Are you planning to introduce solids to your baby? Baby may take some time to get acquainted to the new food introduced to him or her. Let us have a look at the tips for encouraging babies to eat solid food. It can be a big problem if a child insists on having only milk even after she turns six months old. The nutritional requirement of a baby cannot be met only by breastmilk or formula milk alone at this stage and thereafter. Hence, a baby must be introduced to a whole lot of solid foods rich in a variety of nutrients once she becomes six months old. In this articleImportance of Feeding SolidsIntroducing Solids to a BabyHow to Encourage Baby to Eat Solid FoodsImportance of Feeding Solids The stomach of babies is very small as compared to adults. The quantity of food which babies can consume at any given point of time is therefore very less. If milk fills up most of a baby’s tummy there will not be much room left for a child to have any other food. Hence, conscious efforts must be made to reduce the milk intake with a view to feed the child additional solid foods. Introducing Solids to a Baby Introducing solid foods to a baby can be a difficult and trying time. Babies take a while to get used to different tastes and texture of solids. Therefore as soon as a baby turns six months old she must start taking solids. The later a baby is introduced to new solid foods greater are the chances of her becoming a fussy eater. While starting on solids it may be useful to offer a baby a range of foods in different textures. This will help in identifying the likes and dislikes of the child. For example, some children prefer mashed food which does not require much chewing while others may like foods which can be chewed like raw fruits. How to Encourage Baby to Eat Solid Foods To encourage a baby to eat solids here are a few things you can try out: Giving finger foods for the child to eat by herself rather than being fed. This will instill a sense of independence and motivate the child to try out different foods. Babies like to copy and eat with adults. Hence, parents can make meal time fun by preparing food which can be shared with the baby.Do not give a baby liquid like milk at least an hour before mealtimes, as it will fill up the stomach and spoil the appetite. Mix solid foods with the milk which a baby is used to. Babies take to new foods easily if it is familiar to something that they have had before. Never expect a baby to eat large quantities of solid food from the word go. At first a baby will eat only as little as a teaspoonful of solids. A baby may start with one solid meal a day initially which can be increased up to three meals a day by the time she turns eight months old. During this period it is important for caregivers to be patient and persist in their efforts. It is also important to introduce a variety of solids foods gradually. For example once a baby is used to eating fruits and vegetables, you can start giving cereals to her. Many toddlers go through a phase of eating only a limited range of solid foods. Gradually over a period of time they will develop a liking for food which they may not enjoy initially by observing those around them eating it. Parents must never rush toddlers into eating food. They must encourage the child to eat on her own during family meal times as far as possible.
Are you planning to introduce solids to your baby? Baby may take some time to get acquainted to the new food introduced to him or her. Let us have a look at the tips for encouraging babies to eat solid food. It can be a big problem if a child insists on having only milk even after she turns six months old. The nutritional requirement of a baby cannot be met only by
breastmilk or formula milk alone at this stage and thereafter. Hence, a baby must be introduced to a whole lot of solid foods rich in a variety of nutrients once she becomes six months old.
Importance of Feeding Solids
The stomach of babies is very small as compared to adults. The quantity of food which babies can consume at any given point of time is therefore very less. If milk fills up most of a baby’s tummy there will not be much room left for a child to have any other food. Hence, conscious efforts must be made to reduce the milk intake with a view to feed the child additional solid foods.
Introducing Solids to a Baby
Introducing solid foods to a baby can be a difficult and trying time. Babies take a while to get used to different tastes and texture of solids. Therefore as soon as a baby turns six months old she must start taking solids. The later a baby is introduced to new solid foods greater are the chances of her becoming a fussy eater.
While starting on solids it may be useful to offer a baby a range of foods in different textures. This will help in identifying the likes and dislikes of the child. For example, some children prefer mashed food which does not require much chewing while others may like foods which can be chewed like raw fruits.
How to Encourage Baby to Eat Solid Foods
To encourage a baby to eat solids here are a few things you can try out:
- Giving finger foods for the child to eat by herself rather than being fed. This will instill a sense of independence and motivate the child to try out different foods.
- Babies like to copy and eat with adults. Hence, parents can make meal time fun by preparing food which can be shared with the baby.
- Do not give a baby liquid like milk at least an hour before mealtimes, as it will fill up the stomach and spoil the appetite.
- Mix solid foods with the milk which a baby is used to. Babies take to new foods easily if it is familiar to something that they have had before.
Never expect a baby to eat large quantities of solid food from the word go. At first a baby will eat only as little as a teaspoonful of solids. A baby may start with one solid meal a day initially which can be increased up to three meals a day by the time she turns eight months old. During this period it is important for caregivers to be patient and persist in their efforts. It is also important to introduce a variety of solids foods gradually. For example once a baby is used to eating fruits and vegetables, you can start giving cereals to her.
Many toddlers go through a phase of eating only a limited range of solid foods. Gradually over a period of time they will develop a liking for food which they may not enjoy initially by observing those around them eating it. Parents must never rush toddlers into eating food. They must encourage the child to eat on her own during family meal times as far as possible.
