How to Start a Baby on Baby Food
Starting your baby on solid food may seem like nothing special to an outsider, but to you, it's a major milestone. You get to watch your baby's crazy expressions as he makes his way through pureed squash and smashed peas, then wash the remnants of baby's first meal out of his soft, downy hair. Introducing foods into your baby's diet can feel a bit overwhelming, but really, it's pretty simple. Take it slow and before long, your baby will be a puree-eating pro.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic spoon
- Bowl
Instructions
Look for signs of readiness. Researchers agree that babies aren't ready for solid food before 4 months, but the ideal age to start solids is up for debate. Once your child has reached the 4-month-old mark, Wendy Sue Swanson, a pediatrician with a master's in Bioethics, writing on the Seattle Children's Hospital website, recommends watching for indications that he wants to eat, such as watching or grabbing at your spoon, or smacking his lips when others are eating. A ready baby will open his mouth when a spoon is brought close to his face. Get in position. Put a young child in the car seat or hold him in your lap to start solids. Your child is ready for a highchair when he can sit up without support. Pick a first food. Many parents choose rice cereal, as it dissolves easily in formula or breast milk. Because of concerns about arsenic contamination, however, Swanson recommends starting with another single grain cereal, or pureed fruit or vegetable. Mix the grain, fruit or vegetable with breast milk or formula. Initially, the food should be nearly liquid. After several days of runny food, increase the thickness by adding less liquid. Offer a single food for two to three days. It's important to introduce solids one at a time over a period of several days so that you'll be able to isolate allergens. If your baby develops a rash, has diarrhea or starts vomiting in response to a particular food, call the pediatrician. Don't push. If your baby seals his lips and turns away from solids, don't force him to eat. Simply put the food away and try again later. Introduce finger food when your baby is 8 to 10 months old. Put small pieces of soft fruit, cooked vegetables, cereal, crackers, cheese and noodles on his tray and allow him to experiment. It may take awhile for your baby to develop the fine motor skills necessary to maneuver the food into his mouth. Don't fret about frequency. Until your baby turns 1, breast milk or formula is his primary source of nutrition and solid foods are just complementary. Start with one or two feedings per day, and work your way up to three meals and a few snacks by the time your baby is 12 months old.
