An Exciting Milestone Has Arrived - It's Time For Baby's First Foods
Introducing baby's first foods can be fun. Prepare yourself with these useful tips - and don't forget
your sense of humour! You'll need it!
For the first few months, you'll probably find you end up WEARING more of baby's first foods than he
actually eats!
And a sense of humour is invaluable when dealing with all the well-meant advice you'll get at this stage.
Everyone seems to know best!
It's important to find a routine that works for you ... and stick to it!
This is a hugely important question for all new parents, yet is one that will often bring you an overwhelming amount
of conflicting answers.
Many medical professionals still advise introducing baby's first foods anywhere from 4 to 6 months.
However, this is a subject that has been hugely researched of late and the current recommendation from the
World Health Organisation (WHO) is that:
no solid foods are introduced to baby for the first 6 months.
Other health-care organisations have updated their recommendations for the introduction of baby's first foods,
in line with the guidelines issued by WHO and you may wish to visit the following links for further information.
You may also find that you receive advice from older relatives,
advocating the introduction of solid foods far sooner than 6 months - it's certainly true that babies were given
their first foods very early in past generations. Remember, though, that not as much
research had been done into solid feeding at that time... and the information we have now, particularly
in regard to food allergies,
simply wasn't available then.
Culturally, there are differences too...
Not only in the ages that babies are first given solid food, but also in the types of food that are given.
In Africa, for example, babies are generally introduced to meat before anything else.
A recent report in America, compiled by paediatricians, suggested that the rules for introducing baby's first
foods are based more on mythology than science. It pointed out that children raised in India are exposed to
spices in their foods from a very early age. Personally, I love spicy foods and have eaten them whilst pregnant
and when breast-feeding. So, in theory, our children too were enjoying
spicy foods
before they
even started solids! Hmm ... food for thought!
Perhaps the key is to remember that the information given on these pages and elsewhere is meant as a
guide. There are no hard and fast rules and a little flexibility can mean you can tailor make
baby's first foods to his specifications!
Of course, one of the best people to advise you on your baby's readiness for solids is ... your baby!
Review this checklist:
baby's first foods - is baby ready for solids?
If you've answered yes to most of these questions, then it might be time for baby's first foods.
But first, there are a few other points to consider.
These days, most experts agree that you shouldn't be looking at introducing solids until baby is
at least 6 months old. And there are good reasons for this ...
Very young babies have poor control of their throat and tongue muscles. This makes
swallowing difficult and can cause choking or gagging.
The tongue thrust reflex is still strong and can make solid feeding difficult.
The risk of
allergies
increases if baby's first foods are introduced too soon.
Early feeding can cause obesity.
Once you are satisfied that your baby is ready, then it's time to put on your chef's hat and get cooking
baby's first foods.
Don't forget to label foods as you prepare them for your baby. Make a note of the preparation date on the
label, as this will help you "rotate" stored foods to ensure they are safe for your baby to eat.
It's a good idea to note the contents, too - pureed foods tend to look alike and it may be important
to identify a particular food later on (if your baby experiences an allergic reaction, for example).
Ultimately, you need to ensure that you are providing healthy, balanced nutrition to your baby.
With baby's first foods, though, you need to keep things simple.
Step 1
Pediatricians often recommend starting with a single grain cereal,
like baby rice, because it is gluten
free and considered easy to digest. However... there ARE alternatives and many medical
professionals are beginning to acknowledge the value of fruits, veggies... or even meat... as suitable first foods.
Pick a quiet time of day for baby's first meal - a time when you won't be distracted,
or feel pressured. This can be easier said than done - especially if you have other young children at home.
In that case, a "quiet time of day" doesn't actually exist, so you'll have to make do with "quieter than usual"!
If your other children are old enough to understand, you could get them to "help" you with this historic
first feed - they love being involved.
Step 3
You may like to take the edge off your baby's appetite by giving him about half his milk
feed first or feeding him about an hour or so after breastfeeding. If he's too hungry, he'll
probably end up screaming in frustration - and so will you!
Step 4
For very young babies, mix about one tablespoon of baby rice (or alternative) with
enough breastmilk
or warmed formula to give an almost watery consistency. If you use feeding bottles, try mixing the cereal
in the lids - they are just the right size, plus they are already sterilized! Babies over 6 months of age may
be able to cope with a thicker texture.
