When to start feeding breastfed baby solids

Starting Solid Food - La Leche League GB

Human milk is the perfect first food

Introducing your baby to other foods is a big milestone, and can be fun too. The simplest approach is to continue your usual breastfeeding pattern and let your baby join you at family mealtimes. Your baby will be able to learn about new foods gradually and in their own time.

Signs of readiness for complementary foods

Babies begin eating solid foods according to their own unique timetables, just as they will walk and talk when they are ready. Readiness to try new foods is just another developmental step and it isn’t necessary to do anything special.

Babies show signs of readiness for complementary foods (to complement their milk intake) around the middle of the first year.

Although previous research suggested that signs of readiness for starting solids were related to developmental changes which happen at around 4 months, recent research indicates the following signs of readiness:¹

Fact: Ability to sit up well when supported
Once your baby can sit up well when supported (for at least a few minutes) let them join you at family mealtimes and allow them to pick up food.

Fact: Loss of the tongue thrust reflex
Babies who have not yet lost their tongue thrust reflex will push food out of their mouth with their tongue. The tongue thrust reflex is a sign that they are not developmentally ready for solid food.

Fact: Ability to pick up food, put it in their mouth and chew
A baby who is able to reach out and grab a piece of food, then bring it to their mouth and chew it is generally ready for solids. Research indicates that the ideal time to start solid food in terms of oral-motor developmental readiness is between six and eight months. As with other developmental stages, babies learn to chew when they are ready, not because solid food has been introduced by six months.

Myth: Breastfeeding more often
Your baby may ask to breastfeed more, yet still not be ready for solid food. They may just be unwell, having a growth spurt, teething, or reacting to stress. Offering your baby both breasts during each feed may be all that is needed.

Myth: Waking at night
Waking at night is normal and common behaviour and is not a sign that a baby is ready to start other foods even if they have previously slept for longer periods.

Myth: Watching you eat
Babies are interested in and want to copy what they see around them, so watching others eat does not necessarily mean they are ready to start eating solid foods.

Why follow your baby’s cues?
Human milk is the most important food in your baby’s diet during their first year, providing them with most of the calories and fluids they need, as well as a wide range of nutrients. Allowing solids to replace breastmilk too quickly may lead to undernutrition, imbalance of nutrients, or poor weight gain. Breastfeeding continues to be a valuable source of nutrition and calories if your baby is unwell or teething, and doesn’t want to eat solid food.

Breastfeeding provides your baby with antibodies, other immune factors, stem cells, and many other components unique to breastmilk. Breastfeeding alongside introducing solids helps to prevent harmful bacteria, such as E.coli, growing in your baby’s gut. Replacing your milk with solid food too early reduces the level of protection they receive.

Developmental readiness inside and out
Your baby’s digestive system gradually matures during the first six months. Introducing solids when your baby is developmentally ready means they will be able to eat and digest these new foods.

Preterm babies, babies with special needs or developmental delay may not be ready for solids until later than six months. Following their readiness signs will help you know when to offer solids. Speak to your baby’s healthcare team regarding their individual nutritional needs.

Carry on breastfeeding

Starting solid food is a new experience for your baby and is about taste, texture and learning new skills, not about replacing your milk. Babies are more likely to try something new if they aren’t too hungry – they may refuse solids when they really want to breastfeed. Remember that your baby isn’t likely to eat very much to start with.

You may feel pressured into limiting breastfeeds so that your baby will take more solid food, but this can have the opposite effect. If your baby is happy and content after a breastfeed they may be more open to the idea of trying some new foods.

Breastmilk gradually and gently introduces babies to the foods their mother eats because traces of those appear in her milk. This provides a variety of flavour experiences in a natural way, helping prepare the baby for the foods they will eat at the family table. Babies will want to eat whatever food is on the table, so this is a good opportunity to review the whole family’s diet.

First tastes

Baby–led weaning
The principle behind baby-led weaning is that babies will instinctively start to feed themselves when they are developmentally ready, given the opportunity. The skills to feed themselves and readiness of their body to process food occur naturally and do not need to be taught.

Babies who are in control of feeding themselves (in contrast with spoon feeding) will only be able to pick up food, put it in their mouth and chew it when they are developmentally ready. This approach also lets babies determine which foods and how much they want to eat: they will naturally progress at their own pace and reduce breastfeeds when they are ready.

