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You are here : home > Baby's Diet > Introduction of Solids > Weaning the Baby onto Solids

Weaning the Baby onto Solids

Weaning should be done gradually only after four months of exclusive breast feeding. Introduction of solids should be done to develop a wide range of tastes in the baby. Outside food should be given along with breast milk. Since breast milk protects the baby from many infections and illnesses, so it should be continued for up to at least one year.

When should solids be introduced in a child's diet

If the mother is breastfeeding the baby, she should give breast milk exclusively in the first four months, and then from the fifth month onwards, start introducing solids (see section on introducing solids).  From the fifth month onwards, breastfeeding should be continued, but you can now start weaning the baby and introduce the other foods in her diet.  Note that as the baby starts having less of the mother's milk, water should also be introduced.
 

If the baby is having breast milk, when should regular milk be introduced

Either cow's or buffalo's milk can be introduced in the child's diet around 8-9 months.  If the baby is breastfeeding well, it can be delayed even more, because external milk often does not suit very young babies. Note that you should continue breastfeeding the baby, although the number of breast feeds may now be reduced to about 3 times a day.  Since breast milk protects the baby from many infections and illnesses, breastfeeding (along with other foods) should be continued until the baby is at least 1 year old.
 

I have been told that I should introduce only one new food each week

The purpose of weaning is to not only introduce the baby to regular food, but also to develop a wide range of tastes in the baby.  Therefore, instead of sticking to the same diet everyday, it is good to vary the diet with different foods.  However, do not introduce different foods at the same time.  In fact, introduce only one new food each week and try it for a few days.  The reason is that you will know if the child is tolerating that food well, or if it does not suit him.  For the same reason, many of the readymade foods like Gerber have infant foods with only one kind of fruit or vegetable in a bottle.

More Articles on:
Breast Feeding | Breast | Baby | Mother | Tips | Weaning | Solids | Breast Milk


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Recent comments (22 comments)
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Comment: 
Name: Pratima.Pandey
Country: India

To 'Poonam' Hey dear, I am not sure what the problem in breast feeding is for you..However I would suggest not to give up this noble job yet. WAit for a week to see if the problem persists.. I suspect it is less milk production. I would like to tell you that in this stage of baby, there is a growth spurt due to which baby seems to be hungry all the time. However, this does not last long , (beyond a week) so persist and if in doubt, consult a doc too. You would be happy to find yourself back doing the best a mother could do, in the first six months of baby's life. Cheers.
 
Name: Pratima
Country: India

Hi.. I started introducing outside food to the baby only after 5 months of exclusive breast feeding. Last 2 and a half months have a period of trial and testing for me as I try to make baby eat . I was happy that she was accepting fruits like banana and citrus foods straight away in semi liquid form. But the amount she is taking in is still now enough to satiate her. I have since then made use of my mixer to make puree of every thing I cook..from Khichdi to fruit pulps. Still now all days are that good when it comes to feeding her.To be continued..
 
Name: aussie with hindu inlaws
Country: Australia

for all those women reading this 1 this site is wrong if your looking for whats best for your baby talk to your doctor, and not visist this site i only did to try and make sence of where my mother in law gets her ideas from....if you can't speak to a pediatrician look into world health.
 
Name: INDIKA
Country: sri lanka

baby
 
Name: WAKE UP BAD MOMS
Country: usa

read::::: natural cures from kevin trudeau and see life in a diferent point of view
 
Name: WAKE UP WE ARE IN 2006
Country: usa

to the ***mum of four and granma *** if you have a worried daughter and a hungry granddaughter is could be lack of good information. first of all food was quite diferent in your time.it is a long history...but anyway if she can't breastfeed her daughter for 6 months exclusively she has one problem and her daughter has two. your daugher my not have problems now, the sad thing is that the problemas for having food too early and not breastfeeding for a long term can show up even late in life, you may not even be alive to see the damage you did to someone you say you care about. listen to good advice and tune to a better website than this indianparenting.
 
