|
Starting Your Baby On Solids
At what age do I start my baby on solid foods?
Factors such as your baby's size, growth rate, activity, and appetite are more
important to consider than age when deciding when to start a baby on
supplemental foods. For example, your baby is ready for supplemental foods if
your baby has doubled in birth weight and weighs at least 13 pounds; is
formula-fed and drinks more than a quart of formula per day; or, if breastfed,
demands to be fed more than 8 to 10 times a day, and often seems hungry.
Also,
your baby's head and neck control should be developed enough to reflect hunger
by turning towards the food, or lack of appetite by turning away from food.
Watch for these developmental stages to know when your baby is ready for
weaning. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended supplemental foods
beginning at 4 to 6 months of age, but there is no rigid guideline for when
babies can be weaned because babies mature at different rates.
Which solids
should I start with?
In almost every culture around the world, rice cereal is
the first introductory solid food for babies. Rice is the grain least likely to
cause an allergic reaction; it is well tolerated by most babies and has a low
protein content suitable for young infants. Other cereals designed specifically
as starting cereals for infants are oatmeal or barley. Except for a few
countries, corn is not a usual weaning cereal. All commercial cereals designed
for infants contain added minerals and vitamins. Pureed fruits and vegetables
are generally recommended after cereals, followed by pureed meats and
vegetable-meat combinations.
Is there any difference between jarred cereal and
dry baby cereal mixed with formula?
The jarred cereal is ready to serve; the dry
cereal must be mixed with liquid to an appropriate consistency before serving.
Jarred cereal for infants contains a single grain or mixed grains, as well as
fruit and a small amount of sugar. Dry infant cereal may be made from a plain
single grain or mixed grains. Some may contain fruit and a small amount of added
sugar, as well. The nutrients added to cereals may differ. Jarred cereals
contain 45% of the U.S. Recom-mended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C,
thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and B6 in each jar (or per one-jar serving).
They do not contain calcium or phosphorus. The dry infant cereals are fortified
to contain 45% of the U.S. RDA of thiamin, riboflavin, and iron; 25% of the U.S.
RDA for vitamin C and niacin; 15% of the U.S. RDA for vitamin E and calcium; and
10% or 15% of the U.S. RDA for phosphorus. The addition of formula to the dry
infant cereal will add more nutrients, but mixing the cereal with vitamin
C-fortified infant juice will help your baby absorb more of the iron.
When
should I give solid foods - before or after feeding formula?
When you are first
introducing solid foods, it is best to give your baby a portion of the formula
feeding to take the edge off hunger before introducing the new experience of
solid foods. When your baby is eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals,
and meats, and is learning to drink from a cup, then formula may be served
during or after the meal, just as it is for older children.
When can I start
wheat products?
Wheat is considered a common allergen (a substance that causes
an allergic reaction) in many countries and is, therefore, not recommended
before 6 months of age. If your family has a history of allergies, you may want
to delay introducing wheat products until 9 months or a year, depending on your
baby's tolerance to other cereal grains. If allergies run in your family,
consult your doctor or pediatric dietitian before starting your baby on wheat
products.
When can I feed lumpy foods?
Lumpy foods come in a range of
"lumpiness," from mashed potatoes to beef and vegetable stew. Babies will vary
in their acceptance of different food textures. If your baby accepts strained
foods easily and well, and makes chewing motions as foods are eaten, it would be
a good time to try soft, bite-size pieces of food such as slices of banana or
well-cooked carrot. At about 8 to 10 months of age, most babies develop a gag
reflex. That is, they will gag when there is danger of choking. At this age, you
can let your baby try feeding himself with these soft, bite-size foods under
your watchful eye.
When can dairy products (eg, yogurt) be started?
If your baby
is on a cow's milk-based (ie, standard non-soy) infant formula, and tolerates it
well, then it is likely that milk protein is not a problem for your baby. Infant
formulas are modified to contain a lower protein content, especially suitable
for infants in the first 6 months of life, compared to standard commercial milk
products. After 6 months, when the variety in your baby's diet is expanding and
the protein needs of your baby increase, then sources of dairy protein other
than standard infant formula or human milk can be included. Yogurt is a good
choice for lactose-intolerant older babies, and follow-on formulas and mild
cheeses are also reasonable dairy foods for lactose- and cow's milk-tolerant
older infants.