Allowing babies to join in with family mealtimes will expose them to a wide variety of different foods, enable them to copy how other children and adults eat, and help make eating a pleasant experience, encouraging a positive lifelong relationship with food. A baby who is allowed free choice of good, nutritious foods tends to balance their own diet.

For more information on baby-led weaning, see book Baby-led Weaning: The Essential Guide (2019).

How to present food – shapes and sizes
Babies love to use their hands, so offer foods that they can easily hold and put into their mouth. Until they have developed a pincer grip, babies can’t pick up small pieces of food. Offer sticks or pieces of food the shape/size of an adult’s finger. Most 6-month-old babies will be able to pick up the piece, hold it in their fist and gnaw the end sticking out of their fist.

Softer foods can be spread on unsalted oat cakes, rice cakes or crackers, or dipped into with a suitable piece of food so your baby can manage by themselves. For tastes of soup, yoghurt or porridge, offer your baby a spoon with a small amount of food on, or let them dip their fingers in and lick off the food.

Different tastes and textures
It is important to offer your baby a wide variety of different foods as this will expose them to a range of tastes and textures. The ability to explore the different taste, texture,colour and smell of food may help babies to have a healthier relationship with food.

Aim to offer tastes of a wide variety of foods in as close to their natural state as possible. Given access to a range of food groups, your baby will show you what they need. If they don’t want a certain food, try something else, but do offer it again.

You don’t need to purée foods or even mash them. Puréeing often requires liquid to be added, diluting the nutritional content. Solid (un-mashed) food aids development of chewing skills, which babies don’t get from sucking puréed food. Early exposure to different textures can also prevent a baby refusing to eat lumpy food later on.

Gagging and choking
Gagging happens when food triggers a baby’s gag reflex and the food is pushed forwards to prevent it from blocking the airway. A baby gagging will usually be calm and breathing normally. Gagging is a natural protective mechanism to prevent choking and usually doesn’t need any intervention.

Choking happens when a baby’s airway is (fully or partially) blocked and they can’t breathe. A baby choking will be coughing or silent (unable to make any noise), not breathing, and their face or lips may change colour. Choking is an emergency and they may need first aid to clear the blockage.

Babies are less likely to choke on food if they are sitting upright and feeding themself. Research shows baby-led weaning is not associated with an increased risk of choking.²

Certain foods are a choking risk for children under three years of age and should be avoided, including whole grapes, whole cherry tomatoes, popcorn, large amounts of peanut butter and any food that could break off in large chunks, such as raw carrot, hard apple or celery sticks. Nuts are a choking risk up to five years of age.

At first, you may want to check your baby’s mouth for unswallowed food after a meal, including their cheeks and palate. Never leave your baby alone with food or when they are eating.

Plan for a little mess!
Solid foods are another part of the world your baby is exploring and they will do this as much by touch and smell as by taste. This can be messy, but is an important learning experience for them. To make cleaning up easier, roll up their sleeves, use a bib or apron and put a clean plastic cloth on the floor so you can safely re-offer dropped foods.

Natural appetite control
It is normal for your baby’s appetite to go up and down over the course of days, weeks and months. Don’t worry. Just offer more of any food they ask for and stop when they don’t want any more. There is no need to ‘top them up’ with a spoon if they haven’t eaten much at a meal. Allowing a baby to feed themselves and take their time over a meal helps them to tune in to their feelings of fullness and to stop eating, which is important throughout their life.

If your baby refuses food, they are not rejecting you or your efforts. They may simply not be hungry. If they are ill or teething, unrestricted breastfeeding will ensure they receive good nutrition and will comfort them until they feel well and interested again.

Allergy & Food Intolerance

Common allergens

The most common allergens (in order of incidence) are:

Milk and other dairy products such as butter, yoghurt, cheese, whey, casein, caseinate, lactose
Egg
Peanut and tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, etc. )
Soy
Wheat
Fish and Shellfish: crustaceans (e.g. crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, prawn), molluscs (e.g. mussels, oysters, squid)
Sesame seeds (in tahini and hummus)
Lupin/lentils (including chickpeas which are in hummus)
Fenugreek (closely related to peanuts)
Celery and celeriac
Mustard

Introducing peanut and egg
Peanut and hen’s egg are common allergens for babies. Current guidance recommends that foods containing peanut or hen’s egg need not be differentiated from other solid foods and can be introduced from around 6 months along with other foods.

