When can you start introducing food to baby
When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods | Nutrition
For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different. How do you know if your child is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.
Your child:
- Sits up alone or with support.
- Is able to control head and neck.
- Opens the mouth when food is offered.
- Swallows food rather than pushes it back out onto the chin.
- Brings objects to the mouth.
- Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
- Transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.
What Foods Should I Introduce to My Child First?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.
If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortifiedalert icon infant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. Only providing infant rice cereal is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration because there is a risk for children to be exposed to arsenic. Visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administrationexternal icon to learn more.
How Should I Introduce My Child to Foods?
Your child needs certain vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.
Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to choose foods that give your child all the vitamins and minerals they need.
Click here to learn more about some of these vitamins & minerals.
Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps you see if your child has any problems with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.
Introduce potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.
Potentially allergenic foods include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow’s milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.
How Should I Prepare Food for My Child to Eat?
At first, it’s easier for your child to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very smooth in texture. It can take time for your child to adjust to new food textures. Your child might cough, gag, or spit up. As your baby’s oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods can be introduced.
Some foods are potential choking hazards, so it is important to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be easily dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing. Feed small portions and encourage your baby to eat slowly. Always watch your child while he or she is eating.
Here are some tips for preparing foods:
- Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water to make it smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
- Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are smooth.
- Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked so they can be easily mashed or pureed.
- Cook food until it is soft enough to easily mash with a fork.
- Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
- Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
- Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
- Cut cylindrical foods like hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
- Cut small spherical foods like grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
- Cook and finely grind or mash whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.
Learn more about potential choking hazards and how to prevent your child from choking.
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Feeding Your 4- to 7-Month-Old (for Parents)
Most babies this age are ready to try solid foods.
Experts recommend starting solid foods when a baby is about 6 months old, depending on the baby's readiness and nutritional needs.
Be sure to check with your doctor before giving any solid foods.
Is My Baby Ready to Eat Solid Foods?
How can you tell if your baby is ready for solids? Here are a few hints:
- Does your baby swallow food or push it out of their mouth? Babies have a natural tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out. Wait until this reflex disappears (typically when babies are 4–6 months old).
- Can your baby support their own head? To eat solid food, an infant needs good head and neck control and should be able to sit up.
- Is your baby interested in food? Babies who stare, reach and grab, and open their mouths for food are ready to try solid foods.
If your doctor gives the go-ahead but your baby seems frustrated or uninterested in solid foods, try waiting a few days before trying again. Breast milk and formula will still meet nutritional needs as your baby learns to eat solid foods.
But after 6 months, babies need the added nutrition — like iron and zinc — that solid foods provide.
Do not add cereal or other food to your baby's bottle because it can lead to too much weight gain.
Watch for signs that your child is hungry or full. Respond to these cues and let your child stop when full. A child who is full may suck with less enthusiasm, stop, or turn away from the breast or the bottle. With solid foods, they may turn away, refuse to open their mouth, or spit the food out.
How Should I Start Feeding My Baby Solid Foods?
When your baby is ready and the doctor says it’s OK to try solid foods, pick a time of day when your baby is not tired or cranky. You want your baby to be a little hungry, but not so hungry that they’re upset. So you might want to give your baby a little breast milk or formula first.
Have your baby sit supported in your lap or in a high chair with a safety strap.
Most babies' first food is iron-fortified infant single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula.
Place the spoon near your baby's lips, and let the baby smell and taste it. Don't be surprised if this first spoonful is rejected. Wait a minute and try again. Most food offered to your baby at this age will end up on the baby's chin, bib, or high-chair tray. Again, this is just an introduction.
When your little one gets the hang of eating cereal off a spoon, it may be time to try single-ingredient puréed meat, vegetables, or fruit. The order in which you give them doesn't matter, but go slow. Offer foods that are high in iron and zinc — such as meat, poultry, eggs, and beans — especially if your baby is breastfeeding. Try one food at a time and wait several days before trying something else new. This will let you identify any foods that your baby may be allergic to.
Which Foods Should I Avoid?
Foods that are more likely to cause allergies can be among the foods you introduce to your baby. These include peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk, seafood, nuts, wheat, and soy. Waiting to start these foods does not prevent food allergies.
Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about food allergies, especially if any close family members have allergies, food allergies, or allergy-related conditions, like eczema or asthma.
Infants with severe eczema or egg allergies are more likely to have allergies to peanuts. Talk to your doctor about how and when to introduce these foods to your child.
Possible signs of food allergy or allergic reactions include:
- rash
- bloating or an increase in gassiness
- diarrhea
- vomiting
Get medical care right away if your baby has a more severe allergic reaction, like hives, drooling, wheezing, or trouble breathing.
If your child has any type of reaction to a food, don't offer that food again until you talk with your doctor.
Babies shouldn't have:
- foods with added sugars and no-calorie sweeteners
- high-sodium foods
- honey, until after the first birthday. It can cause botulism in babies.
- unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese
- regular cow's milk or soy beverages before 12 months instead of breast milk or formula.
It’s OK to offer pasteurized yogurt and cheese. - foods that may cause choking, such as hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes, popcorn, and nuts
Tips for Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
With the hectic pace of family life, most parents try commercially prepared baby foods at first. They come in small, convenient containers, and manufacturers must meet strict safety and nutrition guidelines.
If you prepare your own baby foods at home, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Follow the rules for food safety, including washing your hands well and often.
- To preserve the nutrients in your baby's food, cook it in ways that keep the most vitamins and minerals. Try steaming or baking fruits and vegetables instead of boiling, which washes away the nutrients.
- Freeze portions that you aren't going to use right away.
- Whether you buy the baby food or make it yourself, texture and consistency are important. At first, babies should have finely puréed single-ingredient foods.
(Just applesauce, for example, not apples and pears mixed together.) - After your baby is eating individual foods, it's OK to offer a puréed mix of two foods. As babies get older, they will learn to eat a greater variety of tastes and textures.
- If you use prepared baby food in jars, spoon some of the food into a bowl to feed your baby. Do not feed your baby right from the jar — bacteria from the baby's mouth can contaminate the remaining food. If you refrigerate opened jars of baby food, it's best to throw away anything not eaten within a day or two.
- Around 6 months of age is a good time for your baby to try a cup. You might need to try a few cups to find one that works for your child. Use water at first to avoid messy clean-ups. Do not give juice to infants younger than 12 months.
Over the next few months, introduce a variety of foods from all the food groups. If your baby doesn't seem to like something, don’t give up. It can take 8 to 10 tries or more before babies learn to like new foods.
Acquaintance of the baby with "adult" food. – Krya-Krya
08/18/2017
| Section: Blog
| Question from: admin
Your baby has grown up, he can do a lot. The first few months have flown by, and it seems that it is time to introduce the baby to “adult” food. For this, complementary foods are introduced into the diet. This event raises many questions. How to enter it correctly? From what age? What is the peculiarity of the first feeding?
The first food of a newborn is mother's milk. Studies claim that it contains all the necessary micronutrients for the growth and development of babies. In the case when breastfeeding is not enough due to a lack of milk, newborns are supplemented with an adapted milk formula or completely switched to it. Such mixtures also contain all the necessary nutrients and are as close as possible to breast milk.
When should we start introducing complementary foods?
World Health Organization recommends from 6 months.
By this time, the weight of the little one should double, the child begins to be interested in what the rest of the family eats; also, the baby does not push out reflex food, although it can turn away from food, showing that it has already eaten.
Why not sooner? First, we have already found out that breast milk satisfies all the needs of the baby up to this time. Secondly, the children's digestive system is not ready to cope with adult food at an earlier date, as it does not have the necessary enzymes in sufficient quantities.
We introduce complementary foods according to all the rules.
The teaspoon rule. Starting from six months, there is a fascinating and long acquaintance with the whole variety of delicious food. And the task of mom is not to overdo it. Any new product is given for the first time in a minimum amount, starting from 5 grams. Within a week, the volume can be increased to 150 gr. The rules for introducing food say that a new product is introduced no more than once a week.
This is done to detect possible allergic reactions.
Who eats complementary foods in the morning, he acts wisely. As they say, that's what morning is for ... That is, in the event of an allergy, you have a day ahead of you to monitor the baby and take action, if necessary.
