Baby Food Chart
Baby food chart from 6 months to 2 years: first foods, textures, portion sizes and meals a day, plus a free 7-day plan built around your baby’s age.
Written by HealthSensibly Editorial TeamReviewed by the HealthSensibly editorial teamUpdated
When can babies start eating solids?
For the first 6 months, the World Health Organization advises breast milk (or formula) alone — no solids, juice or water. Begin solids at about 6 months, once your baby can sit up with support, keeps their head steady and is curious about food. Until the first birthday, breast milk or formula remains the main drink.
Baby food chart by month
| Age | Texture | Meals a day | Portion per meal | Ideas to try |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | Thin porridge, smooth purées | 1–2 | 2–3 tablespoons | Ragi porridge, rice kanji, moong dal water, apple or pumpkin purée, mashed banana |
| 7–8 months | Soft lumps, mashed | 2–3 | Up to ½ cup (125 ml) | Curd, egg, soft paneer, oats with fruit, dal-rice khichdi with ghee |
| 9–11 months | Soft finger foods, finely chopped | 3–4 + 1–2 snacks | ½ cup (125 ml) | Idli, dosa pieces, steamed vegetable sticks, flaked fish, soft chapati dipped in dal |
| 12–24 months | Small pieces of family food | 3–4 + 1–2 snacks | ¾–1 cup (180–250 ml) | Poha, khichdi, egg bhurji, roti-dal-sabzi, bowls of fruit |
Select your baby’s age in the generator to see a 7-day plan with suitable textures and meal counts.
Starting solids: practical tips
- Introduce a single new food every 3 days, so any reaction is easy to spot.
- From 6 months, offer something iron-rich each day — dal, ragi, egg yolk, meat or an iron-fortified cereal.
- Common allergens like egg and smooth peanut paste can go in from around 6 months; if your little one has a known allergy or severe eczema, check with your paediatrician first.
- Your baby decides how much to eat — and an adult should always sit with them at meals.
What to avoid in the first year
- Honey (it can cause infant botulism)
- Salt or sugar added to food
- Cow’s milk as the main drink (a little in cooking is fine)
- Choking risks such as popcorn, whole grapes and whole nuts
- Packaged baby snacks, tea and juice
Your questions, answered
What should my baby’s very first meals be?
Try moong dal water, thin rice kanji, mashed banana or a smooth purée of pumpkin, pear or apple. Begin with 1–2 teaspoons once daily and increase gradually.
How often does a baby eat at 7–8 months?
Around 2–3 mashed meals a day, with breast milk or formula whenever they want it. At 9 months, increase to 3–4 meals plus 1–2 snacks.
When is cow’s milk OK for babies?
Before 12 months it should not be the main drink, though a little in curd or porridge is fine from 6 months. Once your child turns 1, full-fat milk can be given as a drink.
At what age can I offer egg?
From about 6 months, as long as it is well cooked — try mashed yolk or softly scrambled egg, and look out for any reaction during the first few tries.
References: WHO: Infant and young child feeding · NHS: Your baby’s first solid foods · CDC: Foods and drinks to avoid
Checked against the sources listed above. This is general health information and not medical advice — please ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what suits you.
Explore more free diet plans
Who wrote and checked this
Our editors write every tool explainer and guide in plain language from current guidelines and research, and list the sources on the page.
We check every tool and guide against the sources listed on the page and update it when guidance changes.
Updated: · How we write and review content