When your baby starts cutting your teeth, it is the time to begin with solid and lumpy foods.

• After your child has become used to semi-solid foods, start with some solid foods such as bread, idli, uttapam, chapati and rice. 
  
• Introduce your baby the all-new taste and flavour of cooked dal and vegetables. 
  
•  Vegetables should be chopped, boiled and then given to the baby.
  
• Children relish boiled potatoes.
  
• After the baby is one year old, introduce green leafy vegetables after proper washing, boiling and soft.
  
• A slice of raw carrot or fruit segments with all seeds and skin removed is a good exercise for the gums.
  
• Prefer fruits instead of juice as they add bulk to the diet and help in bowel movement.
  
• Some homemade processed foods can be prepared by using cereals, pulses, nuts and jaggery with or without milk products.
  
• Pasta, rusks and biscuits can also be given.
  
• It should only be slightly seasoned. 
• Give freshly prepared food.
• To make food calorie dense, add oil, butter or ghee to it. 
•  Infants may object to taking some foods by themselves but will take them willingly if one is mixed with another. Ex-egg may be mixed with cereal, vegetable etc. 

The final word

Variety in choice of foods is important. A baby’s appetite varies a lot from day to day and meal to meal. Don’t push your child.