Complementary food consistency and temperature. Baby food should be at a comfortable temperature, namely around 36 C. It can be a little hot or cold later. The first complementary foods from vegetables are given in a boiled puree-like state. By 8 months, the baby has more teeth, which means that food can be thicker.
Child's well-being. The baby should be in a good mood, not after vaccination and not during illness.
Feed elements. Since we are trying new adult food, then let the serving utensils be like those of adults. The kid should have his own small spoon, plate (deep and not very deep). Until, of course, mother will feed. But it will take quite a bit of time, and the child will learn to eat on his own.
The baby eats with a spoon - the mood and his own spoon play a significant role. The rules are quite simple.
6-month-old baby - Vegetable purees
7-month-old baby - Dairy-free, gluten-free cereals
8-month-old baby - Diet meat, potatoes, yolk
9-month-old baby - Dairy products
10-month-old baby
Complementary foods at 6 months. Where to begin ?
There are three options for the introduction of the first complementary foods: vegetables, cereals, dairy products. Which one will be the first is not so important. When children do not have enough body weight, it is recommended to start with cereals.
As far as vegetables are concerned, it is better to start your acquaintance with vegetables with zucchini. Then you can try cauliflower, broccoli; after which pumpkin and carrots, rich in carotenoids, go for introduction into complementary foods. Carrots are usually given in soups along with other vegetables no more than three times a week.
6 months: Vegetable puree
Vegetable puree is one of the first to be tasted. Vegetable puree is very easy to prepare. The necessary products are washed, then they are cleaned and boiled in water or steamed. Preference is given to steam cooking - this way the maximum amount of vitamins is preserved. After the cooked vegetables are chopped in a blender, adding water or vegetable broth, bringing them to the consistency of thick sour cream. Keep 1 day.
Here's a rough weekly complementary feeding schedule:
Monday - a teaspoon of squash puree, followed by supplementary feeding with formula or breast milk.
Tuesday — 10 g of squash puree (corresponding to 2 teaspoons), then breastfeed.
Wednesday - 20 gr + top dressing as usual.
Thursday - 40 gr and supplement with milk.
Friday - double the portion again, 80 g of zucchini puree + supplement with breast milk.
Saturday - 120 gr and additional feeding.
Sunday - 150 gr and supplement with breast or formula.
Next week a new vegetable is taken for sampling and further, according to the scheme. When several products appear in the child's diet, you can prepare multi-component purees, but so far only one of them is taken as the basis. The goal of gradually increasing the portion is to replace one of the feedings with a similar food.
Please note that meals must be voluntary. If the child refuses to eat up, do not force feed him, so to speak, “for mom”, “for dad”. This is especially true for children who are breastfed.
7 months. Kashi.
It's a new month, which means we're trying a new product: porridge. Children under one year of age are strongly advised to consume gluten-free cereals, which include corn, rice and buckwheat. The fact is that gluten is a protein found in cereals and forms gluten. Some people, including small ones, have a predisposition to gluten intolerance. Therefore, temporary hypofunction of food enzymes can provoke the development of celiac disease.
This condition is dangerous because it causes damage to the small intestine. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to give semolina porridge to infants.
8 months. Meat and more.
This month, the child is ready to try meat puree of rabbit, veal and turkey. Such types of meat are considered the most suitable, as they belong to dietary varieties. In addition, they are hypoallergenic. After another month, chicken, beef puree can be added to the diet.
At this age, consumption of no more than 50 g per day is allowed. meat. Closer to the year, this figure will increase to 100. As for pork, its intake should be postponed until one and a half years old, and then exclusively low-fat varieties.
At 8 months it is time to get to know the yolk. This is done carefully for the same reason: allergic reactions. The first time, give the crumbs only 1/10 part, after three days, if everything is fine, a quarter, then a half. Quail eggs are better than chicken eggs.
The yolk is given twice a week, preferably in the morning feeding.
At this age, vegetable and butter are also introduced (no more than 5 g per day). They can be alternately added to vegetable puree.
9 months: curds and kefirs.
