Babies are solely on the mother’s milk or formula for the first few months of their life. At around 6 months, they start getting more active. They are reaching new milestones everyday and going through growth spurts too. For this reason, they will need extra nutrition which can only be met with the introduction of solid foods. So how much food should a 6 month old baby eat and what are the best solids to introduce at this stage?
A six-month-old baby needs all types of fruits and vegetables to get adequate nutrition. It is, however, also important to give foods that are soft, easy to digest and do not result in choking. Simultaneously the parents should try not to introduce too many foods at the same time. Patience is the key here. The babies should be able to accept the foods well and the parents should efficiently look out for and rule out allergies for each of the foods they introduce.
Food Chart For a 6 Month Old Baby
As a new parent, it can be overwhelming to decide when to feed what to your baby. With so many foods available, choosing the right ones can be quite a task. Planning a proper meal schedule is also vital but can be consuming, especially for new parents. In the subsequent sections. we detail various meal plans and charts which will help you decide how to plan your baby’s meal scheduling.
- Fruits: Apple, Banana, Chikoo, Avocado, Pineapple, Pears, Peach, Fig, Guava, Apricot, Dragon Fruit
- Vegetables: Carrot, Potato, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Beans, Pea, Bottle Gourd, Arrow Root
- Grains/ Lentils: Rice, Ragi, Amarnath, Oats, Barley, Suji, Brown Rice, Whole Grain, Yellow Moon Dal
- Dairy Products: Ghee
- Non Veg: Meat, Red Meat
- Spices, Nuts and Seeds: Fennel Seed, Walnut
Other Foods you can add to your baby’s diet at this stage include Idly, Porridge, Puree, Homemade Baby Cereals, Chamomile Tea and Dates.
How Much Food Should a 6 Month Baby Eat?
When starting your baby on solids for the first time, it is natural to worry about when and how to introduce new foods and how much to serve them. Ideally at 6 months, your baby can have 2 to 3 small portions of solids along with about 4 sessions of breast feed or bottle feed.
While breast milk is the best for your baby at this age, you can also supplement formula after consulting with the pediatrician. With each milk session, your baby can have about 180 to 250 ml of milk depending on their appetite at that time.
Top Six Best Food For Your 6 Month Old Baby
The foods to introduce to a 6 month old baby must be nutritious and yet easily digestible. There are a plethora of foods you can try out for your munchkin. Here are some of the best foods you can try out. Remember not to add salt or sugar to your baby’s foods till they are at least a year old. This will help avoid certain problems like obesity, heart-related ailments, and undue pressure on the kidneys (due to salt intake).
1. Vegetable Puree
Vegetables like carrots, sweet pumpkin, potatoes, and beans can be given in a pureed form or as finger foods (for parents following BLW) to a 6-month-old baby. Peas and bottle gourd can be given as well. Simply steam the vegetables, mash them and give them to your baby. You can also give the stock or clear soup that the vegetables are boiled in.
2. Fruit Puree
Fruits are full of nutritional goodness. Give your baby either steamed, mashed, or pureed fruits like avocado, peach, pears, guava, apricot, dragon fruit, fig, etc.
3. Porridge
Porridge is prepared from different grains like ragi, oats, barley, millet, wheat, suji, amaranth and rice. You can also cook broken rice that is prepared with formula or breast milk and offer it to your baby. Rice is good for babies as it has vitamins as well as carbohydrates while ragi is good for calcium and makes strong bones.
Oats is also good first food for babies as it helps with digestion and prevents constipation. Barley is good for the heart; wheat has good fiber content and gives energy. Suji helps in the formation of strong bones and millet helps in preventing anemia. Amarnath helps in strong bones. All these cereals can be powdered, dried and then porridge can be prepared.
4. Pulses Soup or Broth
Pulses like yellow moong dal are easy to digest for babies and an excellent first food option for babies. You can offer dal water to start off with and see if your baby is able to digest it without any issues. This can be done with all sorts of dals available in your home.
5. Yoghurt
Even though cow milk cannot be given to babies due to digestive issues, yoghurt in small quantities can be given to your baby. This traditional Indian curd is rich in probiotics and is wonderful for your baby’s digestion. Diluted curd or buttermilk is a good option if you are unsure of introducing curd in the 6th month. Ensure that you use boiled and cooled water (room temperature) to prepare this buttermilk. A teaspoon should be enough initially.
6. Ghee
Ghee is good for boosting the metabolic rate and even keeps the baby active. It is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids which is vital for a baby’s growth and development. Ghee also gives immense energy and helps in gaining weight as well. But it is important to keep a tab on the amount of ghee given to babies as it can have negative effects on their health as well.
List of Top 5 Food to Avoid For a 6 Month Old Baby
There is no doubt that proper nutrition for the baby is a must and the baby should be given all types of food of different tastes, textures for enjoying food. Yet there are few foods that should be avoided at this age. The list of foods is mentioned below:
1. Cow Milk
Milk is good for babies but cow milk is difficult to digest and not advisable for six months old baby.