The deliberate exclusion of peanut or hen’s egg beyond 6 to 12 months of age may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods. Once introduced, and where tolerated, these foods should continue to be part of your child’s usual diet. If initial exposure is not continued as part of your child’s usual diet, then this may increase the risk of sensitisation and subsequent food allergy. ³

Eczema
If your baby has eczema, suspected food allergy, or a family history of food allergy you may wish to seek medical advice before introducing allergenic foods. If eczema is well-controlled (i.e. mild or cleared), it is easier to assess your baby’s tolerance to new foods.

Offer allergenic foods in very small amounts and watch carefully for any symptoms of an allergic reaction. If eczema becomes difficult to manage after food introduction, stop the allergen and seek medical advice.

Allergic reactions and symptoms to watch for
In very rare cases allergy can cause a severe life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock. If your baby has a severe and immediate allergic reaction, which may include swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes or face, seek emergency medical care.

Food sensitivity reactions can include eczema, nettle rash (urticaria), a sore bottom, wheezing, asthma, colic, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea. If a food causes a mild reaction, talk to your health visitor or doctor about whether you should continue to give it. For further information, see Allergies & Food Intolerances.

Nutrition Requirements

Vitamins and minerals
The UK Department of Health recommend that all babies be given supplements including vitamins A, C and D from 6 months, and a vitamin D supplement from birth for breastfed babies and those receiving less than 500ml of formula per day.⁴

Iron
A healthy full-term baby has sufficient iron stores at birth, and delayed cord clamping helps to increase a baby’s iron levels. Iron is present in human milk and bioavailable to the baby, which is sufficient for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Introduce iron rich foods from six months such as meat, poultry, fish, egg, pulses/legumes (e.g. chickpeas and lentils) and fortified cereals.

Vitamin D
This is produced when our bodies are exposed to sufficient sunlight. Wearing clothes and suncream to protect against skin cancer limits how much vitamin D we can produce. Vitamin D supplements are particularly important for babies who have limited exposure to sunlight and for babies with darker skin colour living in the UK. Breastmilk doesn’t contain high levels of vitamin D as, in the past, babies would absorb most of their vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin B12
This is found in animal protein. Your baby may need vitamin B12 supplements if you eat a strict vegetarian or vegan diet.⁵

Nutritional needs of preterm babies
A premature baby does not have a good iron store at birth. If your baby was born before 34 weeks, they may already be receiving iron, zinc and vitamin supplements. Your preterm baby’s healthcare team will be able to give more specific guidance regarding their individual nutritional needs.

Good First Foods

Offering your baby a wide variety of foods in as close to their natural state as possible will ensure they receive a range of nutrients. Highly processed, low-fat or ready-prepared adult foods are not suitable for babies. You don’t need to buy ready-prepared baby food. These foods are expensive, often come in over-large portions and may contain added ingredients your baby doesn’t need. If you choose to buy convenience foods, check labels carefully.

To preserve nutrients as much as possible, bake, steam or cook foods in water. Take out a small portion for your baby before adding any salt or sugar to the rest. Allow it to cool to a suitable temperature. Offering finger foods avoids the need to add extras your baby may not be ready for, such as milk or butter.

Note: Some foods can trigger allergic reactions in some babies. See further down this article for more information.

