Baby's First Foods - A Straightforward Guide To Starting Solids
Introducing your baby to solid foods is exciting and rewarding -
but it can be difficult to know exactly how and when to get
started.
Your baby should be four months of age at the very least -
before this, his immature digestive system will find it
difficult to cope with solid food. Most medical professionals,
however, will advise waiting until your baby is at least six
months of age, to reduce the risk of food allergies.
Your baby's age is not the only consideration and there are
other factors to take into account when determining whether or
not the time is right for baby's first foods.
Look for signs of readiness in your baby - does he watch you
with interest when you eat, following the progress of your food
from plate to mouth? This increased interest in solid food can
indicate that he's ready to try it for himself.
Does your baby seem dissatisfied after his usual milk feeds, or
is he waking at night after previously sleeping through?
Although these may be signs of an increase in his appetite, they
can also be triggered by discomfort from teething. It is
important to try to establish whether or not teething is the
cause, to avoid introducing solid foods before your baby really
needs them.
Your baby should have good head control and be able to sit well,
as this makes swallowing easier. Younger babies may not be able
to sit unsupported, however, so it is very important to provide
the appropriate support if this is the case.
The decision to introduce solid foods to your baby must
ultimately be made by you and your child's doctor. You may feel
pressured by other people - particularly the older generation --
to give solid foods to your baby earlier than medical advice
recommends. It is important to remember that a great deal of
research has been carried out in order to provide this advice
and such information simply wasn't available in the past.
So what is the best first food for baby?
Baby rice, an easily digestible, single grain cereal, is the
ideal food to start with. It can be mixed with warmed breastmilk
or formula, so its taste will be familiar to your baby.
Initially, you can mix it to a fairly runny consistency that
your baby will find easy to cope with, thickening the texture
slightly with each subsequent feed.
About a tablespoon of baby rice is the perfect amount to start
with. Try giving this first solid feed around lunch time, but
take the edge off your baby's appetite by giving him some of his
usual milk feed before the baby rice. If he is too hungry, he
will be frustrated and distressed.
He will respond well to supportive gestures and smiles, so stay
relaxed and don't worry if he pushes the food back out of his
mouth! Most babies do this instinctively at first and this
"tongue-thrust" reflex will subside as he becomes accustomed to
the new and unusual textures he is experiencing.
If he does not seem interested, simply take the food away and
try again the next day, or a few days later. You should not try
to force him to eat, as this is traumatic for him and will only
make things more difficult. After all, there is no rush -- at
this stage, breastmilk or formula is meeting all of his
nutritional needs.
Once your baby is comfortably enjoying baby rice, then try
introducing pureed, fresh vegetables. It is worth noting that
some babies do not like baby rice at all and begin by eating
vegetables straight away.
Introduce only one new vegetable at a time, leaving four days
between each new food. This will help you identify any foods
that cause an allergic reaction or trigger digestive problems in
your baby.
Some good vegetables to introduce as baby's first foods are
butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots, swede (or rutabaga) and
white potatoes. These can be boiled or steamed, then pureed.
Alternatively, sweet potatoes can be baked in their skins, then
the soft flesh scooped out, ready to serve - instant, healthy
baby food!
You can try combining different vegetables for some delicious
new flavours - examples include parsnips with green beans, sweet
potato and squash and swede (or rutabaga) and carrots. The
possibilities are endless!
Once your baby is enjoying vegetables, you can add fruits to the
menu. Good choices include pureed banana, avocado and cooked,
pureed apples and pears. Citrus fruits should be avoided for the
first year, as they can trigger allergic reactions.
For something really different, try combining fruits and
vegetables, such as apples with carrots, or bananas with sweet
potato, for some unusual but tempting new flavours.
Follow your baby's lead and increase the amount and frequency of
his meals as his appetite dictates. Always watch carefully for
any signs of allergic reactions and discuss any concerns with a
medical professional.
Above all, have fun introducing baby's first foods - by
selecting and preparing these fresh and wholesome ingredients,
you are getting him off to a wonderfully healthy start.