Should I try to make my baby avoid a taste for sweet foods?
All
babies are born with an inherent preference for sweetness. Sweet foods are often
carbohydrates, which are important for energy. It may be that survival of the
human race is the basis for this innate preference for sweetness. Be glad your
baby has it! Your baby's first experience with solid foods should be a pleasant
one, whether it is yellow vegetables with a natural sugar content of 3% to 13%
or fruits with a natural sugar content of 4% to 12%. Naturally sweet foods have
a place in the diet, providing a variety of nutrients and flavors. Enjoyment and
appreciation of other foods will also be learned during the first year with
repeated introduction and exposure to new foods.
Why do some baby food companies
add tapioca to their products?
Tapioca is added to some baby food fruits and
desserts to provide a stable consistency, so that the solid part of the product
does not separate from the liquid part. Tapioca is a digestible carbohydrate
appropriate for babies as well as adults, as those of us who like tapioca
pudding know!
When do I start juices for my baby?
Infant juices are an excellent
source of additional vitamin C for your baby. You may start juices as one of the
first tastes of weaning foods, or juices may be added to infant cereal when you
start cereals. The vitamin C-rich juice enhances your baby's ability to absorb
the iron from the cereal. Single ingredient juices, such as white grape, apple,
or pear, are ideal first juices for your baby.
Orange juice may be a problem for
some babies because of sensitivity to citrus fruit; therefore, orange juice is
introduced after 6 months of age. Interestingly, in some countries citrus
allergy is virtually nonexistent and orange juice is one of the first foods
introduced to babies at 3 to 4 months of age. Check with your doctor or health
profes-sional regarding when to start your baby on orange juice.
Is it important
that my baby eat vegetables? How can I encourage him to eat them?
It is
important that your baby be introduced to vegetables and have a taste of them as
often as possible. If your baby does not like vegetables, don't worry about it.
As long as you keep introducing vegetables and presenting them to your baby,
they will become familiar parts of your baby's diet. Your baby will eventually
accept them because they are familiar. Remember, the first year is an
introductory period. Your job as a parent is to introduce as wide a range of
foods as possible. Familiarity is the first step in the acceptance and liking of
a food. It may take 5 to 10 introductions before your baby may seem to like a
particular vegetable, so don't give up!
Can I make my own baby food?
You
certainly can make your own baby food. The important thing to remember is to use
the freshest produce possible, clean it thoroughly, remove pits and skin, and
steam it until it is tender. Using scrupulously clean utensils, blenderize or
strain the foods. If you are making food for more than one meal, it may be
frozen in sterilized ice cube trays. Remove the food from the trays when frozen
and store it in labeled clean plastic bags in the freezer. Remove one, two, or
three cubes as needed. Defrost the food and serve. Remember, you don't need to
add seasoning to your baby's food. Your baby will enjoy the natural flavors of
most foods if they are ripe when harvested and processed quickly and carefully.
Why shouldn't I start solids at approximately one month?
Every baby is an individual. General guidelines
for starting weaning foods are as follows: if your baby has doubled in birth
weight and weighs at least 13 pounds, is drinking more than a quart of formula a
day, or frequently breastfeeds more than 8 to 10 times a day, and often seems
hungry. There are fads and fashions in infant feeding. Humans are adaptable and
have thrived on many variations of feeding patterns found throughout the world.
The current thinking in the U.S. is that human milk or an appropriate infant
formula provides all the nutrients a baby needs for the first few months of
life. After the first few months, babies are developmentally ready to accept
spoon feeding. Because of the infant's development, and to provide appropriate
nutrition, most babies do not need solids at one month of age if they are
receiving adequate amounts of human milk or formula.
How do I develop good
eating behaviors and habits in my baby?