Step 5
Get your baby comfortable - depending on baby's age, it might be a bit too early for
a high chair, as many offer little support for a young child.
We like the
Bumbo Baby Seat - its
unique design means that no straps are needed and it can be used by babies as young as three months.
Bumbos are not just great for feeding, but can keep your baby upright for playing or just so that he can see
what's going on around him.
Click here for more examples of practical
high chairs, plus tips on what to consider when making your purchase.
Alternatively, you could just sit him in your lap to feed him - but first make sure you're not wearing your
favourite jeans! (You might also like to take a look at our
tips for coping with
messy mealtimes!).
Step 6
Use a rubber-tipped spoon - it's kinder on baby's gums.
Step 7
One of two things will happen now - your baby will either open his mouth eagerly
and accept this wonderful new experience ... or he'll push everything out of his mouth, pull a face and look
completely offended! Whatever reaction you get, RELAX and SMILE. If you're tense, your baby will
know - especially if he's on your lap.
A smile and some encouraging sounds from you can make all the difference.
Step 8
If he's keen, continue feeding until he's finished. If not, DON'T try to continue.
There's no rush. Trying to force a baby to eat is the best way to put him off the whole experience.
Try again the next day, or a few days later.
Baby's first foods - How can I tell when my baby has had enough food?
Well, he'll probably turn his head away, try to play with the spoon, or just refuse to open his mouth!
Try to read your
baby's signals - and respect them! Throw away any leftover food, then offer baby the remainder of
his milk feed.
Over the next few days, try increasing the amount of food bit by bit. It's important not to overdo it, though.
Introducing a large quantity of solids too soon can result in your baby consuming less milk.
Milk is a VERY important part of baby's diet for the first year and at this stage he should still be having
around 5 - 6 breast-feeds or 24 to 40 oz of formula in 24 hours.
You certainly don't need to be worrying about introducing 3 meals a day at this point, either.
Take things slowly, increasing the size and frequency of solid meals as your baby's appetite dictates.
Our Baby Food E-Book
'Tempting Tiny Taste Buds' is our comprehensive guide to feeding your baby.
Its convenient e-book format allows you to browse all the recipes and information
offline.
It's also easy to print out sections of your choice - and we've grouped all the recipes
together at the end, so it couldn't be simpler to print out an entire cook book to keep in
the kitchen!
'Tempting Tiny Taste Buds' comes with some great bonuses - and it's available internationally.
Once baby is enjoying baby rice, then it's time to introduce some
vegetables and fruits
(that, of course, is if you didn't skip the rice cereal and move straight to alternative first foods from the outset).
Many parents try introducing vegetables first. This is because fruits are naturally sweeter and - the theory is -
if your baby gets used to the sweet taste of fruit, he may be less willing to try veggies!
Before you take a look at these baby's first foods
recipes and meal ideas
, please take a moment to read the
four day rule.
You'll find some important advice on how to safely introduce each new food. You should also refer to this list of
foods to avoid
, before you get started.
Plus, find out more about how to
thicken
or thin
baby food purees. to create the ideal consistency for YOUR baby.
And this is where the fun really begins! It's really rewarding to discover and serve foods that your baby loves.
And to see his look of contentment after a good meal! The fact that you've prepared it yourself means that
you know it's fresh, and safe for your baby.
The introduction of fruits and vegetables over the coming weeks have one unwelcome side effect, though.
Your baby's stools will change in colour ... and in smell!!! You'll particularly notice it if you're breast-feeding
your baby, as his diapers/nappies previously didn't smell too bad (as nappies go!). But it's normal, so don't worry.
If baby's stools seem a bit too firm, try avoiding apples and bananas - they can sometimes be constipating
(see the baby constipation
guide for more information).
At the end of this first stage, you have successfully introduced baby's first foods. Your little one is
now enjoying a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
WELL DONE!
The eating habits you've formed at this early stage will stay with your baby for a long time to come.
By experiencing a wide variety of tastes now, your baby will be far less likely to become a fussy eater
later on. And most importantly, you've got your baby off to a healthy, wholesome start.
This is a hugely important question for all new parents, yet is one that will often bring you an overwhelming amount
of conflicting answers.
Many parents try introducing vegetables first. This is because fruits are naturally sweeter and - the theory is -
if your baby gets used to the sweet taste of fruit, he may be less willing to try veggies!
