7 month old baby food

At 7 months, baby discovered the joys of new flavors and the panoply of colors of food: you started his food diversification a month ago, or even a little more. Every day, at mealtime, you wake up your child and introduce him to the pleasure of sitting down to eat. You always enjoy his reactions!

Meals for 7 month old baby

From now on, baby eats at the pace of older children, but milk remains the main food for 7-month-old babies with an average of 4 bottles or 240 ml feedings per meal. The quantities of purées and compotes increase on the other hand gradually as his appetite grows and as he gets used to the new flavours.

Here’s how each of the 7-month-old’s meals is made up:

The first meal of the day often consists of a simple bottle (240 ml) possibly containing infant cereals. Unless of course you are still breastfeeding your child!

The midday meal is generally the occasion to offer a vegetable purée to your baby which you will accompany with 10 g of protein (2 teaspoons of meat, fish or 1/2 egg yolk). Unless your schedule does not allow it, and you have more time for mealtime in the evening. In this case, you will move the mash to dinner to have the joy of sharing this moment with your child.

A bottle (240 ml), or breastfeeding, will be offered in addition.

The snack consists of a bottle (240 ml) – or a feeding if you are breastfeeding – and a compote that you will give in variable quantities, depending on your child’s appetite and his thirst for discovery. If baby refuses to drink milk after compote, simply reverse the order: start with milk and end with compote.

The last meal of the day generally consists of a simple bottle of milk (240 ml), possibly with infant cereals or, in the case of breastfeeding, a breastfeed. Unless you choose this meal to offer your child his grown-up meal: a vegetable purée and his portion of protein. In this case, this dish will come in addition to the bottle, of course.

Milk for 7 month old baby

Whether your baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, whether he is well diversified or in the beginning of diversification, milk always occupies the first place in the diet of the child of 7 months in order to cover his nutritional needs and his water needs. important.

Whatever the stage of food diversification of your child, and if this has not yet been done, it is important to switch to second age milk, a milk with a little more protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. to better suit the needs of the child. This milk is even normally offered from 6 months. As a reminder, it is not recommended to give cow’s milk to your child before the age of one, and even better, before the age of three. Also beware of plant-based drinks (soya, almond, oats, spelt, chestnut rice, etc.) sold in supermarkets in the organic section: they are not adapted to the needs of babies and are strictly not recommended for your little one because of the risks for his health.

If you are breastfeeding your child and it suits you both, do not hesitate to continue because beyond the mother-child bond that you consolidate over the months, breastfeeding allows you to meet all your child’s nutritional needs. and prevent many infections and diseases by giving him the benefit of your antibodies. You will simply supplement breastfeeding with purées, a little protein and compotes. You can even add breast milk to your child’s purees, or even, for those who wish, prepare milk-based desserts with breast milk.

What foods to introduce?

Your baby has been tasting new foods, getting used to new textures and discovering the vastness of colors that nature can offer for at least a good month. Enthusiasm for new things varies from one child to another: some babies will therefore be more comfortable during this major stage of food diversification. If your child is more of a reserved temperament when it comes to new things, don’t worry because there is no hurry. The idea is simply, before his first birthday, to introduce your child to a wide range of new foods. So if baby isn’t ready this week, he most likely will be later. However, continue to introduce him to new foods every day, without rushing him or forcing him. Inducing tension during meals would indeed be counterproductive and could block it in the more or less long term. When he wants to embark on this great adventure, he will know how to let you know, be patient.

Be that as it may, at seven months, in addition to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you will take care to present to him each day:

• Lunch and or evening: vegetables, associated with starchy foods and a small portion of protein (mixed or presented in very small pieces)
• To taste: a fruit.

These foods will be presented in the form of purees and compotes that you will mix more or less according to the evolution of your child. Gradually, you will evolve towards less smooth textures to end up with well-cooked foods that you will crush.

The vegetables

At seven months, baby has already discovered many vegetables. Continue to introduce him to those he does not know and once he has discovered the vegetables one by one, you can mix them together to make new recipes and vary the pleasures. Among the least fibrous vegetables are:

• Carrots
• Green beans, flat coconut beans
• Spinach
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• White leek
• Beet
• Eggplant
• Pumpkin, pumpkin, butternut squash, etc.

