Tips on Beginning Solid Foods
Getting started Tips on Beginning Solid Foods Babies usually start eating true solid foods just around six months, and it's not recommended they start before that. There are many reasons for this, but in a nutshell, it's about baby's digestive tract being fully developed, choking hazards, allergies, and the simple fact that you could overfeed your baby. They just don't need that much food and the difference between breastfeeding and formula versus foods is that they can tell you, by stopping, when they're full. With table food, they may not show you that sign until too late. Note that babies who are not full-term infants may experience delays in their development and this can be especially important when introducing foods. See your doctor for more information in this case, because I'm completely out of my league here. Allergies show up in different forms, such as diarrhea, throwing up, a rash (diaper or other), or even coughing. You have to watch your baby for any unusual behavior and the times that the symptoms occur, because she can have her own reaction to things her body can't take. Remember, though, that gagging doesn't indicate an allergy. It's a reflex, and it's common when babies start to taste new foods. Whatever you do, don't gag yourself when tasting your baby's food in front of him. Lesson #1 in food introduction is that babies follow the philosophy "Don't expect me to eat anything that you won't eat." Signs that baby is getting ready for solid foods are when she can sit up, hold her head up, allow tasting food with a spoon, and when she can begin to show you what foods she likes. Babies usually will like foods their parents like and we need to try it, try it again, and try it again with them in order for them to develop the taste. Developing a liking for foods includes getting used to the flavor, but it also includes getting used to the odors and the textures. The key to introducing solid foods is to decrease formula or breast milk, etc., during the day. Baby has to be hungry and without view of their "old reliable" bottle or breast. If you are normally "lunch," you might have someone else feed your baby for a short period of time until baby adjusts. As soon as baby can sit up, feed solids in the high chair. Even small babies understand and enjoy it when they are allowed to do things that bigger people or other babies do. Somehow, they just know they are growing. These things, like sitting in a high chair, become accomplishments to them even if they are a bit afraid of it at first. The goal is to get baby on the same meal schedule as you are. In the beginning, you may have to eat breakfast a bit earlier and dinner a bit earlier, but you can deal with pulling baby into your normal dining schedule once baby starts liking the foods and as she starts to stay awake longer. Specifics on solids The three food no-no's during baby's first year are honey, eggs, and whole milk. When starting baby on solids, make a big deal out of using a spoon while you're eating until he gets the hang of it himself. Some babies are afraid of the spoon at first. Say things like "I'm so glad I have my spoon!" whenever you're around your baby. Go on saying things like "Yay, now I can eat with my own spoon!" And of course, the old ace in the hole: "I love my spoon!" Then, let her sit in the high chair and only give her a spoon, but let her watch you eat while you eat something in a bowl. Baby will probably be entertained by you, which is the best way to learn. Just don't go eating a chicken leg or anything like that with your hands to completely screw up this lesson. For solids, first you start with cereals...it's said that you should start with rice and oats and then go to wheat. Mix cereal with water, breast milk, or formula, but only use about a tablespoon portion. Babies don't need much! Remember, less is more. Babies are particular about their food, so look out for your baby's personal preferences. (Remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: "This one is too hot," "This one is too cold," "This one is just right!") Be wary of serving food from the microwave because sometimes the outside is cool but the inside is burning hot. Be sure to test the middle part first for temperature before you serve baby if you use the microwave. The same is true with bottles. If you warm a bottle in the microwave, be sure to shake and test the temperature first on the inside of your arm. Otherwise, you could scald your baby. Using a microwave isn't recommended, but in this day and age, who can blame anyone for it? It's going to happen, so let's all get real and do it properly from the get-go. After cereals, go to vegetables—peas, squash, and carrots. Serve veggies by themselves, especially if baby does not like them. Be sure baby is hungry to get him to develop a liking for them. You have to be strategic with veggies because most of them "get it" and want to jump right along to other foods once they start solids. You can start to add in fruits just after veggies, but remember the fruits might compete with the veggies and win. That's bad, but normal. After you've introduced veggies and fruits, then go to meats, beginning around eight months with your doctor's consent. Meats, not seafood. Offer chicken, beef, or liver, cooked well done, and make sure it is cut into small pieces or, better yet, pureed. If your baby doesn't seem to like meat, try using chicken and/or beef bouillon cubes or broth to introduce the flavor in a liquid form. Bouillon cubes and broths are inexpensive, so you won't waste a lot of money with this experiment. Follow the directions and mix with water. Try serving it alone or with tiny pasta shapes, like alphabet letter pasta. Always keep some plain pasta on the side, especially if you are serving other children. Plain pasta is usually a winner all around. More helpful advice "One food at a time" is the rule in case of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can show up twenty-four to forty-eight hours later, so keep a log of the new foods you are trying, especially if you are using them together. If you see a reaction, drop all of the new foods, start with one food again, give it time to develop the reaction, and then move to adding another. Keep doing this until you find the food that is creating the reaction, and then drop that food completely and tell your doctor what it is. Once allergies are behind you, you don't have to rely on commercially prepared baby foods for every meal. Try putting a combination of foods from your plate through the blender. You'll teach your baby to enjoy the same foods your family enjoys. Learning to eat is a stimulating activity that will actually wear your baby out. Yay! Anytime after five months when baby begins to sit in the high chair and eat, an hour of eating can lead to a good two hours of sleeping. Fresh air stimulates the appetite, so go outside beforehand to rev her up! Saltine and graham crackers dissolve easily and make great starter foods. But remember not to put them into a carrying bag or diaper bag unless they are in a plastic container. They will break into a million pieces—which is why they are great starter foods! See, just like your baby, you learn something new every day! Dry cereals are excellent starter foods, too, because they taste good and they help develop hand-to-mouth coordination. Bagels are great for the same reasons and they also serve as an inexpensive, disposable, dual-purpose teething ring. Ahh...the joy of dual-purpose things! Feed your baby the appropriate foods when he is hungry. He is growing and he needs the basic nutrition. And remember, he has the rest of his life to diet like the rest of us. Put a plastic tablecloth underneath baby's high chair. You'll save yourself a lot of floor scrubbing and sweeping. Teaching a baby to eat takes patience, but patience is a virtue! If your baby leans toward you with an open mouth, she could be hungry...or she may just be trying to give you a kiss! Thicken soup consistencies to your baby's preference with crackers. Try not to give too heavy a mixture in the beginning, because it's like this book...it may not seem like it, but it's a lot to digest! Beware of the word "never." As in: I will never take my baby to a fast-food restaurant. Just trust me on this one.
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