2. Certain Types of Fish
It is not advisable to give fish that have high mercury content as it is harmful to the health of the baby. One such fish is Tuna. However, salmon and whitefish are more recommended to be given. It is thus best to consult a doctor before deciding on starting fish as solid foods for the baby.
3. Honey
Raw honey results in botulism, a dangerous condition in babies, and must be avoided till the baby is a year old. The digestive tract of the baby is not developed and cannot fight infections.
4. Food That Have Lumps And Can be a Choking Hazard
The food of the six-month-old baby should have no lumps. It should ideally be in pureed form, soft and well cooked. In case the food is hard or not well cooked it can cause choking health hazards for the baby. Hard chunks of cauliflower, potato, carrot can lead to choking so they should be boiled, mashed and soft.
5. Fruit Juice
This is the time when the babies need a lot of fiber and other vitamins, but packed fruit juices have zero fiber and even have concentrated sugar which is not good for the health of the baby.
[Read : Giving Fruit Juice For Babies]
6 Months Old Baby Food Schedule
- Morning: Wake up and nurse for a few minutes on breastmilk or formula about 180-240 ml) –
- Breakfast: 1 cup of fruit puree or mashed fruits
- Mid-Morning Snack: Breast milk or formula milk (about 180-240ml)
- Lunch: Few spoons of cereal, dal paani or 1 to 2 spoons of vegetable puree
- Evening Snack: Breast milk or formula milk (about 180-240 ml)
- Dinner: Mashed vegetables or dishes such as porridge
- Bed Time: Breast milk or formula milk (180-240 ml)
Sample Feeding Schedule For a 6 Month Old Baby
A six-month-old baby is new to the foods as it is the first time, they start with solids It is thus important to give him healthy and nutritious food. A balanced number of fruits as well as vegetables are mandatory for them to get an idea of different textures, colors, and tastes. It is a difficult task for the parents, especially mothers, to decide on the right food for the baby. But with little practice and effort, the taste buds of the baby can be tingled which as well will help them in future to enjoy all types of food.
Baby Meal Plan For Six Month Week 1
The baby at six months can be give solids 2 to 3 times a day, the rest of the feeds should be breastfed, which means four breastfeeds or formula feeds and 2-3 solid foods. Always remember to utilize the 3-day rule when introducing new food to your baby to rule out food allergies. Here is a rough meal plan for six month old baby for the first week of the month with 3 snacks and 4 milk feeds.
Week 1, Day 1 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Carrot Puree/ Dal Paani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Rice Soup |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 2 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Avocado Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Soup/ Dal Ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Suji Porridge |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 3 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Mashed Sweet Potato |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 4 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Carrot/Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Sweet Potato and Lentil Mash |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Suji Porridge |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 5 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel |
| Evening Snack | Breast milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Dal Ka Pani |
| Before Bedtime | Breast milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 6 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Suji Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Paani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Avocado Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 1, Day 7 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel |
| Evening Snack | Breast milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Sweet Potato Mash |
| Before Bedtime | Breast milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Six Month Week 2
At week 2, feeding your baby solids may seem like an adventure. While some babies may take to soids easily, others may give moms a tough time. Patience and perseverance are the key here. Here is a sample schedule meal plan for week 2 for a 6 month old baby.
Week 2, Day 1 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Carrot Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Suji Porridge |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 2 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Palak khichdi |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Rice gruel |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 3 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Mashed Banana |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Carrot Puree |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Lauki Rice |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 4 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Dal Ka Pani |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 5 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Carrot Puree |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Rice Gruel |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 6 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Avocado Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Tomato Pumpkin Soup |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 2, Day 7 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Paani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Rice Gruel |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Six Month Week 3
If you have started your baby with just one or two solids so far, this is a good time to increase the number of solids. Babies, at this time, need a lot of energy to reach their milestones and meet their growth needs, solids are their best friend at this stage. Here is a sample schedule for week 3 for a 6 month old baby.
Week 3, Day 1 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Apple Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel With Lentils |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Carrot Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 2 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Carrot Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Avocado puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 3 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Carrot Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel With Lentils |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Avocado Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 4 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Sweet Potato + Poha Powder |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Pani |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Dal Ka Pani |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 5 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Stewed Pear |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Spinach and Dal to a Soup Consistency |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Mashed Potato With Little Butter/ Ghee |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 6 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Rice Porridge with Mashed Carrot |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice With Bottle Gourd Curry (No Spices) |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Moong Dal Soup |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 3, Day 7 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Rice Porridge |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Spinach Pumpkin Puree |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Khichdi With ghee |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Baby Meal Plan For Six Month Week 4
As your baby gets comfortable with one set of foods, you should take the time to introduce new set of foods. This will help enhance your baby’s flavor profile and nutritional profile as well. There are many foods you can safely introduce to a 6 month old baby and hence there is no dearth to healthy choices you can make for your munchkin.