To develop good eating behaviors and
habits in your baby, follow your baby's developmental cues, and introduce
variety into your baby's diet throughout the first year. As a parent, your
responsibility is to provide nutritious, appetizing, and appropriate foods to
your baby. Your baby will eat as much or as little of that food as hunger
dictates! Listen to your baby's appetite to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding.
Don't force a baby to eat. Remember, babies grow in quantum leaps, so their
appetites will vary depending on whether they are in a growth spurt or at a
plateau. Babies learn to follow internal cues of satiety if given the
opportunity to practice control over food intake. Since variety and moderation
are the keys to good nutrition, provide variety and let your baby determine the
amount to eat.
When can my baby take eggs?
The egg white is the portion most
commonly associated with food sensitivity. Therefore, whole egg is not usually
recommended before 9 to 12 months of age. Egg yolk, on the other hand, is
usually introduced at 5 to 6 months of age - the same time as meats for most
babies.
When starting solids, how much do I feed my baby?
When starting a new
food, a few teaspoons is usually enough for a first taste to enjoy the new
experience. Watch for any evidence of food sensitivity such as rash, diarrhea,
or tummy upset within the first few hours of feeding the new food. Introduce the
same food in increasing amounts for 3 or 4 days before adding a new food.
My
baby hates meat; should I force him to eat it?
There are no advantages to
forcing babies to eat foods they don't like. The best thing to do is to keep
introducing the food without fuss or emphasis. In addition, you may want to try
a vegetable-meat or fruit-meat combination that introduces meat flavor in a
vegetable or fruit context. As the combinations become well accepted, you can
add more meat to them to familiarize the baby with more of the meat flavor.
What
do I do when my baby wants only milk?
That depends on the age of your baby. In
the first few months, babies need only milk. After six months, you may want to
check with your pediatrician or health professional about developmental or
physical problems that could be interfering with your baby's ability to take
solid foods. If no developmental or physical difficulties are evident, then
creative strategies are needed. Is your baby using a training cup? As a first
step, milk could be flavored with fruits, vegetables or cereals to introduce new
tastes and flavors but in a familiar milk context. The milk mixed with the new
solid should be fed by spoon. A pediatric dietitian may be the best source of
information for you.
What are the nutritional benefits of cereals?
Infant
cereals provide additional calories to the infant diet. Infant cereals are
chosen from grains with a low possibility for causing allergy. They are readily
adapted to infant preferences by mixing with formula or milk. Infant cereals
also provide needed iron in a food that is well accepted and well tolerated by
most babies, and some contain vitamin C to help iron absorption. Additional B
vitamins are also added to infant cereals as well as small amounts of calcium
and phosphorus, minerals essential for bone growth and development.
How should I
add different solids to my baby's diet? Is there a systematic way and timing?
When your baby needs more than milk or formula provides, it is time for baby
foods. Baby foods are started one by one: single-ingredient pureed foods are
first, followed by pureed mixed foods, followed by foods with more texture and
particles. Cereals, fruits, juices, and vegetables are usually the first
starting foods.
Start each new single-ingredient food by offering a few
teaspoons at the first feedings. Introduce the new food every day for 3 or 4
days before starting another new food. After your baby has sampled the
single-ingredient cereals, fruits, vegetables, and pureed meats can be
introduced one at a time. After your baby accepts several kinds of foods, offer
at least two kinds a day for an early start to good nutrition. Then your baby is
ready for pureed mixed foods, adding more variety with a wider range of flavors.
When your baby shows interest in self-feeding and demonstrates chewing ability,
more textured foods with particles as well as finger foods are appropriate. By
the end of the first year, most babies will be ready for toddler foods or
modified adult foods, as well as finger foods for self-feeding. Iron-fortified
cereals are still important in the diet through the second year to build the red
blood cells of the body.
My 2-month-old is still hungry after 4 to 6 ounces of
formula; my mother says I should give him cereal. Is she correct?
