Preparing babies to eat solid food should begin when breast milk is no longer sufficient for the child's appetite, typically at about six months of age; however, every baby is different, so you need to watch for signs of readiness. I do believe that the longer you breast feed the better it is for your baby. The ability to sit without help is a good indication, and an active interest in what other people are eating. You can start him on the same food the family eats if you are cautious about choking hazards. Breast milk tends to taste like the food she eats, so this might be a good place to start. You don't need to wait until your baby has teeth to begin to make this transition although this is the age when teeth typically begin to appear. Don't add salt to your baby's foods; his kidneys are not ready for salt. It's best to begin with pureed food at first, working up to small soft pieces or lumps as he begins to be able to chew. You want to be careful here, though because babies with teeth can break off pieces but before they have molars, the food should be broken into manageable pieces. At about 9 months, he will begin to pick up food pieces with a little help and “feed” himself. It's best to introduce new foods one at a time, checking for allergies after the addition of each new one.
Two Months
Breast milk is the best possible food for your baby at this time. He should be getting the nutrition he needs if you are getting the nutrition you need to supply the requirements of both of you. See “Breast Feeding the Natural Way” for guidelines for a healthy diet for a nursing mother. Feeding solid foods right now is unwise because his digestive tract is still developing.
Four Months
Don't be in a rush to start solid foods; however, when the following signs are apparent, you can begin to introduce them just a little at a time. Introducing solid foods too early is not in the baby's best interests. For one thing, he is more likely to develop allergies if you start too early. Try getting him used to a spoon first. Then start giving him tastes of breast milk mixed with pulverized grains (rice is good) fed by spoon, not by bottle. Don't overfeed! He may not be able yet to tell you when he's full, so go easy at first.
Signs your baby is ready for solid food:
- Holds head up
- Sits alone in high chair
- Pretends he is chewing
- Birth weight has doubled
- Interested in food
- Closes mouth around a spoon
- Moves food from front to back of mouth
- No longer pushes food out with tongue
- Seems hungry even though he is being breast fed regularly
- Teeth are coming in
Six Months
You can begin gradually adding fruits and vegetables at this stage. Don't feed cabbage-family vegetables just yet. Stick to bland ones like green beans and carrots at this stage. Make sure they are blended thoroughly so the baby won't choke on chunks. Start with one food and feed very small amounts of that for a week or ten days before you add a different one so you can test for an allergic reaction. Be very vigilant to the possibility that your baby is allergic to one food or another, and pay attention to symptoms. You can also begin to add fruit juices at this stage, but follow the one-new-food-at-a-time rule even with the juices. Be very careful in handling the fresh foods. Your baby can become seriously ill if he gets a bacterial infection at this stage. He will probably be past the middle-of-the-night feeding stage by now. If not, limit how much breast milk he gets at these night feedings and gradually stop them.
Nine Months
Three or four of his feedings should still be breast milk at this age. He can take 4 or more tablespoons of vegetable, and fruit one or two times a day. He can begin to eat foods with protein content such as peanut butter. At nine months, he is ready to eat finger foods. Be careful that he doesn't choke, especially in the learning stages. He can eat three meals with the family and two snacks a day now. He can also have fruit juice in a cup.
Twelve Months
Your baby's diet will start to be similar to the rest of the family's now. He can eat three meals a day at the table with the family and can have two snacks a day. He will probably want to feed himself and will begin using a spoon on his own. Your baby's growth rate will decline and so will his appetite. He will probably become pickier now and will begin to settle on certain favorite foods. Just be sure he's getting all the nutrients he needs. His bones and entire system will be developing now, and he will need to be fully nourished if he is to grow up strong and healthy.
Allergic Reaction to a Food
Make certain you are introducing foods one at a time so you can know what is causing the reaction. Look for the following signs:
- Rash, particularly around the mouth or anus but also in other places
- Diarrhea in the stool
- Mucus in the stool
- Extremely active
- Lethargic
- Face or cheeks are red
- Has lots of infections
- Nose is runny
- Has dark rings under his eyes
By TTS Health Consultant Gabrielle Gingras
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