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Baby's Diet Topics..

 
You are here : home > Baby's Diet > Introduction of Solids > Introducing Solids to Babies

Introducing Solids to Babies

Introducing Solids to Babies

Solid foods should be introduced to babies after they complete six months. While feeding solids to babies, mothers should make sure that they are properly mashed. Read on to find feeding tips for introducing solids to babies.

Once a baby turns six months old, breastmilk or formula milk alone will not be able to meet all her nutritional requirements. Babies need iron for right growth and development because of which it is important to introduce babies to solid foods at this stage. Even after introducing solids you can continue giving a baby her usual milk as well.

When to Start Giving Solids to Babies?

The Pediatricians say you should begin your youngster on solids somewhere in the range of 4 and 6 months, yet the appropriate response truly relies upon your baby. Here are a few signs that your little one might be prepared for baby food:

He can sit upstanding and hold up his head.

He is interested, taking a gander at everything around him—particularly what you're eating!

He has lost the tongue push reflex that naturally pushes food out of his mouth.

He despite everything appears to be hungry in the wake of getting an entire day's part of milk (eight to 10 breastfeedings or around 32 ounces of formula).

Why to Introduce Solids after Six Months?

The digestive system of an infant is not very mature initially. It takes time during which the chance of the baby picking up food infection is very high. Hence, most doctors recommend babies be fed only milk during the first six months of their lives.

On the same note babies are never born with a strong immune system. A weak immune system will not be able to cope with the undesirable side effects of the infant consuming bad food. By the time a baby turns six months old, her immune system is much stronger and capable of warding off minor infections on its own.

What to Do if Baby Often Feels Hungry

The best option would be to offer infants extra milk under such circumstances. In case a baby is being breast fed, introducing additional formula milk is another option. Till such time that a baby is at least four months old it is unsafe to introduce solids to supplement her food intake. In case you decide to give your baby solid food between the age of four and six months you must refrain from giving her the following foods which are capable of causing allergies:

  • Dairy products and cow milk
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Eggs
  • Citrus fruit or juice
  • Food containing Gluten

Instructions to Introduce Solids to Babies:

Doctors suggest exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, just as supplemental breastfeeding until your newborn child turns one. (Formula is additionally an incredible alternative for mothers who can't or don't have any desire to breastfeed). Presenting solids is increasingly about getting her used to biting and gulping food than giving any critical nourishing advantage.

Give baby the breast or container before anything else, previously or after dinners, and before sleep time. Toward the start, you'll need to examine to discover what works best. On the off chance that she's a major consumer—say, on the off chance that she'd drink an entire bottle before a dinner, given the opportunity—feed her first with food and afterward with a bottle. In the event that she's a moderate consumer, attempt the opposite.

As long as 9 months, feed her 20 to 28 ounces of formula day by day or breast milk each 3 to 4 hours.

At 9 months to a year, feed her 16 to 24 ounces of formula day by day or breast milk each 4 to 5 hours.

When your little one comprehends the idea of eating and is energized by and intrigued by supper time (this generally occurs somewhere in the range of 6 and 9 months), start her on a daily schedule for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Regardless of whether she isn't hungry on occasion, she'll become accustomed to eating on a timetable. (All things considered, never power or constrain your baby to eat. In the event that she isn't intrigued, simply remove her from the high seat and proceed onward.)

At 4 to a half year, feed her two dinners, every two to four tablespoons.

At 7 to a year, feed her three dinners, each the size of baby's clench hand.

As your baby acclimates to eating solids, realize that there might be days when she's more intrigued by her peas and carrots than in the breast or bottle and, on the other side, days when all she'll need to do is nurture. This is all ordinary as your baby develops increasingly autonomous, yet for the time being she needs her typical day of breast milk or formula.

Try offering baby very small quantities of food which is completely mashed or pureed to begin with. Initially a baby may have only as much as one teaspoonful. Here are some simple solid foods which can be easily given to a baby.

  • Mashed or pureed vegetables like boiled potatoes or steamed carrot, broccoli, cauliflower and parsnip.
  • Mashed or pureed fruit, such as banana, a slice of soft peeled pear or mango. If you decide to give your baby apple do not give it in raw form. Make use of steamed apples for feeding an infant.
  • Baby cereal such as baby rice, cornmeal, sago or millet.

There is no specific time of the day during which you must give solids to a baby. Choose a time which is suitable to both of you. Take care to ensure that if food is hot it must be cooled before being fed to a baby. The best way to check the food temperature is to test it on the inside of your wrist before feeding the baby

Do not expect a baby to immediately take a liking for solid foods. It normally takes a while for babies to get used to new food and flavors. Initially, there will be a lot of food being spit out also. However, it is important to remain patient and keep trying without being discouraged. In addition to liking the new food a baby also needs to learn the art of eating solid food. She needs to work on her chewing, gumming and swallowing before she starts taking solids willingly.

Solids according to baby’s age

There are no firm guidelines with respect to baby's first foods. It's progressively essential to offer an assortment of organic products, vegetables, and meats in any request to get your baby used to various tastes. Here are a few recommendations.