Prefer fresh seasonal vegetables, and possibly opt for frozen vegetables. On the other hand, avoid canned foods and still do not add salt!

Starches

At seven months, you can start to introduce half the starches into baby purees: mix the same weight of vegetables and starches to thicken or soften the purees. In addition to potatoes, sweet potato, and polenta, you can start changing the texture of your baby’s mash by including:

• Semolina
• Bulgur
• Tapioca
• Quinoa

Depending on your baby’s progress, you can also start mixing his vegetables with vermicelli, small pasta (alphabet pasta type) or crushed peas, for example. However, be sure to always cook (or even overcook) the starches so that the texture remains very supple.

Avoid for a few more months legumes such as lentils, split peas, chickpeas as well as white and red beans, too rich in fiber and not very digestible.

Proteins: meat, fish and eggs

Generally, it is advisable to introduce proteins only one month after the start of food diversification. The latter starting at the latest at 6 months, this month, you will offer your child a portion of meat, fish or egg per day. Vary the protein sources by offering alternately:

• All meats, including ham cooked without rind, limiting offal and charcuterie.
• All fish: fatty, lean, fresh or frozen, but avoid breaded fish.
• Eggs: continue to offer only the yolk of the egg. Serve your baby half an extra-fresh hard-boiled egg yolk instead of meat or fish.

Just be sure to offer your baby two servings of fish per week, including one oily fish.

Meat, like fish and eggs, should always be well cooked. At seven months, you can cut the proteins very finely and present them separately from the vegetables to teach baby to distinguish flavors.

Whatever the age of your child, pay attention to the quantities concerning meat, fish and eggs: always take care to introduce only one portion of meat, fish or eggs per day, i.e. at noon. , or in the evening, in addition to the mash. From 6 to 8 months the recommended quantities are only 10 g in total per day, ie the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of meat or fish or only 1/2 hard-boiled egg yolk per day!

The fruits

Continue the discovery of fruits, depending on the season you are in:

• Apple
• Sin
• Quince
• Pear
• Nectarine
• Banana

Seasonal fruits are richer in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You will mix more or less finely the fruit compote and if your baby is starting to get used to thick textures, you can simply crush the fruit. In this case, choose them very ripe and juicy. And if the season allows it, introduce your baby to very ripe apricots, crushed with a fork because they are much less acidic when raw than after cooking. At seven months, you can also start offering your baby pieces of grated raw apple and crushed red fruits or finely crushed clementines or nectarines.

Dairy products

If you haven’t already, at seven months you can start introducing your child to dairy products. Prefer infant dairy products sold in the baby section rather than those sold in the fresh section because they are made with infant milk, the same as the one you give your child by bottle and which is perfectly suited to his nutritional needs. Plain or with fruit, you are spoiled for choice: vary the pleasures to delight your little one’s taste buds. “Classic” dairy products, sold in the fresh section, are too rich in protein.

7 month old baby food day

Here is an example of a typical food day for your seven-month-old. Of course, the quantities are given as an indication, and must be adapted according to your child’s appetite and mood!

Breastfeeding or bottle of 240 ml of 2nd age milk (240 ml of water + 8 measures of milk)

Optional: Infant cereals (in the bottle)

Mashed vegetables with a spoon + 1 tbsp. c. of oil (ideally: mixture of 4 oils: Sunflower, Rapeseed, Oléisol, Grapeseed): 120 to 180 g, depending on the stage of diversification of the baby and his appetite.

10 g meat, fish or eggs = 2 teaspoons of meat or fish or 1/2 egg yolk

Breastfeeding or bottle of 240 ml of 2nd age milk (240 ml of water + 8 measures of milk)

Fruit compote: 80 to 120 g depending on the stage of diversification of the baby and his appetite.

Breastfeeding or bottle of 240 ml of second age milk (240 ml of water + 8 measures of milk) or bottle of 150 ml to 180 ml of second age milk and 1 yogurt with infant milk

Breastfeeding or bottle of 240 ml of 2nd age milk (240 ml of water + 8 measures of milk)

Optional: Infant cereals (in the bottle)