Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby
Breastfeeding has been shown to improve infant, child and maternal health outcomes and help control healthcare costs, but how long should it last? When should parents introduce solid foods to their babies?
Most baby enjoy trying new foods and giving them the first taste of solid foods is a great time and an exciting milestone. As your baby grows, her nutritional needs grow with her too. Nutrition during the first year of your baby’s life is very important for proper growth and development.
When to start introducing solid foods?
Introducing your baby to solid foods is more about getting them used to chewing and swallowing food than providing any significant nutritional benefit, but you should not start solids before 4 months. When you start introducing solids, breast milk or first infant formula should still be the main source of your baby’s nutrition, exclusively for about the first 6 months of life. Breast milk or infant formula provides the energy and nutrients that your baby needs. When your baby is ready for solids, first foods might be smooth or finely mashed, depending on what your baby likes. Over the next few months, your baby will start having more solids and less milk or formula. Feed your baby whenever you see him give feeding signs. It is good to offer solid foods to your baby, when you are both are happy and relaxed.
After washing your hands with soap, start giving your baby with a small baby spoon of soft food, such as porridge, baby’s cereal, mashed fruits or vegetables. When your baby gets the hang of eating the first food, introduce others, such as puréed meat, fruits, beans, or yogurt. Try one food at a time and before trying something new, wait a few days to make sure your baby doesn’t have an allergic reaction.
Some Solid Foods that You Need to Avoid for Your Baby?
Healthy eating is all about balance. If solids are started before a baby’s system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions.
• Honey Babies who are under 1 year old should never be given any type of honey, it can cause them botulism. Honey is a sugar, so avoiding it will also help to prevent tooth decay.
• Spicy, Salty and Sugary Foods Baby has delicate systems especially under 1 year old. Salt and sugar can do more harm than good for babies. It is better to avoid them at least until the baby turns one year old.
• Cow’s Milk Before your baby turns into 1 year old, you shouldn’t give them cow’s milk, it may put them at risk for intestinal bleeding.
• Choking Hazards Hard and crunchy foods such as nuts, hotdog, popcorn, raw or uncut veggies and fruits.
• Fruit Juice It is best not to give any fruit juice to babies during the first year of life. Even “all-natural” fruit juices contain a lot of sugar.