What can a five-month-old baby eat?

Babies at five months old primarily feed on milk, but some complementary foods can be introduced. When adding complementary foods, do not add salt or sugar for the baby. What can a five-month-old baby eat?

What Can a Five-Month-Old Baby Eat?

In addition to breast milk, if breast milk is insufficient, mixed feeding or formula feeding can be used for a five-month-old baby. Pure rice cereal can be introduced as a primary complementary food. You may also use your own cooked rice, softened well, and include the starchy rice water (rice oil) from the top layer. Introduce these gradually and in small amounts, as complementary foods are only just beginning at this age—starting with rice water or rice cereal. Of course, besides supplementing with fish liver oil and vitamin D, babies at this age should also get plenty of sunlight exposure.

Mashed or pureed foods are suitable. It's generally recommended to introduce one new food at a time—for example, one type of puree per day, offered 1–2 times daily. This process should last 3–4 days to allow the baby to gradually adapt before introducing another food. This approach helps stimulate the development of the baby’s taste buds and also aids in identifying any potential food allergies. The principle is to gradually increase the amount of complementary food until it can eventually replace one feeding of breast milk.

The introduction of complementary foods should progress from single ingredients to a variety, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing the quantity, moving from thin and runny textures to thicker consistencies. Begin with infant rice cereal, then slowly transition to include fortified cereals with calcium and milk, followed by fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish—all prepared as smooth purees or appropriate soft textures. This step-by-step method makes it easier for babies to accept new foods and reduces the risk of digestive upset. We hope this answer has been helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!