Starting Your Baby on Solids
Introducing solid foods provides many benefits to your baby. The addition of
solid foods gives your baby a diet with a broader range of nutrients, tastes and
textures. Starting solids is also the first step in your baby's transition to
eating foods more like the rest of the family.
When To Start
The exact timing of starting solid foods depends primarily upon an infant's
development and growth. Your baby's doctor will advise you of an appropriate
time to begin offering solids.
Typically, most babies are ready for solid foods at around age four to six
months. Prior to this time, infants will instinctively push solid food from
their mouth by thrusting their tongue forward.
Developmentally, infants are ready for solids when they can sit without support
and have good control of their head and neck. Also, infants may be ready for
solids when they can demonstrate they are hungry and when they are full. Most
young infants around the solid feeding stage will show that they are hungry by
opening their mouths and leaning toward the food. When they are full, most young
infants will turn their heads away from the food and lean back.
The First Time
For the first time, start with whichever meal you think is best. Choose a
time of the day that you both are most relaxed and there are minimal
distractions. It is okay to vary this time from day to day.
To minimize the risk of choking make sure that your baby is sitting up. Also,
juice should not be offered until the sixth month, so do not use juice to mix
the cereal. Instead, try mixing the cereal in formula, breast milk or water.
Start With Single-Grain Cereals
Single-ingredient infant cereals, particularly rice cereals, are good choices
for the first solid food given to an infant. They are easily digested and
supplemented with iron, which growing babies need.
Other single grain cereals such as barley and oat grains can be offered after
your baby demonstrates tolerance for rice. Save wheat and mixed cereals for last
as these are more likely to cause allergies.
When introducing new foods, offer only one new food for five days before
offering another new food. Introducing new foods in this systematic way will
help you sort out the causes of any allergies. Signs of allergy can include
rash, congestion, and even vomiting or diarrhea.
Fruits, Vegetables, Meats
After cereals, you may introduce either single strained fruits or vegetables,
and then, lastly, meat. Eggs are a common cause of allergies and should be
offered last. Again, to help you identify possible causes of allergies, remember
to introduce only one new food at a time.
Finger Foods
Finger foods are those foods that your baby can feed herself. By age nine months
most babies can use their thumb and forefinger to pick up a piece of food and
place it in their mouth. To help her learn to feed herself, give her foods that
are soft and do not require chewing. Examples include small pieces of crackers,
well-cooked cut up pasta and vegetables, and cereals. Consult with your
pediatrician before starting finger foods.
Be Patient and Have Fun
At first, most of the cereal will end up on your baby's bib but be patient. Many
babies will only take one or two spoonfuls in the beginning. Make the experience
fun by talking your baby through the process. If the first time doesn't go well,
then go back to breast milk or formula and try again in a week or two. There's
no hurry.
Consider feeding your baby a small amount of either breast milk or formula
before offering cereal. She'll likely be more eager to learn to eat off a spoon
if she's not extremely hungry.
No Cow's Milk Until Age One Year
Cow's milk should be avoided until one year of age. Until age two, you should
offer whole cow's milk.
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