A major milestone for you and your baby is the introduction of solid foods. This varies for each child but medical experts advise that it is fine to begin from four to six months. However, there are physical signs that can help parents inform the decision on when to begin. Below are tips that can be helpful when starting your baby on solid foods.
1. Start at the right time for your child
It is important to check with your Paediatrician before starting out with solid foods. This can help in the case of food allergies management and special needs for your child. Do not compare your baby’s development with that of others. Your baby could reach the milestone earlier or later, so it is necessary to get the timing right.
It is okay if at six months your child is not yet ready. Some parents start from four months when they know the child’s system can go beyond breast milk or formula. Although it is important to note that at four months the solids are mostly pureed, but with time the child should be able to handle different varieties of foods that can be shredded or mashed. The right time is when your child shows readiness to begin the milestone.
2. How to tell when your baby is ready?
Health professionals advise solids introduction from at least four months because at this age babies are usually (or close to) twice their birth weight. It is important to take this advised age into consideration because eating solid foods before then has been linked with an increased risk of becoming obese. These are some signs that your baby would exhibit to show readiness for solid foods:
• Ability to keep the head in a steady and upright position
• Ability to sit with limited support
• Ability to move the food to the back of the mouth and swallow (not just using the tongue to push food in order to avoid the risk of choking)
• Some babies longingly stare at the foods, leaning forward and are excited when offered
3. What do I start with?
In order to avoid the risk of allergies, rice cereal is one of the most suitable options to start with but other foods are equally good, depending on your child. Pureed fruits, pureed meat, or other single-ingredient foods without salt or sugar, are also suitable options.
It is important to avoid allergenic foods when your child is on antibiotics or when experiencing tummy illness. Parents should always ensure that the food is clean and of highest standards.
4. How do I start?
For cereals, plastic spoons (with smooth, round edges) are advisable instead of the baby’s bottle. Breast milk or formula can be added, but it should be diluted as thickened food has been linked with cases of babies gagging or inhaling the liquid into their lungs. The thickening (use of less liquid for dilution) should be gradual.
5. Watch the reactions
It is advisable to watch the reactions of your child when the foods are introduced. Different foods should be introduced one at a time as it helps with the sudden change. It also helps spot allergic reactions, which could be vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.
In summary, complementary feeding – the slow transition from exclusive milk diet – is a very crucial milestone in the development of your baby. The period of late infancy is when your baby experiences rapid growth and development, so good feeding practices can help give a head start in life.