Week 4, Day 1 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Stewed Apple |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Carrot Beetroot Puree |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Sweet Potato Mash |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 2 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Avocado Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel With Lentils |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Carrot Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 3 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Banana Mash |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Porridge With Mashed Carrot |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Lauki Moong Dal Soup |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 4 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Mashed Potato |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Sweet Potato Mash |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Carrot Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 5 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Carrot Puree |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Dal Ka Pani With Lentils |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Spinach Pumpkin Puree |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 6 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Stewed Pear |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Rice Gruel |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Spinach Soup |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
Week 4, Day 7 – Six Months Baby Meal Plan
| Feeding Time | Sample Meal Idea |
| After Waking Up | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Breakfast | Stewed Apple |
| Mid-Morning | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Lunch | Moong Dal Soup |
| Evening Snack | Breast Milk or Formula |
| Dinner | Suji Porridge |
| Before Bedtime | Breast Milk or Formula |
List of Top 9 Easy Homemade Baby Food Ideas For a 6 Months Old Baby
Food prepared at home is the best for the baby and is healthy and full of nutrition. You will have the flexibility of introducing different food textures, flavors, aromas, and taste to your munchkin. Homemade food is also not processed which means it is healthier and the nutrients are more bioavailable to your baby.
Babies should be given soft, boiled, mashed, and pureed food. Some of the simple and nutritious homemade recipes that can be given to a six-month-old baby are
1. Apple Stew With Cinnamon
Apple is one fruit that is full of nutrition. It has all the necessary nutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals that are vital for a baby to grow and thrive. Cinnamon, on the other hand, has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. It promotes digestion and helps in producing good bacteria in the gut. A stew made with both of these ingredients is rich in fiber and very good for the digestive system of the baby.
2. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is good for digestion, can blend with different types of food, and is good in preventing constipating issues. It is highly nutritious and good for your baby’s health. You can initially introduce plain oatmeal. Once your baby gets comfortable, you can add fruit and vegetable mashes or purees as they grow.
3. Banana Puree
Bananas are full of nutrition, good for digestion, powerful antioxidants and are an excellent first food to give your baby. They are rich in fiber and potassium. You can give them tiny amount of well-mashed banana or process small banana piece with breast or formula milk to form a puree and feed it to your baby.
4. Pea Puree
Peas are an excellent source of iron, protein, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Peas are good for bones, provide energy and are vital for your baby’s eye health as well. Steam or pressure cook green peas till soft, mash or puree them and then serve this to your baby. Remember to remove any outer skin of the peas before feeding your munchkin.
5. Avocado Puree
This fruit has healthy fats, vitamins, folate, and fiber. It is excellent for brain development and for the nervous system as well. Its texture is so creamy that babies love it. Pureed avocado can be extremely beneficial for babies
6. Sweet Potato Puree
Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, antioxidants and vitamins and is excellent for the digestive system. Puree made from sweet potatoes is sweet and delicious and can be an excellent addition as your baby’s first food.
7. Dal Paani
Babies need hydration since they have started their journey towards solids. Not all babies may enjoy the taste of bland water and here is where recipes like dal pain come in handy. You can boil a lentil of your choice with lots of water, strain this water and give this water to your baby. You can also add extra water to the dal you cook at home, stain this water and your munchkin can sip this.
8. Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin is full of many vital nutrients and a must add to your baby’s diet. Peel and chop pumpkin into pieces. Take three or four of them, steam or pressure cook the pieces, blend well with boiled and cooked water into a smooth puree, strain through a sieve and serve the soup.
9. Mashed Rice
Wash well and cook 2 tbsp of rice with 3/4th cup of water for 4 to 5 whistles till the rice is well-cooked. Allow the rice to cool down and blend in a food processor or mash with a potato masher till soft. Serve this mash to your baby.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
Tips and Precautions For Feeding a 6 Months Old Baby
One of the most challenging parts of parenting is feeding the baby. Parents and caretakers must spend the majority of their time on this activity that needs immense patience for feeding the child. Babies are not always cooperative, especially when the food is not to their liking. This daunting task of feeding a baby can be made less stressful and more enjoyable by following certain precautions and tips. er:
- The babies should always be fed gradually to first develop the taste. A spoon or two is an ideal start.
- It is important to introduce one food at a time and check the reaction of the child.
- Foods offered to a six-month-old baby should be lump free as any food with lumps can result in choking and other health hazards.
- The 3-day rule is important to follow when introducing any new food to the baby. It becomes easier to assess the reason behind allergy if one keeps handy the ingredients and the dishes that have been given to the baby.
- Serve the baby in steel or glass only to avoid infections.
- Always sterilize the utensils properly.
- Never feed the baby by showing gadgets, distraction feeding as it is called should not be encouraged else the baby gives a tough time later.
- It is important to offer only home food in the start as the digestive system of the baby is still developing.
- Always sit in a peaceful environment when feeding the baby and do not hurry.
- Make the baby sit in an upright position.
- Scoop the food with the help of a spoon and then get it near the mouth.
- Never force the baby to eat as it might not be good in the long run. Wait for a while and try again. Feeding time should be a pleasurable experience or the child starts running from food.
Thus. when introducing solid foods, parents should try and give foods of varied textures and tastes. This is the time when the child can try out different types of food which also prevents him from being a pricky and fussy eater. It is also advisable to give the food in smaller quantities and watch out for any allergies. This also helps the parents to watch the weight gain. Following few tips can make the feeding of solids enjoyable and smooth for both the baby and the parents.
