Baby n solid food

When should I introduce solids?
You can introduce solids any time between 4 and 6 months if your baby is ready (see "How will I know when my baby's ready," below). Until then, breast milk or formula provides all the calories and nourishment your baby needs and can handle. His digestive system simply isn't ready for solids until he nears his half-birthday. Waiting until your baby is ready greatly reduces the risk of an allergic reaction and shortens the transition time between spoon- and self-feeding.

How will I know when my baby's ready?
Some babies are eager and ready to eat solids at age 4 months, while others need to wait until they're closer to 6 months old. (By 6 months they need to start cereal because of an increased need for iron.) Your baby will give you clear signs when he's ready to move beyond liquid nourishment. Cues to look for include:
• Head control. To eat solids, your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.
• Losing the "extrusion reflex." To keep solids in his mouth and then swallow them, your baby needs to stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.
• Sitting well when supported. Even if he's not quite ready for a highchair, your baby will need to be able to sit upright to swallow well.
• Chewing motions. Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow. As he learns to swallow efficiently, you may notice less drooling. He may also be teething around the same time.
• Significant weight gain. Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.
• Growing appetite. He seems hungry after eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula in a day.
• Curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby may begin eyeing your bowl of rice or reaching for a forkful of fettuccini as it travels from your plate to your mouth.


How should I go about introducing solid food?
A good rule of thumb is to start with rice cereal, which is gluten-free and less allergenic than other foods. First nurse or bottle-feed your baby. Then give him one or two teaspoons of dry cereal mixed with enough formula or breast milk to make a semi-liquid. Use a rubber-tipped spoon when you feed your baby, to avoid injuring his gums. Start with just a small amount on the tip of the spoon.Begin with a once-a-day feeding, whenever it's convenient for you. Your baby may not eat much at all in the beginning, but give him time to get used to the experience. Some babies need practice keeping food in their mouths and swallowing. Once he gets used to his new diet, he'll be ready for a few tablespoons of cereal a day. As the amount he eats increases, gradually thicken the consistency of the cereal and add another feeding. Your baby should be able to eat about a half-cup of cereal a day before you add other solid foods.

How will I know when my baby's full?
Your baby's appetite will vary from one feeding to the next, so a strict accounting of the amount he's eaten isn't always a good way to tell when he's had enough. If your baby leans back in his chair, turns his head away from food, starts playing with the spoon, or refuses to open up for the next bite, he has probably had enough. (Sometimes a baby will keep his mouth closed because he hasn't yet finished with the first mouthful, so be sure to give him time to swallow.)

Do I still need to give my baby breast milk or formula?
Yes, your baby will need breast milk and/or formula until he's a year old. Both provide important vitamins, iron, and protein in an easy-to-digest form. Even though solid foods will eventually replace some of your baby's feedings, they can't replace all the nutrients that breast milk or formula provides during that first year. How should I introduce other solid foods?Gradually, one at a time, waiting at least three days after each new food. Even though it's a good idea to get your baby used to eating a wide variety of foods, it'll take time for him to get used to each new taste and texture. Introducing foods one or two at a time can also give you a heads-up if he has an allergic reaction to one of them (signs of which may include diarrhea, tummy ache, or a rash).Every baby is different and will have unique food preferences, but the transition should go something like this:
1. Semi-liquid cereals
2. Strained or mashed fruits and vegetables
3. Finely chopped table foods, including meat and other protein sources
Once your baby is ready for more than cereal, offer a few tablespoons of vegetables or fruit in the same meal as a cereal feeding. Good foods to start with include sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, bananas, carrots, peaches, and pears. All food should be strained or mushy for a 6-month old; at this stage he'll be pressing the food against the top of his mouth and then swallowing. If you're feeding your baby from ready-to-eat jars of baby food, scoop some into a little dish and feed him from that. Otherwise, if you dip his feeding spoon into the jar, you won't be able to save the leftovers because you'll have introduced bacteria from his mouth into the jar.Some experts recommend introducing yellow fruits and vegetables first because they're easiest to digest, but others advise going green from the get-go so your baby doesn't develop a preference for the sweeter taste of the yellow — it's up to you which route you take. Either way, don't leave any food off his menu simply because you don't like it. Do stay away from foods that might cause an allergic reaction early on, and foods that might cause him to choke.If your baby turns away from a particular food, don't push. Simply try again in a week or so. He may never like sweet potatoes, or he may change his mind several times and end up loving them.By the way, don't be surprised if your baby's stools change color and odor when you add solids to his diet. If your baby has been exclusively breastfed up to this point, you'll probably notice a strong odor to his formerly sweet-smelling stools as soon as he starts eating even tiny amounts of solids. This is normal. If his stools seem too firm (rice cereal, bananas, and applesauce may be constipating), switch to other fruits and vegetables and oatmeal or barley cereal.

How many times a day should my baby be eating solid foods?
At first he'll eat semi-liquid cereal mix just once a day. By around 8 months he should be eating solid foods three times a day. A typical day's diet at this point might consist of:• Breast milk or iron-fortified formula• Iron-fortified cereal• Small amounts of non-citrus juice• Yellow and green vegetables• Fruit• Small amounts of proteins such as poultry, cottage cheese, tofu, and meatThere are certain foods that you shouldn't give your baby just yet. Honey, for example, can cause botulism in babies under a year old. And commonly allergenic foods such as peanut butter, cows' milk, shellfish, and egg whites should also be avoided for a year or more, depending on how careful you want to be about potential allergies. (For more details, see our article, Foods to Watch Out For.)

Do I need any special equipment?
Other than a highchair and a rubber-tipped spoon to protect your baby's sensitive gums, you don't need special equipment to feed your baby solids. As your baby starts eating more you may find that a bib, a plastic dish with a suction bottom, and a splat mat on the floor can help keep messes to a minimum. Where should I feed my baby?To establish good eating habits — like eating at the table instead of in front of the television — it's a good idea to feed your baby in his highchair whenever you can. Handing him finger foods on the run can also cause him to choke (not to mention trail mashed banana across the carpet). If your baby isn't quite ready for a highchair, seat him in your lap. Just make sure that he's upright enough to swallow well. How can I help my child develop healthy eating habits?
• Don't overfeed your baby. Watch for cues that he's full.
• Don't try to make your child eat foods he doesn't like. Respect his preferences and avoid power struggles over food.
• Try to provide a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. Use sweets, salts, and fats in moderation.
• Avoid fast food for as long as possible.
• Don't bribe or reward your child with food. Instead, offer plenty of hugs, kisses, and attention.
• Feed your baby in his highchair whenever possible, rather than in front of the television or on the go.