Food	Serving Suggestion	Notes
Vegetables (e.g. carrot, pea, sweet potato, potato)	Cook lightly to soften if needed. Give sticks or adult finger-sized pieces.	Remove skin if needed. Avoid small chunks of raw hard vegetables, such as carrots, which could cause choking.
Fruit (e.g. apple, banana, avocado)	Give your baby a whole fruit or large piece to hold.	Remove skin and stones if needed. Small chunks can cause choking
Poultry (e.g. chicken) Meat	Give large pieces of lean cooked meat, moisten with meat juices.	Make sure to remove any bones and gristle.
Fish	Poach in a little water (no salt) or oven bake.	Check carefully for bones. Fish can be allergenic so introduce it with caution. Don’t introduce shellfish, smoked fish or pickled fish until your baby is over 12 months.
Rice cakes Oat cakes Crackers	Spread soft foods on, or use them for dipping.	Plain, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes and crackers are useful alternatives to rusks.
Beans Lentils	Cooked beans and lentils can be mashed to make a spread or dip.	Cook all beans and lentils thoroughly.
Dried fruit	Cut up larger fruits such as apricots. Apricots and prunes can be cooked in a small amount of water to make a nutritious spread.	Although rich in nutrients, dried fruit can stick to teeth and if given frequently can cause tooth decay even if you clean your baby’s teeth regularly.
Wholegrain cereals such as oats, corn (maize) and wheat	Can be cooked with water, without salt, sugar or sweetener. Choose unsweetened breakfast cereals.	Most cereals contain a protein called gluten, a potential sensitizer, so avoid mixed-grain cereals until you know your baby can tolerate each one individually.
Bread Pasta Rice	Bread and pasta are easy finger foods. Serve pasta plain, with butter or grated cheese.	Avoid pasta made with eggs until you know your baby can tolerate egg.
Cottage cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais, butter, unprocessed cheese	Your baby can use a spoon or their fingers. Useful with cooked vegetables. Grate cheese or serve slices.	Use unsalted butter.
Eggs	Can be served scrambled, boiled, poached, in an omelette, etc.	If lion-stamped, egg can be served raw. Otherwise, cook until both white and yolk are solid.
Nuts and seeds (e.g. peanut butter, tahini)	Should be spread thinly. Only use smooth varieties.	Never give whole nuts or seeds until 5 years of age. Crunchy nut butter varieties can cause choking.

Foods to avoid

Salt can overload a baby’s system and too much can cause kidney failure. Highly salted foods may foster a taste for salty foods. Avoid and minimize the use of processed foods, packet mixes, crisps, savoury snacks, gravy and condiments such as ketchup, yeast extract, mustard and brown sauce. When buying convenience foods look for low salt versions, including tinned beans and vegetables canned only in water.

White sugar contains virtually no nutrients and is a major factor in tooth decay. When checking food labels watch for other names for sugars – such as glucose, dextrose, sucrose, corn syrup and fructose. Molasses, maple syrup and honey are also almost pure sugar and can displace healthy nutritious foods. Many processed foods which are advertised for babies have high sugar content and should be avoided, including teething biscuits and baby rusks.

Honey may contain botulism spores and should not be given to babies younger than one year.

Teething biscuits are often high in sugar. Your baby can teethe using anything hard and safe to chew on, including unsalted rice cakes or crusty bread.

Artificial sweeteners are present in many processed foods and drinks aimed at babies and children, including juice drinks, ready meals and jars, and snack foods. Children who eat food with artificial sweeteners may be more likely to develop a ‘sweet tooth’ and a preference for sweet food in later life.

Artificial flavourings and food colouring are unnecessary chemicals.

Foods high in saturated fats. While babies need fats in their diet, foods containing unnecessary saturated fats, such as fried foods, should be offered only in moderation.

Very hot spicy food. Many babies like spicy food, but very hot spices, especially chillies, may be unpleasant for a baby.

Shark, swordfish and marlin all contain high levels of mercury.

Drinks

Water, human milk and formula are the only recommended drinks until 1 year old.

At mealtimes offer some plain tap water in a baby-sized (shot glass size) cup. You don’t need to use bottles or spouted cups but, if you do, a free flow cup is better than one with a non-spill valve on which a baby needs to bite to get the drink to flow.

Avoid juices, sugary drinks and those with artificial sweeteners. Even unsweetened juices contain natural fruit sugars and acids that can damage teeth. They can leave no room for nutritious foods and it can be hard to limit them once you start them.

Avoid giving bottled water, which may have high mineral levels, and drinks that contain caffeine. This includes fizzy and other soft drinks, tea and coffee.

Can I offer cow’s milk as a drink?
Cow’s milk is not suitable as a drink until after 12 months. Instead offer water, human milk or formula. However, you can use cow’s milk when cooking for your baby, for example in porridge and sauces. Other dairy products can be offered to your baby as a food e.g. cheese, yogurt, cream.

After 1 year of age, cow’s milk can be given as a drink. Follow-on and toddler formulas are not necessary.

Further Reading
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.
My Child Won’t Eat. González, C. MD. London: Pinter & Martin, 2020.
Baby-Led Weaning The Essential Guide. Rapley, G. & Murkett, T. Experiment, 2019.
Why Starting Solids Matters. Brown, A. Pinter & Martin, 2017.
Starting Solids DVD. LLLGB, 2007.
How Weaning Happens. Bengson, D. Schaumburg, IL: LLLI, 1999.

