Unlike the more pliable younger baby an older baby may not be as open to solids when milky liquids have long monopolized the menu. Thats why its important to start introducing solids when your baby shows interest in solid foods normally when theyre around six months old.
The gradual addition of solid foods to your babys diet is an exciting transition for your baby and you.
Putting baby on solids. Heres everything you need to know about timelines safety and recommended menu itemsplus a simple baby food chart to print at home. Continue to offer. Continue to offer breast milk or formula.
Between 4 and 6 months of age babies start to observe and mimic their parents or other caregivers eating habitsa sign that theyre. By 12 months your baby should be eating around three small meals a day plus breastmilk or infant formula. Breastmilk or formula for a formula fed baby continues to be a babys main source of nutrition for the first 12 months.
Key food safety and hygiene advice. The best time to introduce solid foods is when your baby has developed the skills needed to eat. As your baby nears their first birthday they should be eating a variety of foods and taking in about 4 ounces of solids at each meal.
See our article on baby-led weaning to find out how it works. Some parents also choose to adopt an approach called baby-led weaning which bypasses pureed solids in favor of gummable solids presented in thick long pieces which younger babies can hold in their fists. When introducing your baby to solid foods its important to take extra care to not put your baby at risk.
Another reason to avoid giving your baby solid food before age 4 months is the risk associated with certain home-prepared foods. Then try to feed them solid foods. Leaving solids until six months allows time for their digestive systems to develop and reduces the risk of them picking up an infection from food as their immune systems will be stronger.
The traditional way to start solids is by spoon-feeding your baby infant cereal or purees but some parents use a different method called baby-led weaning. Like the Ministry of Health we recommend you continue breast- or bottle-feeding your baby - in addition to feeding them solids - until theyre one year or older. But if you choose baby-led weaning simply offer solids at mealtime and let your baby decide if shes up for eating them.
These foods might contain enough nitrates to cause the blood disorder methemoglobinemia. Introducing solids to your infant is an exciting milestone. These foods include infant cereals meat or other proteins fruits vegetables grains yogurts and cheeses and more.
Food texture when introducing solids. Eating solids is just one of the many steps your baby will take toward greater independence. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old.
Doctors recommend that breastfeeding moms wait until their baby is 6 months old. Since the recommendation is to introduce solids around 6 months if solid food is started before this time theres a risk the baby will drink too little breastmilk or formula if the baby is formula-fed. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups.
After that you can start solid foods when your baby show signs of readiness. Cool hot food and test it before giving it to your baby. Using this method you put large chunks of soft food on the highchair tray or table and let your baby grasp the food and feed himself.
Offer breast milk or baby formula first to ease their hunger. But sometimes babies are ready for solids sooner than that. To learn how to start spoon-feeding read on.
When your baby is ready for solids first foods might be smooth mashed or in soft pieces depending on what baby likes. At first your little one will keep it simple with just a few teaspoons of a one-ingredient food like a pureed fruit veggie or meat every day. A baby younger than age 4 months shouldnt be given home-prepared spinach beets carrots green beans or squash.
For the first 4 to 6 months breast milk or formula is the only food your baby needs. Always wash your hands before preparing food and keep surfaces clean. Your baby can quickly go on to minced foods and then chopped foods.
Generally by the age of nine to 12 months you could start offering raw fruit and vegetables says Lovelace noting that hard foods carrot apple should be grated and soft foods banana avocado should be cut up very small. You may have heard that you should put your baby on a feeding schedule that incorporates breast milk or formula plus three meals of solid food a day. Weaning early also increases your babys risk of developing a food allergy and can affect her growth.
Put a mat underneath their highchair to catch some of the mess dress accordingly and be patient -- this phase wont. If your baby is very hungry they may not want to deal with new flavors and being fed with a spoon. Take it slowas your baby becomes more comfortable with solids you can gradually introduce new textures.
Learning to eat solid food is a full-body tactile experience for your baby. Read more about food safety and hygiene and foods to avoid giving babies.
