When to Start Which Food for Your Baby — Age Guide for 11 Common Foods

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video is an age guide covering when to start various common foods for children. Curd – can be started at 6 months. It contains probiotics and good protein, and is healthy for children's intestines. Egg – start at 7 to 8 months. Give the yolk first, well boiled. One month after starting the yolk, between 8 and 9 months, you can give the white as well. Nuts – can be started after 6 months. For children under 5 years give nuts in powder form, and give each nut separately to test for allergy. Children above 5 years can be given whole nuts. Ghee – can be started for children above 6 months. Ghee gives children good fat and helps in brain development. Homemade paneer – can be started for children above 6 months. It is a good source of protein and is easy for children to digest. Coconut water – can be given to children above 6 months. It provides hydration. Give in a small quantity. Fruit purée – give to children above 6 months. It meets children's requirement of vitamins and minerals. Sugar – give to children above 2 years, and as little as possible. Sugar carries a risk of obesity and diabetes for children later on. Jaggery – give to children above 2 years, and as little as possible. There is not much difference between sugar and jaggery — jaggery has a few minerals, but giving too much sweet causes the same problems as sugar does. Dates – can be given to children above 6 months. For small children give dates in purée form after removing the fibre and seed. Use in a small quantity, do not give too much. Biscuits – should never be given to children. If giving at all, give only to children above 2 years, because biscuits contain maida and sugar. If the child develops a habit of eating biscuits, the child will not eat home food. Cow milk – can be given to children above 1 year to drink. For children above 6 months, you can cook suji, dalia or sabudana in cow milk and give it as kheer. Relevant for: parents starting solids and asking at what age each food can be introduced; parents asking when to start egg, and whether yolk or white comes first; parents asking how to give nuts safely to children under 5 and when whole nuts are okay; parents asking at what age sugar, jaggery and biscuits can be given; parents asking when cow milk can be started and how to give it before 1 year; and parents wanting to know about curd, ghee, paneer, coconut water, fruit purée and dates for babies. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician before introducing any new food, especially if your child is under 6 months, has an allergy, or has an existing health condition.