LLLGB articles (and Leaflets & Information Sheets available from our LLLGB Shop)
Allergy and Food Intolerance
Amazing Milk
Thinking of Weaning?
Still Nursing
Toddlers and Food

Online Information
First Steps Nutrition Trust firststepsnutrition.org/ eating-well-infants-new-mums
NHS: Your baby’s first solid foods
Start 4 life nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/safe-weaning
Unicef unicef.org/nutrition
GP Infant Feeding Network gpifn.org.uk/introducing-solids/

References
1^{Why Starting Solids Matters. Brown, A. Pinter & Martin, 2017.
2^{LLLGB: Baby-led weaning and choking
3^{Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Feeding in the First Year of Life, July 2018:
4^{NHS: Vitamins for Children
5^{NHS: Vegetarian and vegan diets Q&A}}}}}

Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and Supplementing (for Parents)

Breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, but it still comes with its fair share of questions. Here's what you need to know about about introducing formula, solids, and more.

Is it OK to Give My Baby Breast Milk and Formula?

Breast milk is the best nutritional choice for babies. But in some cases, breastfeeding (or exclusive breastfeeding) isn’t possible or an option. What’s best for your baby's health and happiness is, in large part, whatever works for your family. So if you need to supplement, your baby will be fine and healthy, especially if it means less stress for you.

Babies who need supplementation may do well with a supplemental nursing system. This is when moms place a small tube by their nipple that delivers pumped milk or formula while a baby is breastfeeding.

Babies also can get pumped milk or formula by bottle. But it’s a good idea to wait until your baby has gotten used to and is good at breastfeeding. Lactation professionals recommend waiting until a baby is about 3-4 weeks old before offering artificial nipples of any kind (including pacifiers).

If I Give My Baby Formula, How Do I Start?

If you're using formula because you're not producing the amount of milk your baby needs, nurse first. Then, give any pumped milk you have and make up the difference with formula as needed.

If you're stopping a breastfeeding session or are weaning from breastfeeding altogether, begin to replace breastfeeding with bottle feeds. As you do this, pump to reduce uncomfortable engorgement. Engorgement is when your breasts overfill with milk and other fluids and get painful, swollen, warm, or hard. This can lead to problems with plugged ducts (when the ducts won’t drain well or at all) or a breast condition called mastitis.

When you reduce the number of nursing sessions, your milk supply will decrease. Your body will adapt to produce just enough milk to fit your new feeding schedule.

How Might a Diet With Formula Affect My Baby?

Starting your breastfed baby on formula can cause some change in the frequency, color, and consistency of your baby’s poop. Be sure to talk your doctor, though, if your baby has trouble pooping.

If your baby refuses formula alone, you can try mixing some of your pumped breast milk with it to help the baby get used to the new taste.

Is it OK for Me to Give My Baby the First Bottle?

If possible, have someone else give the first bottle. This is because babies can smell their mothers and they're used to receiving breast milk from mom, not a bottle. So try to have someone else — like a caregiver or partner — give the first bottle.

Also consider being out of the house or out of sight when your baby takes that first bottle, since your little one will wonder why you're not doing the feeding as usual. Depending on how your baby takes to the bottle, you might need to keep doing this until your baby gets used to bottle feeding.

If your baby has a hard time adjusting to this new form of feeding, be patient and keep trying. Talk to your doctor if you have questions.

Does My Breastfed Baby Need Supplements?

Breast milk contains many vitamins and minerals. But it’s a good idea to give a daily supplement for some nutrients that may be lacking. It all depends on your baby’s age.

Here are some guidelines:

Vitamin D. Breastfed babies need to take a daily vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D is added to infant formulas. Vitamin D is made by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight, but it is not safe for infants under 6 months to be in direct sunlight. (After 6 months, use sunscreen when in the sun to protect your baby’s sensitive skin).
Iron. Iron is a mineral found in breastmilk during the first 4 months of life. After that, babies need an iron supplement until they begin eating enough iron-rich foods (such as cereals or meats) when they’re around 6 months old. If your baby gets a mix of breast milk and iron-fortified formula, talk to your doctor about whether your little one needs a supplement. After they start on solids, some babies still need iron supplements if they don’t eat enough iron-rich foods. You doctor can tell you if your baby is getting enough iron.
Fluoride. Babies younger than 6 months do not need a fluoride supplement. After your baby is 6 months old, you can start supplementing with fluoride if your water supply lacks fluoride. Well water, bottled water, tap water in some communities, and ready-to-feed formulas do not have fluoride.
It’s important to find out if your water supply has fluoride in it. You can ask your doctor, dentist, or local water utility agency if the water in your community is fluoridated. Giving a child too much fluoride can cause white marks on the teeth, so there is no need to give a fluoride supplement if your child gets enough fluoride from water.

