Baby Food Guide 6-9 Months: Meal Plans & Food Charts

Newborns completing six-months is a big milestone for parents. Your little one is growing fast and it’s time to introduce solids alongside the fixed diet of milk. 

Building your baby's taste for nutritious foods while creating family bonding moments is a beautiful phase of your life. 

In this blog, you’ll read about age-wise baby food charts tailored for Indian households, easy meal prep strategies for urban lifestyles, and essential safety tips to make weaning smooth. This guide follows reliable sources like Infant and young child feeding (WHO)
guidelines and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommendations.

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your pediatrician or a qualified healthcare professional before starting solids, introducing potential allergens, or making any changes to your baby's diet.

Before you get into Food Guide

Parents feel excited to see their baby’s reactions to different kinds of foods. Starting solids is about timing and preparation, ensuring your baby is ready for a new palette. It's not just about age—it's about developmental signs that show they're prepared for safe, enjoyable meals.

1. Is your baby ready?

Look for key readiness signs around the 6-month milestone, as per WHO and IAP guidelines. Your baby should be able to sit with minimal support, hold their head steady, show interest in what you're eating (like reaching for your plate during family dinner), and have lost the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food out.

In Indian contexts, where extended families often join in, this phase ties into traditions like annaprashan. But modern parents adapt it to fit busy schedules.

2. Safety first

Always consult your pediatrician before starting. If there's a family history of allergies, get an allergy screening. Choking prevention is crucial: Stick to smooth purees initially, avoiding honey, salt, nuts, raw veggies, or grapes. Follow the 3-5 day rule for new foods—one at a time—to monitor allergies. Spot reactions like rashes, vomiting, hives, or diarrhea.

3. Milk remains primary

Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO) recommends breast milk or formula, providing 24-32 oz daily at 6 months through 4-6 feeds. Solids are complements, not replacements. Offer milk first. Post-solids, introduce small water sips.

Every baby progresses differently. Patience is key; never force feeds.

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)

Baby-led weaning (BLW) lets your little one take the lead by self-feeding soft, graspable finger foods from around 6 months-no spoon-feeding or purees required at first. It's all about babies exploring tastes, textures, and hunger cues independently, which many parents love for building motor skills and confidence.

Start when your baby shows readiness: sits with minimal support, has good head control, and reaches for food. Offer large, soft pieces they can hold (palm-sized) that squish easily between your fingers.

Think steamed carrot sticks, well-cooked broccoli florets with a handle, ripe banana spears, soft idli pieces, mashed dal-roti bits, or steamed sweet potato fingers. Indian favourites like ragi fingers or soft khichdi patties work great too.

Always supervise closely, sit baby upright in a high chair, and watch for gagging- it’s a normal learning reflex, and is different from choking. Many families mix BLW with traditional spoon-feeding for variety and nutrition assurance.

Consult your pediatrician first to ensure it's right for your baby. Go at your own pace because there's no one perfect way!

If you want to explore baby-led weaning in more depth, check our related guide on BLW approaches for more self-feeding ideas.

How to plan age-by-age baby food charts & meal plans

These baby food charts blend traditional Indian ingredients with practical portions. They're designed to suit urban parenting needs.

6 Months: The Beginning

According to My Little Moppet's 6 months Guide, focus on gentle food introductions with smooth textures. This is the time when your baby is ready to expand their food palette. Their tiny body organs mature that can help them swallow and digest food more easily. 

Sample Daily Schedule

Weekly Progression (One new food every 3-5 days)

 

Simple recipes: Ragi porridge (2 tsp ragi powder and water, cook smooth); Carrot puree (steam and blend). If the baby refuses, try patiently 11-15 times.

7 Months: Building Variety

Around 7 months, many little ones start teething, get stronger at sitting up with support and show blooming hand-eye coordination allowing them to reach and grasp for toys. 

Keeping up with the transition may feel overwhelming at first, but with right guidance you can adapt to the changing meal plans and care. Move to slightly thicker purees/mashes and add iron-rich foods.

Sample Daily Schedule

Weekly Focus Plan

8 Months: Introducing Textures

Things get fun when your little one learns to sit up, and play around. They try to reach for your plate. This is a sign that they’re ready for more than just purees. New flavours are added to their diet. Introduce lumpy mashes and early finger foods.

Sample Daily Schedule

Batch Preparation & Nutrient Focus

Storage: Fridge 2-3 days; freezer 1 month in ice trays.

9 Months: Family Food Integration

A stage when babies start identifying food with excitement and wonder. They start picking up their favourite dishes. This is the time when they can move past purees and can try less spicy and simple versions of family meals (eg. thicker and finger foods). Mash family foods and encourage more independence.

Sample Daily Schedule

Picky Eating & Macro Balance

Meal preparation strategies 

Meal prep turns weaning into a breeze for working parents juggling work, household and deadlines.

1. Rotating charts including a week's nutrition

Create 30-day rotating charts: Week 1 orange veggies (carrots, pumpkin), Week 2 greens (spinach, peas), Week 3 dal varieties, Week 4 fruits. This ensures diverse nutrition without boredom.

2. Storing food safely

Keep the food in the fridge 2-3 days in airtight glass; freezer 1 month in portions. Label dates and thaw safely. 

