Solids For a Growing Baby

Know the types of solids which should be introduced to a baby at the different growth stages to aid her development. Find what should be fed to the baby when she completes six months, between seven to nine months and ten months.At six months the nutritional requirements of a baby cannot be met solely by milk. A baby will need extra nutrients especially iron at this stage. By the time a baby turns six months old her digestive and immune system are well developed and ready to process solid foods. Hence, this is the best time to introduce solids to infants. The purpose of this article is to provide details of solid foods which can be given to infants during the initial few months. Needless to say not all babies have solid food easily. There will be an adjustment period involved during which the baby will get used to different tastes and textures of solids. In this articleSolid Foods For a Six Month Old BabySolids for Babies From Seven to Nine MonthsSolids for Ten Months Old BabiesSolid Foods For a Six Month Old Baby Initially to start off, pureed or well-mashed, cooked vegetables are best for infants. These include vegetables like potato, sweet potato, carrot, broccoli or cauliflower. Fruit purees of mango, papaya or ripe fruits like banana and avocado, and cooked puree of apple can be given to six month old babies. Rice cereal combined with the baby milk is another option which can be considered. Once a baby gets used to eating solid foods and being spoon fed the range of foods can be expanded to include:Pureed or blended meat, fish or chicken. Care must be taken to ensure that these foods are completely cooked and do not contain any hard substances like bones which can choke a baby.Well mashed cooked lentils, pulses, split peas and chickpeas. These should be freshly cooked at home.Whole milk yoghurt and custard. However, babies must never be given milk of cow, goat or a sheep till they turn a year old.There are plenty of varieties of pre-packaged foods available in the market today for babies in the age group of four to six months. Babies must be given this kind of food as an exception and not as a rule. Before giving pre-packed food the label must be checked to confirm its expiry date and make sure that it does not contain any ingredients which a baby may be allergic to.Solids for Babies From Seven to Nine Months Babies can be given mashed or minced food instead of purees when they turn seven months old. Babies normally reject lumpy foods and become reluctant to try out solid foods of different tastes and textures as they age. Hence, during this period starchy foods are ideally suitable for babies. These include: Breakfast cerealsBreadPastaRicePotatoesOats Proteins are other nutrients which babies at this age need at each meal. Examples of protein-rich foods are: Fish, but not shark, swordfish and marlinDairy produceLean red meatWell-cooked eggsSolids for Ten Months Old Babies During this stage a baby can be given chopped or minced foods. A two or three meals a day schedule along with a couple of snack times can be adopted at this age. Breastfeeding moms can continue with the regular feeds although the baby may not want to be fed as often as she is used to. Once a baby turns ten months old attempts must be made to make her join the family meal times as far as possible. Till such time a baby turns one year old there are certain foods and ingredients which must not be given to her. These include: SaltHoneySugarArtificial sweetenersWhole nutsTea and coffeeCertain types of fish However, parents must also make sure that they feed only little quantities of foods like chicken, meat and fruits like mango, papaya as feeding too much of these foods may prove harsh on baby’s digestive system. Therefore, be extremely careful about what kind of solids you feed your baby and always consult your paediatrician before finalising any solid diet for your baby.

Know the types of solids which should be introduced to a baby at the different growth stages to aid her development. Find what should be fed to the baby when she completes six months, between seven to nine months and ten months.

At six months the nutritional requirements of a baby cannot be met solely by milk. A baby will need extra nutrients especially iron at this stage. By the time a baby turns six months old her digestive and immune system are well developed and ready to process solid foods. Hence, this is the best time to introduce solids to infants.

The purpose of this article is to provide details of solid foods which can be given to infants during the initial few months. Needless to say not all babies have solid food easily. There will be an adjustment period involved during which the baby will get used to different tastes and textures of solids.

Solid Foods For a Six Month Old Baby

Initially to start off, pureed or well-mashed, cooked vegetables are best for infants. These include vegetables like potato, sweet potato, carrot, broccoli or cauliflower. Fruit purees of mango, papaya or ripe fruits like banana and avocado, and cooked puree of apple can be given to six month old babies. Rice cereal combined with the baby milk is another option which can be considered. Once a baby gets used to eating solid foods and being spoon fed the range of foods can be expanded to include:

1. Pureed or blended meat, fish or chicken. Care must be taken to ensure that these foods are completely cooked and do not contain any hard substances like bones which can choke a baby.
2. Well mashed cooked lentils, pulses, split peas and chickpeas. These should be freshly cooked at home.
3. Whole milk yoghurt and custard. However, babies must never be given milk of cow, goat or a sheep till they turn a year old.

There are plenty of varieties of pre-packaged foods available in the market today for babies in the age group of four to six months. Babies must be given this kind of food as an exception and not as a rule. Before giving pre-packed food the label must be checked to confirm its expiry date and make sure that it does not contain any ingredients which a baby may be allergic to.

Solids for Babies From Seven to Nine Months

Babies can be given mashed or minced food instead of purees when they turn seven months old. Babies normally reject lumpy foods and become reluctant to try out solid foods of different tastes and textures as they age. Hence, during this period starchy foods are ideally suitable for babies. These include:

1. Breakfast cereals
2. Bread
3. Pasta
4. Rice
5. Potatoes
6. Oats

Proteins are other nutrients which babies at this age need at each meal. Examples of protein-rich foods are:

• Fish, but not shark, swordfish and marlin
• Dairy produce
• Lean red meat
• Well-cooked eggs

Solids for Ten Months Old Babies

During this stage a baby can be given chopped or minced foods. A two or three meals a day schedule along with a couple of snack times can be adopted at this age. Breastfeeding moms can continue with the regular feeds although the baby may not want to be fed as often as she is used to. Once a baby turns ten months old attempts must be made to make her join the family meal times as far as possible.

Till such time a baby turns one year old there are certain foods and ingredients which must not be given to her. These include:

1. Salt
2. Honey
3. Sugar
4. Artificial sweeteners
5. Whole nuts
6. Tea and coffee
7. Certain types of fish

However, parents must also make sure that they feed only little quantities of foods like chicken, meat and fruits like mango, papaya as feeding too much of these foods may prove harsh on baby’s digestive system. Therefore, be extremely careful about what kind of solids you feed your baby and always consult your paediatrician before finalising any solid diet for your baby.