When Should I Introduce Solid Foods?

The best time to introduce solid foods is when your baby has the skills needed to eat, usually between 4 and 6 months of age. This is when your baby:

has good head and neck control
can sit up
has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (which causes babies to push food out of the mouth)
has the motor skills needed to transfer food to the back of the mouth to swallow
shows an interest in food (by watching others eat, reaching for food, or opening the mouth as food approaches)

By this age, babies usually weigh twice their birth weight, or close to it.

Wait until your baby is at least 4 months old and shows these signs of readiness before starting solids. Many babies exclusively breastfeed until 6 months of age, which is perfectly healthy.

Babies who start solid foods before 4 months are at a higher risk for obesity and other problems later on. They also aren't coordinated enough to safely swallow solid foods and may choke on the food or inhale it into their lungs.

How Should I Start Solids?

When the time is right, start with a single-grain, iron-fortified baby cereal. Rice cereal has traditionally been the first food for babies, but you can start with any you prefer. Start with 1 or 2 tablespoons of cereal mixed with breast milk, formula, or water. Never add cereal to a baby's bottle unless your doctor recommends it.

Another good first option is an iron-rich puréed meat. Feed your baby with a small baby spoon.

At this stage, solids should be fed after a nursing session, not before. That way, your baby fills up on breast milk, which should be your baby's main source of nutrition until age 1.

When your baby gets the hang of eating the first food, introduce others, such as puréed fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, or yogurt. Wait a few days between introducing new foods to make sure your baby doesn't have an allergic reaction.

Experts recommend introducing common food allergens to babies when they're 4–6 months old. This includes babies with a family history of food allergies. In the past, they thought that babies should not get such foods (like eggs, peanuts, and fish) until after the first birthday. But recent studies suggest that waiting that long could make a baby more likely to develop food allergies.

Offer these foods to your baby as soon as your little one starts eating solids. Make sure they're served in forms that your baby can easily swallow. You can try a small amount of peanut butter mixed into fruit purée or yogurt, for example, or soft scrambled eggs.

When Can I Give My Baby Water?

In their first few months, babies usually don't need extra water. Breast milk and formula supply all the fluids that your baby needs. On very hot days, most babies do well with extra feedings.

When your baby starts eating solid foods, you can offer a few ounces of water between feedings, but don't force it.

What About Juice?

Fruit juices are not recommended for babies. Juice offers no health benefits, even to older children. Juice can fill them up (leaving little room for more nutritious foods), promote obesity, cause diarrhea, and even put a baby at risk for cavities when teeth start coming in.

The first complementary foods during breastfeeding: a scheme, when and where to start

When to introduce the first complementary foods

According to the World Health Organization experts, in order for the child to develop correctly and harmoniously, it is necessary to continue exclusive breastfeeding until the moment when the baby is six months old . Then you can enter the first complementary foods. At the same time, mother's milk must certainly remain in the diet in order to help his digestive system during this difficult time for the baby.

Whether the time has come for the introduction of complementary foods specifically for your baby - a specialist will help you determine. He, like no one else, knows the characteristics of the child's body and, after a medical examination, will be able to accurately determine whether it is time to start introducing your baby to adult food. Experts note that the untimely introduction of the first complementary foods to infants can lead to negative consequences. In particular, if you start introducing complementary foods early, when the child’s gastrointestinal tract is not yet ready for new food other than breast milk, then a number of undesirable reactions can be provoked in the baby. A nursing mother can also feel discomfort in her chest and a decrease in the volume of breast milk, up to its disappearance.

At the same time, too late first complementary foods are undesirable. Food products develop important indicators for growing up a baby: the ability to chew food, handle cutlery and much more. When breastfeeding, the baby will not be able to train these skills.

How to give the first complementary foods to a baby

Consider the most important question: where and how to start the first complementary foods for a baby.

Experts make the following recommendations:

The first complementary foods should be given before breastfeeding.
The child must sit during feeding, food is given with a spoon.
Complementary foods should be introduced gradually, starting with small portions (at the tip of a spoon), gradually increasing the amount daily.
It is best to give the new product to the baby in the morning, then it will be possible to track his reaction during the day.
One new food should be given for 5-7 days before introducing a new food.
If an adverse reaction occurs to a new complementary food, its introduction should be stopped and a specialist should be consulted.

