Introducing Baby to Solid Foods

Introducing Baby to Solid Foods

This is an important state in a baby's life; it needs a lot of patient on a parent's part, practice on baby's part and a lot of learning by everyone.

Important points to remember, include:
Bottles are for water or formula only, no solids (solids to be fed on a spoon) and no fruit juices or softdrinks because these have too much sugar.
Meal times are for you and your baby to enjoy.
Avoid forcing your baby to finish a bottle or feed. Your baby is the best judge of how much to eat.
Do not add sugar or salt to your baby's food.
Home prepared foods are best. It is important your baby learns individual tastes and textures of food. Use commercial baby foods as needed.
Always read labels carefully.
Add one new food at a time. Give the same food for three days before starting the next one. This gives your baby time to adjust to the new food. If there is a reaction, it is easier to see which food may have caused it.
Always supervise children when eating.
Begin with finely mashed foods. Baby learns to chew between 6-8 months so slowly increase the texture, then offer finger foods. Begin with small amounts 1-2 teaspoons and increase gradually.
It is recommended that breast milk or formula is the most suitable feeding under 12 months of age.

Food for Baby's First Year
Birth: First choice breast milk. If this is not possible formulas made for babies under 12 months as recommended by the Maternal Child Health Nurse.

Signs of Food Readiness: Chewing movements begin, tongue moves back and forth, able to hold head up and take solids; begin introducing solids from a spoon after milk feeding.

4-6 months: Rice cereal -best' first food
Cereals are diluted with breast milk, formula or water
Fruit: pears, apple, bananas, avocado.
Vegetables: pumpkin, zucchini, potato, sweet potato
Mash finely then gradually increase the texture.

6-7 months: Cereal (wheat based)mixed farex, high protein

Broth
Poultry
Meat – mixed with vegetables
Oats - instant
Rusks
Chicken drumstick bone
Yoghurt – natural, add own fruit if wanting fruit yoghurt
Custard – no eggs
Rice
Fromage frais
Mango
Half peeled apple in nylon stocking
Canned peaches, pears in natural juice.

8-9 months: Infant muesli
Eating 3 meals a day
Introduce a cup with water or formula
Cheese
Fish (beware of bones)
Tofu (bean curd)
Other vegetables: spinach, silverbeet, peas, brussel sprouts, cabbage, green beans, tomato, carrot, parsnip, broccoli, cauliflower
Lentils and Pasta
Eggs in food eg. egg custard, egg pasta
Hot cakes/pancakes
Finger foods: small tender strips of meat, cooked vegetables (strips of slices), soft fruit wedges or slices
Fruit: all fruits except passionfruit and berry fruits Egg pasta
Bread
Dinner roll – no seeds.

10-12 months: Family meals
Other beans eg. kindney and cannellini soy
Raisin bread.

12 months: Low salt/lite Weetbix or Vitabrits
Introduce cow's milk.

Note: do not give baby nuts, seeds, raw carrot and other small hard foods which may cause choking.
If there is any reaction to eggs eg. rash, vomiting, stop immediately and discuss with Maternal Child Health Nurse nurse.