Introducing solid food to babies
November 28, 2008
A baby’s nutritional needs will be met completely through mother’s milk for the first few months of his life. Breast milk will support all his development effectively by providing the required nutrition. Around the age of four to six months, the baby can be provided “complementary” foods.
Always keep in mind that each baby’s eating habit will be unique. It is based on their age, nutritional needs, development and other factors that we decide whether they are ready to be exposed to solid foods. Most parents provide their babies with iron-fortified infant formulas for the first six months of their lives together with breast milk.
Once your baby reach the six-month mark, he is likely to be less allergic to various food materials introduced to him. More over, the digestive system of a baby who is less than six months will not be developed enough to process solid foods.
New mothers are sure to wonder whether their babies are really ready to be fed with solid food materials. If your baby can hold his head firmly upright, feel assured that he is ready for solid foods. If your baby shows interest in food by opening his mouth as others eat, that also is a positive sign.
Always ensure that while you feed the baby, he is put in a comfortable seat. It is ideal to feed the baby when he is neither too tired nor too hungry. Always introduce a single cereal first. Rice is the most commonly preferred initial baby food. It is because rice is the most easily digested cereal. The first few feeds should be in the form of thin gravy. A small spoon with a long handle and a rubber coating towards the feeding end is the best feeding instrument. Babies should be fed slowly by keeping small portions of food towards the middle of the tongue. Let the baby experience the taste and enjoy the feel of the food.
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