First Complementary Foods

So, your baby is breastfeeding and your specialist has recommended that you start introducing the first complementary foods into your baby's diet. Following this, questions arise: how to cook and what products to use. Most often, experts advise starting with mashed vegetables or cereals (for example, Nestle). Over time, the crumbs menu will expand, and by the 9th month of life, you can start giving fermented milk products. The feeding scheme and the introduction of dietary components useful for the baby are presented in the table.

Baby's age

First products

6-7 months

Vegetable purees, porridges from various cereals on the water (Nestlé porridges are well digested), vegetable soups

8 months

, beef, rabbit), fruit, crackers, biscuits, fruit juice, meat puree, vegetable and butter

9 months

Fermented milk products (kefir, cottage cheese), bread

10 months

Fish dishes (cod, pollock ), yogurt, berry and quality fruit puree (from Nestle)

11 months

Meat broths, some types of cereals (barley, millet)

12 months

Mastering all the main groups of new products

Choose foods for complementary foods for your child

This table is for guidance only. It is necessary to carefully monitor the well-being of the baby and his reaction to a particular product. If you feel unwell, consult a specialist. Remember that getting to know new tastes is an important stage in a child's development.

Complementary foods while breastfeeding

You can introduce your baby to his first “adult” food as early as four or five months. The baby grows quickly, by this age breast milk may not be enough, so it is worth planning the introduction of the first complementary foods. Read on to learn all about how to do it: how, when, what products to use.

When to start introducing complementary foods?

The best age for the introduction of complementary foods is from 4 months to six months. Until 4 months, the baby is simply not ready for this:

the spoon ejection reflex is preserved;
the child can only swallow liquids (water or milk) for the time being, but not thicker or denser foods;
local immunity is not strong enough;
The digestive organs are not yet capable of digesting food.

It is also not recommended to postpone the expansion of the diet for too long:

there is a lack of nutrients, as well as vitamins, iron, zinc, weight gain slows down, developmental delay is possible;

chewing, swallowing skills are formed later;

new products will have to be introduced faster, which will increase the load on the digestive organs.

In addition to age, readiness to introduce complementary foods should be taken into account. She has several signs:

The baby's weight doubled or more after birth.
Teeth are starting to erupt (optional).
Ejection reflex (tongue pushes foreign objects out of the mouth) disappears.
Food interest appears. The kid watches how others eat, is interested in food, asks for it or tries to reach it.
After breastfeeding, the child stops eating completely, asks for supplements.
If you bring a spoon with food, the baby opens his mouth or sticks out his lower lip.
There are signs of the formation of a chewing reflex, the baby learns to move his jaws, “chewing”, swallowing food.
The child already knows how to sit (at least with support).
He can consciously tilt his head to refuse food.

Only in some cases does the baby taste food for the first time after six months. For example, if there is prematurity, the maturity of the digestive organs, nervous and some other systems comes later, and it is determined by gestational terms. It is also worth postponing the introduction of the first complementary foods in the following cases:

during illness, if the baby has a cold, colic, indigestion or other ailment;
during the period of seasonal allergies (during the flowering of plants), if there is a predisposition to allergic reactions;
3-4 days before and after vaccination;
in hot weather;
for any stress (for example, when moving, changing the daily routine).

The timing of the first acquaintance with "adult" food can also be affected by the rate of weight gain, individual development, and health characteristics. In such cases, it is better to seek advice from a pediatrician.

Peculiarities of the introduction of complementary foods to babies

The introduction of complementary foods is a great joy. The kid grows, changes, matures, pleases and afflicts, becomes older, more independent.

But he is still small. And he still needs mother's milk - the most balanced, healthy food product.

To keep breastfeeding now that the baby has grown up, begins to actively eat new foods and matures, you must:

1. Be sure to put the baby to the breast after each feeding.

Complementary foods begin to completely replace 1-2 breastfeeds only after cereals, vegetable, meat purees appear in the diet. Until then, complementary foods do not provide all the nutritional needs of the child, supplementary feeding with milk is necessary. Even a few sips of milk will give the baby extra fluid, and mom will help maintain lactation.

