The main source of nutrition for the first
year of your baby’s life is breast milk, but once the child shows signs of
readiness in eating solid food between 4 to 6 months, you should expose them to
new flavors. This step at an early age will lead your child to healthy eating
habits.
Is
your baby ready for solids?
Signs that indicate your baby is ready to
do so are:
·
Can sit up straight in an
infant chair
·
Holds head up independently
·
Tries to take other people’s
food at the meal table
·
Eats food without pushing it
back out automatically, i.e., the tongue-thrust or extrusion reflex is fading
or has gone away
What
are the best foods to start with and how much should be given?
Begin feeding with single-ingredient pureed
fruits and vegetables to check for allergies and tolerance.
4 to 6-month old infants should be fed
twice a day in small portion. Start with
2 tablespoons, then gradually increase the amount as the child gets older and
the appetite increases.
Examples
of age-appropriate solid food that can be offered to infants:
4 to
6 months (single-ingredient puree)
Baby cereal, banana, sweet potato, avocado,
pea, pumpkin, carrot, butternut squash, cauliflower, apple, pear.
7 to
9 months (thicker mixed puree)
Fish and vegetable, meat and vegetables,
fish/meat and vegetable porridge (grind the rive grain into powder before
cooking), fruit and yogurt.
9 to
12 months (chunkier puree, chopped, ground or mashes)
Porridge, broccoli, spinach, beans,
cabbage, potato, corn, papaya, watermelon, plum, cherry, nectarine, tofu,
pasta, cheese, herbs and spices (for flavour).
Why
won’t a child eat solid food?
Every child develops at a different
pace. Children may need to be exposed to
a new food several times before they start enjoying it. Keep trying every other
day. Some babies may be more interested in playing with the food, and that is
absolutely fine. Make sure they eat according to their appetite. If they clench their mouth or turn their head
away, do not force them to eat.
Precautions
to be taken while giving solid foods to baby
Food allergies are very common in
babies. Hence, it is recommended to give
the same food for 3 days before introducing another food. Allergic reactions can cause gas, rashes,
runny nose or crankiness. Speak to your pediatrician if your baby experiences
any allergic reaction to food and ask if it is safe to reintroduce the food
next time. Never leave your child alone while he is eating as he may choke or
gag on solid food.
Childcare centers, such as Camelot Infant Care, are diligent about food requirements
and developing healthy eating habits. Parents can rest assured that the best
and safest techniques are adopted to properly care for their babies.
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