Your nursing or bottle-feeding routines are probably state-of-the-art when your baby is 4 to 6 months old. Your child will soon reach the exciting milestone of transitioning to solid foods!
But as with many things in parenting, things are about to change. What you should know about giving your baby its first meal is here.
When to start your baby on solid foods
Introducing solid food is known as complementary or weaning. At the beginning of introducing solid foods, the amount consumed is less important than the idea of the baby getting used to eating. When introducing solid foods comes into your mind, view it as complementary because the baby will get most of the nutrients from formula or breast milk. Other than the baby’s age, the following signs show that your baby is ready for solid foods.
- The baby can sit upright and hold their head.
- They can mouth their hands or toys
- They are following a spoon and opening their mouth
Feeding your baby a range of foods together with formula or breast milk will set a lifetime of healthier feeding.
What foods to give your baby first
The days of rice cereal being bland are long gone. The first foods a baby eats don’t have to follow any strict guidelines anymore. Offering a range of meat, fruits, and vegetables in any order will help your baby get used to a range of tastes.
Here are a few recommendations to get you started.
Start simple
4-6 months. Serve foods made with just one ingredient that are sugar- and salt-free. When introducing new food to your baby, wait three to five days to see if they react with diarrhea, rash, or vomiting. You can then serve foods made with a single ingredient in combination.
After your baby takes one bite of food, turns away, or refuses to open up, don’t force them to finish. Additionally, wait another week or more to try cereal again if they appear uninterested. Once your infant is comfortable eating runny cereal, use breastmilk or less water and more cereal to make it thicker.
Fruits, meat, and pureed veggies
When your baby is 6–8 months old, give them half a cup of soft food two or three times a day. At this age, your baby can eat any food apart from honey, which they can have when they are 12 months old. You can incorporate a nutritious between-meal snack, such as mashed fruit. Add vegetables and meat or chicken broth to their food. Your baby should continue to receive the same amount of breast milk.
At this age, babies enjoy experimenting with feeding themselves, whether you started with finger foods or are starting solids with purees. This is the time to avoid serving raw, hard foods, like carrot sticks or slices of apple. Aim for soft enough fruits and vegetables that you can mash with your forefinger and thumb using light pressure. Rice puffs, micro-cut avocado or banana chunks, and cooked peas are a few healthy examples.
The shape is also important. Smaller foods will be more difficult for younger babies to handle than an avocado wedge or a pile of mashed potatoes because they will be picking things up with their entire palms. It’s ideal for your baby to learn to enjoy food without sodium or sweeteners, so avoid adding salt or sugar.
Chopped and ground foods
Your baby can have a half-cup of food three to four times a day, along with a nutritious snack, from 9 to 11 months of age. It’s now time to start chopping soft food into tiny pieces rather than mashing it. Your infant may begin using their fingers to eat. In addition to food, keep breastfeeding.
Every meal must be nutrient-dense and simple for your baby to eat. Make each bite matter.
Foods must be high in nutrients and energy. Along with grains and potatoes, make sure your baby eats a variety of fruits and vegetables, legumes and seeds, dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, and poultry, as well as a small amount of fat or oil that is high in energy. Providing your baby with a diverse diet ensures that they receive all the nutrients they require.
Managing meal time
Mealtimes with little ones can be difficult, especially with babies. It’s likely that while you’re trying to make dinner, someone is crying, needs their diaper changed, or needs to be held. You will be surprised at how much of a mess a single tiny person could create. Here are a few suggestions to enhance your mealtime experience as you both venture into the world of solid foods.
Understand that starting solid food takes time
Your baby will need some time to get used to the new sensations associated with eating, such as the tastes and textures of various foods and the feel of a spoon in their mouth. Be patient until they get it right.
Have a routine
Establish a routine where you soothe your baby, clean their hands, and then seat them for meals. Because a baby needs focus to on eating, and turn off the loud music and TV to maintain calmness. This will assist your baby in focusing on eating and recognizing when they are full.
Serve a variety of food
As most babies are eager to explore new foods, now is an excellent opportunity to introduce a variety of foods, such as fish, vegetables, and even mildly spicy options. Introducing a wide variety of tastes and textures at an early age can help reduce pickiness later on.
Check out for allergies
Introduce only one new food to your child at a time, and wait three or four days before introducing another. This can help identify allergies, especially if there is a family history of food allergies.
Watch for symptoms such as hives, rash, wheezing, breathing difficulties, blood in their stools, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive gas, which may indicate an allergic reaction or intolerance. If you notice any of these symptoms, which may appear within minutes or days, contact your healthcare provider. In case of a severe reaction, seek immediate medical attention in the emergency room.
Your baby must learn to eat by sitting up, using a spoon, pausing between bites, and stopping when satisfied. These early experiences will help to establish good eating habits.
From the very first feeding, promote family meals. The family should eat together whenever possible. Regular family dinnertimes are beneficial to children’s development.
Remember to provide your child with a wide range of nutritious foods. Check out for signs from your child that they’ve had enough food. Avoid overeating!