4 to 6 months: Single-grain oats

The degree of iron that is stockpiled while in utero drops after birth, and a baby arrives at a record-breaking low at around 9 months. That is the reason grains are strengthened with iron and why they're a decent early food. Consolidate one teaspoon of single-grain oat with four to five teaspoons of breast milk or formula.

From the outset, the majority of the oat will wind up on your baby's jawline. The fact of the matter is to get your baby used to an alternate sort of eating. Despite the fact that it's messy and disappointing, you have to experience this procedure.

Try not to compel your baby to keep eating in the event that he shakes his head no, dismisses, or will not open up after just a single piece. What's more, in the event that he appears to be totally uninterested in attempting grain, simply hold up a week or so and attempt once more.

When your baby is accustomed to gulping runny oat, thicken it by utilizing less water or breast milk and progressively grain.

4 to 8 months: Pureed veggies, natural products, and meats

You may have heard that eating natural products before vegetables can cause a long lasting inclination for sweet foods, however there's no exploration to back that up. So it's up to you whether you start with bananas or carrots, or pureed chicken so far as that is concerned.

Pediatrics likewise accept that presenting allergenic foods early can lessen the danger of building up a food sensitivity, particularly if your youngster is in danger. Basic allergenic foods incorporate peanuts, eggs, and dairy.

6 to 8 months: Single-fixing finger foods

Regardless of whether you've started with purees or are beginning solids just with finger foods, numerous infants appreciate trying different things with self-feeding since the beginning. Try not to offer any hard, crude foods, (for example, apple cuts or carrot sticks) now. Ensure foods grown from the ground are sufficiently delicate to pound with delicate weight between your thumb and index finger.

The shape matters as well. More youthful children will get foods with their entire palms, so a hill of pureed potatoes or a wedge of avocado will be simpler to deal with than smaller foods. Try not to place salt or sugar in his food—it's ideal if your baby figures out how to like it without the additional flavors.

9 to 12 months: Chopped, ground, or squashed foods

When your kid is capable, progress him away from smooth purees. Join more finger foods with surface like yogurt, curds, crushed bananas, and squashed yams. He can likewise utilize increasing iron, so attempt pureed meats like chicken and turkey.

Do babies need water?

Healthy and sound infants do not need additional water. Breast milk, formula, or both give all the liquids they need. Be that as it may, with the presentation of solid foods, water can be added to your baby's eating regimen. Likewise, a modest quantity of water might be required in sweltering climate. In the event that you live in a territory where the water is fluoridated, drinking water will likewise help forestall future tooth rot.

Solid foods to avoid

You ought to abstain from giving babies the following foods:

  • Honey: It can cause botulism, a genuine disease, whenever presented too soon.
  • Cow's milk: Stick with breast milk and formula as an essential refreshment until your baby is one year old. It's fine to utilize dairy animals' milk in cooking or preparing, however.
  • Choking risks. Maintain a strategic distance from these stifling dangers during your baby's first year: nuts, seeds, raisins, hard treats, grapes, hard crude vegetables, popcorn, nutty spread, and wieners.

4 Tips for Managing Mealtime

Make an everyday practice. A baby needs focus to eat, so start a basic routine where you wash his hands, relieve him, and afterward sit him down to eat. Furthermore, keep up the smoothness. Turn the TV and any uproarious music off. This will enable your baby to get aware of eating and figure out how to perceive when he's full.

Comprehend that beginning solids requires some investment. It will require some investment for your baby to feel good with the new impressions that accompany eating - the vibe of a spoon in his mouth and the preferences and surfaces of various foods. Parents, you may get frowns and unpleasant faces.

Get ready for wrecks. Your baby will probably throw food all over the place, particularly in case you're rehearsing baby-drove weaning. This is normal and doesn't really show an abhorrence. Getting food into his mouth takes coordination and practice for the baby.

Watch out for allergies. To make pinpointing allergies simpler, give your youngster just a single new food at once and hold up three or four days before attempting another. Look out for indications of an unfavorably susceptible response or bigotry, similar to a rash, hives, wheezing, trouble breathing, spewing, over the top gas, loose bowels, or blood in her stools. Call your pediatrician on the off chance that you notice any of these manifestations (they can take minutes or days to show up), and go to the ER if the response appears to be serious.

When to start giving solids to babies? What are the safety measures to keep in mind before introducing solids to babies? What to do if your baby is rejecting the solids? Discuss here.



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Jessica
Jessica.7 years ago
Our Expert By Dr Vivek M Rege Guides How to introduce solid foods to babies.
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Monali
Monali.9 years ago
what should be baby position while feeding till baby doesnt sit independently?
 
 
 
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Randeep
Randeep.12 years ago
i would like to know which fruits and vegetables should be avoided when introducing the solids first time?
 
 
 
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Moris
Moris.12 years ago
Introducing solids at 6 months is a must as the baby needs more nutrients and energy for his growing body which simple liquid foods cannot provide. It is best to start gradually so that he gets used to it.
 
 
 
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Payoli
Payoli.12 years ago
I introduced solids at 5 months age because my baby was always hungry. he was a very active kid and his growth was also more than average so i had to introduce solids a bit early.
 
 
 
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