All babies are
different, with their own unique likes and dislikes. Just like you and me! This
is the age when most babies are introduced to solid foods. The American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends gradually introducing solid foods when
a baby is between 4 and 6 months old, depending on your baby's readiness and
nutritional needs.
“Be sure to
check with your doctor before starting any solid foods.”
If your doctor
gives the go-ahead but your baby seems frustrated or uninterested as you're
introducing solid foods, try waiting a few days or even weeks before trying
again. Since solids are only a supplement at this point, breast milk and
formula will still fill your baby's basic nutritional needs.
How will I know my baby is ready for solids?
By about six months, you'll probably
start noticing signs that your baby is ready to have more than just milk. By
now, she'll be able to hold her head up by herself. She'll also have lost the
reflex which makes her stick out her tongue automatically. This means she's
ready to learn to take more than just liquid food. You may notice her taking an
interest in your food, eyeing meals and possibly reaching for your plate.
Of course, this doesn't mean your baby is
able to sit down with a plate and a set of cutlery. A baby's first solid foods
often aren't solid at all. You may find she likes puréed or mashed foods.
Eating is a new skill and your baby will have to learn it gradually.
What to
feed
- Breast milk or formula, PLUS
- Pureed or strained fruits (banana,
pears, applesauce, peaches)
- Pureed or strained vegetables
(avocado, well-cooked carrots, squash, and sweet potato)
- Pureed meat (chicken, pork, beef)
- Pureed tofu
- Small amounts of unsweetened yogurt
(but no cows' milk until age 1)
- Pureed legumes (black beans,
chickpeas, edamame, fava beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and kidney
beans)
- Iron-fortified cereal (oats, barley)
How
much per day
- 1 teaspoon fruit, gradually
increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 or 3 feedings
- 1 teaspoon vegetables, gradually
increased to 1/4 to 1/2 cup in 2 or 3 feedings
- 3 to 9 tablespoons cereal, in 2 or
3 feedings
Feeding
tips
- Introduce new foods one at a time,
with at least three days in between to make sure your baby's not allergic.
Once your baby is
eating these fruit and veg happily, you can move on to other foods from the
main groups:
Bread, rice,
potatoes, pasta
Milk and dairy
foods
Meat, fish, eggs,
beans
Using spoons
You can use a plastic baby-feeding spoon
to feed your baby. If she doesn't want to eat from a spoon, you could try
offering her food using your clean finger.
Many babies are ready for foods they can
pick up and eat themselves when they're between seven and nine months old. Some
babies are ready to feed themselves with finger foods from the beginning. If
this is true of your baby, don't worry. Let her feed herself. Or you could try
letting your baby hold a finger food while you spoon feed her at first, if you
prefer.
Comments
Post a Comment