milk.Add some sugar to the milk.Make pieces of chapati.Add the pieces of the chapati to the milk.Let the pieces of chapati soak in the milk for some time.Grind the mixture well after the chapati gets nicely soaked.This recipe too is one of the stomach filling recipes for your baby.Vegetable KhichdiVegetable Khichdi is one of the simple recipes that you can prepare. You need to prepare this recipe by making a little variation in the recipe of Moong Dal Khichdi. Now let us take a look at the quick recipe for making Vegetable Khichdi.Recipe for Making Vegetable KhichdiTake a quick look at the recipe for making Vegetable Khichdi for your baby.Ingredients:Take all the ingredients that are required for making Moong Dal Khichdi.Take light vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, potatoes or spinachProcedure:Follow the procedure that is mentioned above for making Moong Dal Khichdi.While the Khichdi is cooking, add the chopped vegetables of your choice.Make sure that the Khichdi and the vegetables in it are properly cooked.Make the puree of the Khichdi once it cools down.Introducing solids in the diet of babies is one of the important steps that parents have to take in order to aid their growth and development. It is best to stick to homemade foods that are given to babies since ages in the Indian households. At the same time, it is also very important to consult a paediatrician before introducing any kind of new food in the diet of your baby. Following doctor’s advice will surely help you to take care of your baby’s diet and health in the right manner.What kind of foods should be included in the diet of a 9-to-12-month old baby? What precautions should be taken while feeding a 9-to-12-month-old baby? Discuss here.