A child between the ages of 6-12 months requires a lot of nutrients like minerals and vitamins to have a proper growth. Most of the children in this age group suffer from diseases like anemia, malnutrition etc due to insufficient intake of the required nutrients. Like an adult’s body, a child’s body also requires minerals and proteins to grow and fight with the diseases. The parents should see to it that their child is given a proper diet rich in the required things. Parents should keep in mind the following points:

 

• During this period start switching your child from mother’s milk to whole milk as whole milk contains fats required for your child.
• Your child’s diet must include both liquid as well as solid things.
• Don’t over feed your child as this would result in his stomach ache or gas formation.
• Give him unsweetened fruit juice. Dilute the juice and then give it to him. Also do not give juice during night time as it may result in tooth decay.
• Give him egg yolk at least twice a week.
• Once your child is an year old then give him egg white and see if your child is allergic to it or not.
• Citrus foods like lemons, oranges etc.  Should be given in small quantity in starting and if you find there is no allergies or skin rashes then you can increase the quanity of juice. They also cause stomach ache and so parents should be careful while giving their child any citrus fruit.
• Do not give your child soft drinks or other caffeine base things as it is very harmful for toddlers.
• Do not give uncooked food or big chunks of food to your child as it may get stuck in his food pipe and result in choking.
• Boil some green vegetables and properly mash them and give it to your child.

Often parents face problems in deciding the diet plan of their child. They can follow the diet plan given below:

Early in the morning:	1 cup of milk
Breakfast:	1 cup of baby cereal. 1 properly cooked egg yolk.
Brunch:	½ cup of orange juice.
Lunch:	1 bowl of rice 2 boiled potatoes. Daal water.
Snacks:	Banana or papaya properly squashed and mashed.
Dinner:	Bean curd mashed and cooked properly. Baby cereals. Khichri

The parents can refer the diet plan given above and feed their child accordingly. However the above diet plan should be followed along with breastfeeding. The regularity and amount of food should be increased according to the child. Also keep a check of what your child is allergic to. Slowly and steadily reduce the number of breast feeds and encourage your child to have more and more solid food. Remember to give your child a variety of food so that he develops taste and does not become fussy in future. Give your child lots of nutritious food so that he becomes healthy and strong.