3. Ideal foods to pack for a trip

Pre-made pouches or small thermal containers are lifesavers—perfect for daycare drop-offs or quick outings. Seasonal tweaks can include summer hydrators like papaya; warm porridges for monsoon, and ghee-rich dals for monsoons.

How to manage allergy & nutrition essentials

Managing allergies proactively builds confidence. Research like the LEAP study shows early introduction (4-6 months) cuts peanut allergy risk by 86% (PMC.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

Introduce smooth peanut butter (thinned, 1 tsp weekly) or cooked egg gradually. For high-risk, see an allergist.

Spot reactions: Immediate hives or vomiting; delayed diarrhea. Stop and consult. Substitutes: Seed butters for nuts, non-dairy for dairy.

Key nutrients: Iron (9-10mg/day) from dal/ragi/spinach, paired with vitamin C. Vitamin D/calcium from curd/paneer/sunlight. Hydration via water sips and fruits.

These steps, rooted in IAP guidelines, support strong growth.

What are some common issues & solutions during weaning

Weaning hiccups are completely normal as your baby's digestive system adjusts to new foods—most resolve with gentle tweaks and patience.

1. Constipation often shows as hard, pebble-like stools, straining, or discomfort. Common causes include rice-heavy meals or low fiber/hydration. Try prune puree, pear/papaya mash, moong dal water, or extra water sips after solids. Reduce rice temporarily and switch to ragi or oats for better fiber. A warm tummy massage or bicycle legs can help too.

2. Diarrhea may stem from a new food reaction, too much fruit, or mild tummy upset. Stick to bland options like rice, banana, or curd; keep up breast milk/formula; offer more fluids. Consult your pediatrician if it lasts over 24 hours, has blood, or your baby seems unwell.

3. Picky eating is super common—babies often need 10-15 (or more) calm exposures to accept a new taste or texture. Mix rejected foods with favourites, change prep methods (e.g., mashed vs. finger), model eating together, and keep mealtimes fun and pressure-free. No forcing—positive vibes help build good habits over time.

Hang in there; these phases pass! Always check with your pediatrician if issues persist.

Looking ahead: 10-12 months preview

As your baby nears 10 months, introduce finger foods like soft idli pieces or paratha bits. Encourage self-feeding with modified family meals. Portions increase as milk decreases slightly. Keep textures choking-safe—no whole nuts. Track growth at pediatrician visits. (For troubleshooting coughs during teething, check our baby cough and cold guide.)

FAQ: Parents most common weaning questions answered

Q. When should I start solids for my baby?

Most experts, including WHO and Indian Academy of Pediatrics, recommend starting around 6 months when your baby shows readiness signs like good head control, sitting with support, and interest in food. Always check with your pediatrician first, some babies may be ready a bit earlier or later.

Q. What are the best first foods for a 6-month-old Indian baby?

Start with simple, single-ingredient purees like rice kanji, apple or carrot puree, mashed banana, or ragi porridge. These are gentle, nutrient-rich, and easy to digest—perfect for tiny tummies. Introduce one new food every 3–5 days to watch for reactions.

Q. How much should my baby eat at each meal in the beginning?

At 6 months, begin with just 1–2 teaspoons once or twice a day, building slowly to 2–3 tablespoons. By 7–9 months, portions grow to 3–4 tablespoons or ½–¾ cup per meal. Follow your baby's cues, they'll let you know when they're full!

Q. My baby refuses solids, what should I do?

Refusal is super common and normal. Try offering small amounts at different times, keep it fun and pressure-free, and offer the same food 10–15 times before giving up. Patience wins- many babies warm up after repeated gentle exposures.

Q. How do I prevent or handle constipation when starting solids?

Rice-based foods can sometimes cause it, so balance with high-fiber options like prune puree, moong dal water, papaya, or pear. Ensure good hydration with small water sips after meals, and if it persists, chat with your pediatrician.

Q. How long can I store homemade baby food?

Refrigerate fresh purees or mashes in airtight glass containers for 2–3 days max. Freeze in ice cube trays for up to 1 month- thaw in the fridge overnight and use within 24 hours. Always check for off smells or changes before serving.

Q. Can I do baby-led weaning (BLW) instead of purees?

Yes, many Indian parents mix BLW with traditional spoon-feeding! Offer soft finger foods like steamed carrot sticks or idli pieces from 6–8 months onward. Supervise closely to prevent choking, and combine with purees if your baby prefers.

Q. What if my baby has diarrhea after starting a new food?

New foods can sometimes upset the tummy- stick to bland options like rice, banana, or curd, keep up breast milk/formula, and offer extra fluids. If it's frequent, has blood, or lasts more than a day, see your pediatrician right away.

Nutritious Plan, Healthy Future

Weaning is a joyful milestone, blending nutrition with discovery as your baby explores new tastes and textures. Remember, breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition through 6-9 months- solids are wonderful complements, not replacements.

Patience is the key: every refusal, every tiny bite, and every messy face is building healthy eating habits for life. Trust your instincts because you know your baby best. Safety always comes first, so keep consulting your pediatrician for personalized guidance.

For mess-free, stress-free mealtimes during this exciting phase, Loopie’s easy-clean gear makes it all feel a little more manageable. Enjoy every moment; this beautiful journey flies by faster than you think.