Feeding baby solids is an exciting milestone, but can sometimes be a little difficult. Here are some tips on introducing solids to your baby:
1) Wait until she is six months old. Recent studies have shown that starting earlier than that puts your baby at risk for developing food allergies. Pediatricians have changed their recommendations to match these new findings.
2) Do not wait too much beyond six months. Many babies accept different tastes and textures more easily when they are young and may not be so open to solids when they are older. Also, some studies have shown that waiting too far beyond six months correlates with a higher risk for developing diabetes later in life.
3) Start with rice cereal. It is very rarely allergenic. Choose a brand that is whole rice and contains iron. You can mix it with breastmilk or formula. Start with mostly breastmilk/formula and then gradually increase the amount of rice cereal. Watch for constipation as some babies have this reaction to rice cereal.
4) After 2 weeks (3-4 weeks if your baby has known food allergies), you can introduce a yellow vegetable or fruit. There is great debate over the idea that giving a fruit first will make a baby reject veggies later. Most moms don't find this to be true. Continue to give the fruit or veggie every day for 5 days.
5) Continue to introduce a new fruit or veggie every 5 days. You can also try other grains such as barley and oatmeal. Watch for any allergic reaction (hives, rash, vomitting, diarrhea). If you suspect an allergy, discontinue the food and talk to your pediatrician.
6) Follow your pediatrician's advice for introducing meats, dairy and other foods.
7) As your baby becomes more accustomed to different textures, you can try finger foods such as pieces of rice cake, oat cereals, rice, avocado, etc.
7) Do NOT give the following to a baby: honey, peanut butter, chocolate, nuts, seafood, whole grapes, hotdog, or anything else that doesn't dissolve in the mouth.
8) Remember that you want your baby to learn his own full cues. Do not push him to eat more when he is finished. Try some distractions (sing a song, make the spoon an airplane, etc.), but if he is still refusing, clean him up and move on to other things!
For more information on what to feed and not feed to your baby at different ages, check out this article at BabyCenter.
Remember: This is in no way medical advice. These are just tips from one mom to another. Please speak with your pediatrician before introducing solids, if you want to know if a particular food is OK, or if you have concerns about food allergies.
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