if u r in usa, pl. don't give formula- any brands. PL. consult ur doctor before giving, the recent news about melamine content which affected 50,000 kids in china is also found in formula - all leading brands...pl. check with doctors...about it...u pl. drink alot of milk, eat good vegetables less salty and nice grains and pulses and breastfeed the baby every two hours now...once you start the started the soilds adjust your feeding evey four hours...like that...for soilds i started rice and oatmeal gerber cereals mixed with breast milk and water for some months and if u r india, give her rice kanji( the thick water which you get when u boil rice with water), its very good for babies...and in a few months start with rice with dhal and vegetables mashed and after one year completed only u have to start cow's whole milk, before that no whole milk, hope u r aware of those matters... this what i started with soilds...but started soilds at 6th month only... also ask ur doctor about it...and check if she is ready to have soilds... take care. barmee.

I started with rice cereal. You can buy cerelac rice (it will be numbered '1' for first time solids). Then you can start with rice and toor dal - put both in a pressure cooker, cook well, then mash it in mixie and feed. Add ghee as its good for babies and some salt for taste. Initially (my elder one took almost 3 months to start on solids) it'll take some time. So the milk is their primary food. My pediatrician suggested for lactogen if mother's milk is not sufficient for the baby. Check with your doctor too. Once your baby starts liking the solids, you can add vegetables to the food. You can start with fruit juices right away. Since its sweet all babies like it. Whether it is - food or juice, start with one feeding, check for atleast 1 day if you baby is taking it well. For eg: if you give grape juice and your baby catches cold, then you might want to start a little after. So introduce new foods slowly.

Hi aparna, Yes. All moms start with rice cereal. If your baby starts to sit you can give rice mashed ny hand or spoon with dhal and ghee. Then fully cooked soft veggies, then little banana...etc. Important Note : 1. Whatever you are giving start with one or two spoon feed for first day...then 2nd day give the same 1 or 2 spoon feed...then if it is ok 3rd day you can increase the amount by couple of spoons... 2. Before feeding the baby, Feel the food with your hands...whether it is smooth and it is not hot....

hi aparna.i suggest pls dont offer your baby any formula milk  or other tin items.they all contain cow milk in any form.thats not good for the baby.try homemade foods little by little.morning start with your milk.feed  every 3 hours.for breakfast give  cooked apple mixed with your milk.prepare banana  powder at home and give your baby.its really a good breakfast.then for lunch try some rice cooked with moong dal,2 to three drops of ghee not more.and a piece of carrot,potato.for dinner try idli mixed with your milk.i give my baby these foods.i dont give her any tin products.breast feed more often.

hai aparna

please do not give any  stored food to 5 month old babies.

Fry 3 cups of rice and 1 cup of pottu kadalai and grind it . then filter it  with jalladai(thin holes) so that no hard piece is found in it.  take 1or 2 spoons of  this powder and add a very  little bit of sugar(optional) and add  water and mix it properly.Now boil it .Stir continuosly so that no lumps are formed.

You get it like a paste ,as what you get in cerelac or nestum. Give this to your baby. Very good for health. Prescibed by my doctor who is 65 years old .

Also you can use kaelvaragu in the place of rice and samba gothumai in the place of rice.

Prepare all the 3 . So that you can give 3 flavours in a day.

Do not give kaelvargu mix in the night. It is cold. Give it in the afternoon preferably.

Note: Ensure that you grind it properly(all should be only smooth powder). Preferably grind it in the grinding machines available outside. do not forget to filter it in the jalladai though it is grinded in big machies. You can see lot of hard particels even after we grind in machines. (hard particles will cause loose motion because baby cannot digest hard particles)

I guess all of them have given good suggestions.. As again all have emphasized, it is better that you prepare the food for the baby at home rather than buying any commercial food. Apart from kanji's you can start on boiled veggies like carrot or potato. Boil a little and add some salt and pepper powder (very little) and try giving very little in the beginning and once when they get used to it... you can go full fledged. Also you can give them dal soups etc.,

hi,

my son is four months old & i m breastfeeding him completly.i m planning to introduce solid food when he is 6mths old.

can anyone suggest  how to prepare banana powder at home?

Thanx in advance.

My son of age 5 's urine is always surrounded by ants. Is he diabetic? Bcoz my father and grandparents are diabetic. I'm not. Please help me.

If your son is otherwise fine, Urine surrounded by ants is no indication that someone is diabetic , this is quite a common feature, but because diabetes runs in families so whenever you visit your paediatrician next do discuss your family history with him so that he/she  can keep a watch.

Greetings Doctor,

Hi Natalia,

No 2 kids are same so u cannot compare him with your daughter, From what you have written, doesn’t looks like there is a problem, some kids start speaking late, so if his understanding of things and hearing is all right,don’t worry, just continue talking to him, reading to him and otherwise stimulating him and just relax and enjoy your babies!