Name: it is temporary
Country: usa

to the **tired third time breast feeding mum*** you are the one who should know better,like you said you had and breastfeed other two, and i am sure you know how to avoid pregnancy, it is tireing...but you are doing the best for your child. and because it is the third, it doesn't mean he shoud deserve less. so keep the good work! we (the good ones) all survived and our babies are just plain happier.
 
Name: plain ignorance
Country: usa

to the ***concerned, but informed mother**** you are plain ignorant! i am so happy i am not you kid, and i feel pity for the ones who are. if you don't have time to be a mother....just don't spread your legs...dahhhh listen to mumof2 she is the only one right. what a sad mom.....and kids
 
Name: elaine
Country: brazil

for crying out loud, mothers do not need more bad information,our poor kids are already screwed with so many bad info.stop this web site ***n o w*** this is a crime and a pity to do that with a little one who depends on the good information given to them.
 
Name: POONAM
Country: india

i have 3 month baby . now i have some problems about breastfeeding . so please sugest what sould i give my baby to become healthy.
 
Name: Zacs mommy
Country: usa

would appretiate some more information on types of weaing foods that can be made at home n given to the baby. i have a 5 month old and i was giving him toordalnrice mashed well....but am told yellow moong dal and rice is better, any suggestions
 
Name: sonali
Country: india

your article is good but i need more informetion about baby foob after 4th month so can you give me deteles about this ,
 
Name: mum of four and granma
Country: united kingdom

in reply to mum of two breastfed all of my children for eight months then gave them cows milk they are now eighteen, sixteen,twelve and ten and very healthy no gastric problems or iron deficiancy also they had solids from 3 months as we were told to then. but now just have a worried daughter and a hungry grandaughter because she thinks she cant feed her solids untill six months why?
 
Name: hi
Country: india

how do we calculate calorie /protien requirement for one day old to 6day old newborn by calculating the breast milk contains how much protiens/calories/fat?? thanks (formula)
 
Name: benita
Country: india

my baby is just 4 months i starte cerelac few days back i am top feed mom as i was most unlucky mom that i was not in stage to breastfeed to my baby. ples suggest is it right to start with solid food for my baby
 
Name: mumof2
Country: usa

as a family physician and mother of 2 toddlers i am disappointed to see such poor advice on feeding babies on this website. breastfeeding should be exclusive for 6 months without the need for water and solids. breastfeeding should contiue for at least 12 months and thereafter if both mother and child desire it. cow or buffalo milk should never be introduced at 8-9 months and to advocate this is just plain dangerous. babies of this age cannot digest this milk and will end up fussy, iron deficient with gastrointestinal problems. any woman who is experiencing supply problems can increase her milk by pumping after every feed or taking domperidone or fenugreek. rather than cows milk, formula milk can be given for babies under 12 months if supply is that problematic.
 
Name: tired third time breast feeding mum
Country: england

i know that i am not advised to introduce solids until 6 months but would someone like to advise me as to how i'm supposed to get through the next 2 months with no sleep and a hungery fractious baby?
 
Name: well read mom
Country: india

your article is not informative enuf at all. it does not tell us what to do or answer simple questions as what food we shud start the baby on !!
 
Name: concerned mother (again)
Country: england

compare the prices of 'one'fruit in a jar'to the price of one piece of fruit! jars have high sugar content, which the infants tend to like, but which encourages a sweet tooth and a liking for high calorie low nutrition junk food! (which is often produced by the same manufacturers as the jars!)
 
Name: concerned, but informed mother
Country: england

for gods sake, please see who recommendations. 'exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months'. then introduce solids gradually, whilst 'continuing breastfeeding for two years and beyond'
 
Name: roshini
Country: india

very interesting but u could guide more to the parents.
 
Name: Suhasini
Country: india

this is really a very informative article.


 

 
 
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