If you have chosen the same order of introduction of products as described in this article, then it is time for curd puddings and kefir. They also need to be child friendly. If there is a children's dairy kitchen near your place of residence, be sure to sign up for it. The cottage cheese is chosen low-fat, given at first by a teaspoon, gradually the portion increases to 50 gr. Kefir by the year is 200 ml per day in the child's diet. His reception is planned for the evening hours before bedtime. As for baby cottage cheese, it should not be too greasy.
10 months: sweet time.
Sweet in the sense that the time has come to get acquainted with fruits. At this age, those species that are grown in your area are selected. It is better to wait a little with overseas curiosities.
An excellent option would be mashed apples, pears, and prunes. Since the child already has several teeth, you can give him a piece of fruit to chew on. But this should be done, of course, under the supervision of adults.
With regard to red berries such as strawberries, raspberries, currants, it is considered that they should not be given until the age of one because of the risk of an allergic reaction. If you still decide to treat the baby with a red berry, give him one ripe one and watch the reaction during the day.
It is worth noting that cookies and other sweets (especially sweets) are unacceptable for newborns.
Source: http://mladeni.ru
How to introduce a child to adult food
Komsomolskaya Pravda
House. FamilyMom and babyMom and baby: Health
April 7, 2015 16:30
We talk about the rules for introducing the first complementary foods
How to introduce a child to adult food - we will tell in our article!Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
In the first months after birth, the baby's digestion can only cope with mother's milk (or infant formula).
For the rest of the food, the body is not yet “ripe”.
Pediatricians recommend introducing your baby to adult food at about 4-6 months of age. Of course, the pediatrician will tell you more exactly the right time to start complementary foods, because the developmental features of your child are important here - his digestion, metabolism, and the functioning of the central nervous system.
As pediatrician Nadezhda Maruseva explained to us , by 5-6 months the gastroenterological tract of a small person becomes more mature, the mucous membrane of the small intestine is no longer so permeable, immunity is “stronger”, important digestive enzymes that can break down and digest "complex" food. And a child under 4 months is simply not able to swallow even semi-liquid food, not to mention pieces of food.
How do you know when the perfect moment has come?
It is dangerous to introduce a new food to a child too soon. The baby may not be able to cope with digestion, and everything will end with a pain in the tummy.
And early complementary foods increase the risk of developing food allergies.
But it's not worth delaying the introduction of complementary foods, because if you miss the moment, the baby can start acting up and refuse new foods. At about 6 months, the basic skills are formed: bite, chew, swallow thick and solid food, and untimely introduction of complementary foods can affect the further development of the child as a whole.
And by the age of 6 months, the child's digestive system not only "ripens", but also the energy consumption increases, the baby becomes more active (turns over, sits down, crawls) and light mother's milk no longer replenishes energy costs. It is by the general development of the child that the mother (and pediatrician) can assess whether the baby is ready to try mashed potatoes.
The first one went...
For the first time, offer the baby half a spoonful of puree or porridge. If you didn’t like the puree right away, don’t give up, offer again the next day.
If a child spits out food, it does not always mean that he does not like the taste. Perhaps this is still the “push” reflex that babies have from birth (it is needed so that the baby can only swallow milk and not choke). So be patient.
What's in the first spoon?
Puree or porridge - pediatrician will advise. For example, children who are underweight are usually given a hearty porridge first, and vegetables are usually given to robust ones.
“The sequence of introducing complementary foods and the choice of products depends on the state of health of the child,” says FrutoNyanya expert P.V. Shumilov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head. Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov . – “Children with reduced body weight as the first main complementary food are prescribed cereals of industrial production, enriched with iron, calcium, zinc, iodine, and vegetable puree for overweight children.
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Important Rules for Weaning
- Don't worry or get angry if the porridge hits the wall and the whole table is smeared with puree. Your baby will immediately feel the negativity and will also worry. And you need to turn eating into pleasure!
- The first dish must consist of one component (mashed potatoes from one vegetable, porridge from one cereal). To understand whether the child will not give an allergic reaction to a new dish, offer one product a little at a time, look at the reaction, and only after 5-7 days add the second product. This way you can track down what triggers the allergy.
- Introduce new food FROM THE SPOON first, then supplement with breast or formula. Otherwise, a well-fed baby will not be interested in even the newest dish.
- Try a new dish in the morning to track the reaction until the evening.
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