Let's look at
your baby's size, growth rate, activity, and appetite as well as how much
formula he is drinking at one feeding. Here are some guidelines to consider: Has
your baby doubled in birth weight? Does your baby weigh at least 13 pounds? Does
your baby drink more than a quart of formula a day, and does your baby often
seem hungry after feeding? Is your baby hungrier at certain times of the day
than at others? Perhaps 4 to 6 ounces of formula is not adequate at some times
but is at others. He may need an extra few ounces during hungry times.
Alternatively, if your baby is hungry after every feeding and is already
consuming a quart of formula a day, you may want to discuss this with a health
care professional. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the
introduction of solids until 4 to 6 months. Follow your baby's developmental
cues for what is right for him.
When is a good age to start finger foods?
Your
baby is ready for finger foods when he grabs and holds onto the feeding spoon,
and starts to pick up bits of food from the feeding tray with thumb and index
finger. These developmental signs usually occur between 8 and 10 months of age,
but age is only a general guideline. Follow the developmental cues your baby
shows you.
What kinds and size of finger foods should I give my child?
"Soft"
and "bite size" are the keys for introducing finger foods to your baby. Foods
such as slices of banana or small pieces of toast are good first finger foods.
Always stay with your baby when feeding finger foods. As your baby becomes adept
at self-feeding, tender, not mushy, vegetables can be added as well as raw
slices of apple and orange. Avoid hard round foods such as peanuts, popcorn,
grapes, slices of hot dog, and sticky foods like peanut butter. Hard round foods
like peanuts are particularly dangerous since they could result in choking and
blocking of the wind pipe (trachea) if they fall into it accidentally. If a food
can be mashed between gums and tongue to a swallowable consistency, it should be
appropriate for finger feeding.
How do I handle the "picky" eater?
It's not
unusual for youngsters by the age of 2 years to show their independence by their
food choices, making them appear as picky eaters. It's a wise idea, where
possible, to offer your child a choice of food selections within a reasonable
framework, and let him make a choice. Hot cereal OR cold, for example, carrots
OR peas, mashed potato OR cubed, are decisions a child can make. If youngsters
are involved in the decision, they are more likely to eat what they have chosen.
New food aversion is not uncommon in young children. If new foods are viewed
with suspicion and dislike, don't be surprised. But don't be disheartened,
either. Studies have shown that repeated exposure to novel foods increases
preference for those foods. Ten or twelve introductions may be needed before
familiarity and acceptance replace novelty and dislike. So keep introducing a
variety of foods without fuss or expectation. It may take a while to see a
change, so don't give up.
Sometimes the difficulty is in being rushed through a
meal. Youngsters just learning to self-feed need time to experiment with their
food, to learn the process of feeding themselves with feeding utensils. Your
impulse may be to help them to hurry up the process, but a better way is to
start the meal early enough so you don't have to rush through it. You can set an
example by taking time with your own meal and letting your child tend to eating
- with you on hand for safety's sake and sociability.
Keep in mind, too, that
your youngster's appetite will vary. His growth rate is probably slower than
when he was a baby. So when you offer your youngster family foods, make sure
they have not only an appropriate texture but are in manageable portions for a
small appetite - just a small spoonful or two of each to start with. It is
better to have your child ask for more than to be faced with an unmanageable
quantity that defeats a small appetite. You will have done your part by offering
nourishing, appropriate foods. It's up to your youngster to eat or not eat them.
Let his appetite be the guide. Don't fuss at him to eat more. That's the part
that is hard for parents, but give it a try and see how it works.
If you feed
your child on a regular schedule of three small meals and two or three snacks
each day, then you need not worry about long periods of hunger. Young children
will adjust their caloric intake at one meal to compensate for what was missed
at earlier ones. If the child doesn't eat what is offered, then he probably
isn't hungry. Don't offer snacks after an uneaten meal. Wait for the next
scheduled snack or mealtime.
Finally, some children truly get hungry before the
rest of the family does. If this is the case in your family, feed your child
when hungry. But offer him a bite or two at the family meal, too, or save
dessert until then. Children should know they are a part of the family and their
company is wanted at meal times. Good luck!
|