More About Introduction Of Solid Foods

The most appropriate time to introduce solid foods for babies is when they are about 4 to 5 months old; at this time the baby is able to hold his/her head in a steady or upright position and is able to sit well when supported. It is also the time when the baby stops using his/her tongue to push the food out of the mouth and learns how to swallow it.

Some more points about introduction of solid foods:

• When you first introduce solid foods do it very gradually; first nurse or bottle-feed your baby and then give him/her 1 or 2 teaspoons of a pureed solid food. Starting on cereal means giving solids in a semi-liquid consistency by mixing cereal with breast milk or formula.

• Always start off your baby with solid foods once a day; give 2 meals a day when the baby is about 6 to 7 months and start off on 3 meals at the age of 8 months.  Also at the age of 8 months you could give a combination of breast milk or iron fortified milk, iron fortified cereal, yellow, orange and green vegetables, fruit and small amount of protein in the form of poultry, lentils, tofu and meat.

• Want to get your baby to be interested in solid foods? Create the curiosity and liking by allowing him/her to smell the food as he/she tastes it. Always make it a habit to feed the baby with a soft-tipped plastic spoon; never add cereal into the baby’s bottle as then the baby will not make a connection that solids are to be eaten sitting up with a spoon.

   
• There is a popular misconception among many mothers that it is always best to start solid foods with a rice cereal; it is true that it triggers no allergic reaction, but there is no reason why you cannot start with wheat cereal or some other foods like pureed meat, pureed sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, bananas, peaches, and pears.

• Some are of the opinion that vegetables are to be offered to babies before fruits; however evidence shows that it is better to offer fruits first to babies; most babies that have had fruit first create a liking for vegetables also.

• There is no reason why you should shy away from giving meat to infants if you are a meat-eater; you could start on pureed chicken first. Studies show that babies that eat meat earlier have a higher intake of iron and zinc that helps in their growth.

• Lastly babies should learn to enjoy vegetables and fruits, but there is no evidence that they should be given bland food; offer your child adventurous options by using mild spices with a pinch of salt helps the baby to appreciate all tastes and get used to them.

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