When it comes to first solid food for your baby, you definitely want to make no mistake, as this experience is going to be deciding factor for eating habits getting cultivated in your baby. There are many factors you should consider. There are many myths, much confusion and many misinterpretations. So its important to have a clear guideline.

 

Here we go by considering all aspects about first solid food for your baby -

 

·         A good rule of thumb is to start with rice cereal, which is gluten-free and less allergenic than other foods.  Give your baby one or two teaspoons of dry cereal mixed with enough formula or breast milk to make a semi-liquid. Babies shouldn’t be directly transitioned to solid from breast milk / formula. Semi-liquid is important milestone in the transition and the time for transition need to be a long enough, which depends on baby’s response to it.

·         Foods should be prepared and given in a safe manner, meaning that measures should be taken to minimize the risk of contamination with pathogens.

·         Ensure that you are using a soft comfy spoon.  Remember baby’s gums may be tender from teething and a hard metal spoon may aggravate baby’s gums.  If baby refuses the spoon or if the spoon seems to make baby uncomfortable, use your finger! 

·         If you are trying to feed a baby solid when baby is very hungry, she may be more likely to resist. Always offer breast milk and/or formula first and then offer solids. 

·         Introduce new foods during the morning or early afternoon.  This will enable you to deal with any adverse reactions when your pediatrician is in office.

·         Don’t Make a Fuss Over the Feeding Session! Follow your baby’s cues and allow him or her to explore the dish, utensils and the food herself! 

·         Don’t Force Your Baby to Eat! Wait for baby to open her mouth when food is offered.   Always let your baby eat at his or her own pace and on his or her own terms!

·         Offer a Variety of Foods and Colors! Offer your baby different foods once you have begun to introduce solid foods.

·         Some babies need practice keeping food in their mouths and swallowing. Give her time to get used to the new food habits.

·         Start with single ingredients only, that too introducing each new food at a space of 4 days apart. This way you’ll get a heads-up if your baby has an allergic reaction to one of them. The signs of an allergy may include diarrhoea, a bloated tummy, increased gas, or a rash.

·         If you’re feeding your baby from ready-to-eat jars of baby food, scoop some into a little dish and feed her from that. Also, throw away any baby food jars within a day or two of opening them.

·         Stay away from foods that might cause her to choke.

·         Avoid fast food for as long as possible.

·         While you are feeding solids to your baby, if your baby leans back in her chair, turns her head away from food, starts playing with the spoon, or refuses to open up for the next bite, she probably had enough. Understand the clues given by your baby. Don’t overfeed your baby. But also keep in mind that sometimes a baby will keep her mouth closed because she hasn’t yet finished with the first mouthful, so be sure to give her time to swallow.

·         If your baby turns away from a particular food, don’t push. Try again in a week or so. Don’t try to make your child eat food he doesn’t like. Respect her preferences and avoid power struggles over food.

·         Don’t be surprised if your baby’s stools change color and odor when you add solids to her diet. If her stools seem too firm, switch to other fruits and vegetables and oatmeal or barley cereal. Usually rice cereal, bananas, and applesauce can contribute to constipation in babies.

·         Make sure that the nutritional value of complementary foods should parallel at least that of breast milk. Solid foods are not meant to provide for baby nutritionally in the first few months, breast milk and/or formula fill this role! Also do not let solids interfere with liquid intake! 

 

 

 

Each baby will have unique food preferences, but the transition should go something like this:

1. Semi-liquid cereals

2. Strained or mashed fruits and vegetables

Good fruits and vegetables to start with include – sweet potatoes, potato, squash, applesauce, bananas, carrots, cauliflower, green peas, broccoli, oatmeal, mashed ripe banana,mashed ripe avocado, boiled apple, mashed pear and peaches. All food should be strained or mushy as at this stage your baby will press the food against the top of her mouth and then swallow.

 

Vegetables and fruits should be steamed or boiled and should be mixed with baby food made into a puree or you can give just puree of boiled vegetables and fruits to your baby.

 

Whether you are giving her vegetables or fruit always peel the skin and boil it in little water so that the vitamins are preserved. Don’t add salt or pepper.

 

3. Finely chopped table foods, including meat and other protein sources

 

These points will definitely help you to get a good schedule for starting solids for your baby.

Related posts:

1. How Will You Know When Your Baby is Ready to Start Eating Solid Foods?