2. Keep night and early morning feedings.

The baby is older, sleeps better at night, giving his parents enough sleep. But he still wakes up at night and in the morning to suck. Don't try to get your baby to sleep through the night without feeding just yet. It is night feedings that “start” milk production for the whole day.

3. Teach the baby to behave correctly at the breast.

Many babies begin to press their gums against their mother's breasts as early as six months, causing pain. In this case, it is necessary to gently take the breast from the baby and strictly say that this cannot be done. After several such episodes, children stop biting their breasts.

If the baby is breastfed, a few general rules should be observed during the introduction of complementary foods:

First, new food is given once a day.
For the first time, the portion of the product should be minimal - just a few grams. If everything is in order, you can gradually increase the amount.
It is better to give food before breastfeeding, and then supplement with milk.
To increase the interest in food, it is important that the child has time to get hungry before the meal when you will give a new food.
Add new foods to your diet at least 4-5 days apart.
The best time to give a new food is in the morning (first or second feeding). It’s easier to evaluate the reaction, check if there are any allergies (may be manifested by a rash, problems with stool, dry skin).
The diet should remain the same (the child eats every 3.5-4 hours).
Any food should be warm (not hot, not cold).
It is better to use special children's silicone spoons. They have soft edges that definitely do not injure the gums. This is especially important when teeth are being cut.
Sometimes it takes several attempts for the baby to taste the puree or porridge. It is important to remain calm and not force him to eat if he does not like the taste of food or if he has already eaten.

If the child is restless, naughty, tired, not feeling well, postpone the introduction of a new food. All products must be safe for the child. If you need to introduce vegetable complementary foods in winter or spring, when there are no seasonal vegetables, it is better to use special baby food: it definitely does not contain preservatives, traces of chemical fertilizers, or other hazardous substances. And even in summer and autumn, it is safer to use ready-made baby food for the introduction of complementary foods.

The introduction of complementary foods is an important stage of development, which is associated with digestion, acquaintance with new tastes, and also with socialization. The kid can watch adults when they eat, repeat their actions. It helps to learn how to behave at the table. You can feed him when all other family members are eating so that socialization goes faster and healthy eating habits are developed.

Which foods to start complementary foods with

Vegetable puree or dairy-free porridge is best for this:

it is better to choose cereals if the stools are frequent (and possibly loose) and if weight gain is slow;
If, on the contrary, constipation sometimes occurs, or the child gains weight well, it is worth choosing vegetable puree.

Baby's first porridge should be dairy-free and made from one cereal (one-component or mono-porridge). Well, if it is low-allergenic (usually recommend oatmeal, corn, buckwheat). It can be diluted with water, breast milk, artificial mixture. You don't need to add sugar or butter. Gradually, you can introduce more cereals: the menu can include multi-grain cereals, as well as cereals with green fruits or vegetables (as they are introduced into the diet). Later, you can switch to whole grain cereals, cereals for cooking, and add more ingredients to them so that the baby gets acquainted with new tastes.

The first vegetable on a baby's menu is often zucchini, but you can also choose cauliflower or broccoli for complementary foods. At first, the puree should have only one ingredient, and only later, when the child adapts, you can start mixing vegetables (but do not add salt or seasonings). Vegetable oil is introduced drop by drop only for constipation, and when the baby is already well adapted to the new food.

Purees and porridges should not be too thick, but not too runny either. Gradually, the density of products can be increased to teach the baby to chew.

Breastfeeding Monthly Complementary Food Chart

If breastfeeding continues, introduce complementary foods gradually, adding new foods every few days. You can focus on the scheme, timing, sequence in the table below.

Age

Products

Features

4-5 months

One-component low-allergenic cereals (dairy-free), squash puree, cauliflower or broccoli.

Food must be warm, not hot. The consistency is almost liquid, the density increases gradually.

5-6 months

It's time to try meat puree (from dietary meat). You can add vegetable oil, give instant cookies. The menu may already include apple, pear, pumpkin, carrot puree.

The density of the products gradually increases.

7 months

In addition, egg yolk is introduced, nourishing milk porridges are added, the amount of meat puree is increased.

The child receives food at each feeding (except for night and pre-morning) and is supplemented with breast milk each time.

8 months

It's time to offer cottage cheese, dairy products, fish puree.

After the first teeth erupt, the food becomes denser so that the child gradually learns to chew.

9-12 months

Ready meals: porridges for cooking, mashed vegetables, meat, stews, sauteed, soups.