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Nutrition
: Starting Baby On Solids
By about 6 months, breastmilk and formula alone are no longer
able to provide the entire range of food components necessary
to meet all of your baby's needs. Though they are still an excellent
source of nourishment, they must be supplemented with solid foods
which contain the extra calories, iron, and other nutrients your
baby's growing body now needs.
When should I introduce my baby to solid foods?
Most doctors agree that solid food can begin to be introduced
into a baby's diet around 4 months, regardless of how much milk
the baby is taking. Feeding your baby solids before 4 months isn't
recommended, as his intestines aren't mature enough yet to digest
solid food. Swallowing food is also difficult for a baby younger
than 4 months because of inadequate saliva production, undeveloped
mouth and swallowing coordination, and weak head and body control.
By the fourth month, a baby's digestive system is mature enough
to handle solid food, and is able to absorb nutrients supplied
in solid food.
What kind of solid food should I start with?
Commercial baby cereals (such as Pablum) are a good first food
- they are heavily enriched with iron and important B vitamins,
and are specially designed for a young baby's delicate digestive
system. They are also convenient, as they're pre-cooked; you need
only add water, breastmilk or formula, depending on the brand.
If you choose to use commercial cereals, be sure to read and follow
mixing instructions carefully.
Single grain cereals should be introduced first as they're easily
digested, and are an important source of iron. Plain rice cereal
is usually well-tolerated and so is often recommended for the
first cereal. If your baby tends to be constipated, avoid rice
cereal. Opt instead for oatmeal cereal, which has a slightly laxative
effect. Cereal should be mixed thin at first until your baby is
comfortable with this new food, then mixed thicker as directed.
Serve it to your baby with a feeding spoon or other small spoon
which fits easily into his or her mouth.
At first, start with one teaspoon of cereal in the morning, and
one at supper. Gradually increase the quantity if your baby responds
well to the food. Try a variety of fortified cereals, one at a
time for a week each, so that your baby can get used to each new
taste and sensation. Watch for any adverse reactions.
My baby pushes the food back out of her mouth. Does this mean
she doesn't like it?
No, this doesn't mean she dislikes the food. It's a natural reaction
for your baby to push out her tongue when something is put in
her mouth. This "extrusion reflex" is present until
about 3 or 4 months of age. She hasn't yet developed the control
to push it to the back of her mouth so that she can swallow it
- something that will come with practice. It may take a week or
more to develop this coordination. In the meantime, it may help
to feed her only a small spoonful of cereal at a time.
When can I start introducing other foods?
Once your baby has become accustomed to cereals, at about 6 months,
try introducing her to bland pureed vegetables such as peas or
carrots. After a couple of weeks, you can try a variety of fruit
purees, although it's recommended that you introduce fruit only
after your baby has become used to vegetables. She may not be
interested in vegetables if she has already become accustomed
to the sweeter taste of fruits. Fruit purees can be followed in
later weeks by pureed poultry, meat, tofu or cottage cheese.
Commercial strained baby foods are convenient and popular, but
by around 6 or 7 months, your baby can probably handle table foods
which have been properly prepared. All home-prepared foods should
be pureed until your baby develops adequate mouth coordination
to mash or chew more textured or lumpy foods, at around 8 months
of age. Transition to lumpier or more textured (but still soft)
foods should be gradual, and pieces of food should never be large
enough to lodge in your baby's throat and cause choking.
Some foods are not recommended during baby's first year. Be sure
to consult your doctor about which foods are appropriate for your
baby.
Some tips for successful feeding
Try to introduce new foods under favourable and pleasant circumstances
- not in a hurried or tense fashion, or when your baby is overtired.
If your baby isn't interested in eating, don't force her; her
appetite will return when she is hungry. Though she may not eat
a lot at one meal, she'll probably eat more at the next.
If your baby seems to dislike a particular taste or type of food,
don't force it on her. Wait, then try a little bit again the next
day. If she still isn't interested, move on to other foods. After
a month or so has passed, introduce it to her again, perhaps prepared
differently this time. Her tastes may have changed in the meantime,
or she may have forgotten that she didn't like this food earlier.
If she still rejects it, leave it alone. Her tastes may change
as she gets older, or she may never like this particular food.
Forcing it on her can turn eating into a battle of wills, which
can in turn lead to eating disorders. A better approach is to
offer other healthy food alternatives.
Other Nutrition Topics
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
© Autograph Communications Inc.,
All rights reserved
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