Starting on Solids

Wow, you are getting ready to start your baby on his first spoonful of solid food. How exciting -- he's growing up!

As most babies are ready to start solids at 4 to 6 months, remember that your goal is to introduce your child to solids -- not to fill him up on them!!!!! Just keep in mind that breast milk or formula should be the primary source of nutrition for the first 12 months and try to expose him to a wide array of foods from all food groups (unless you know he has a certain allergy). And the more flavors and textures he tries early on, the less likely you’ll have a picky eater, when they are all grown up. This is so very true, as I am on month number 3 on solids with Marley and so far there are only a few items that she doesn’t like, which are avocados and zucchinis.

Here are some signs that your baby is ready for solid foods

• Can sit and hold his head up
• Can watch and open his mouth for the spoon
• Can move food with his tongue from the front to back of mouth

The first meal:

Now the first meal is a sign that our little bundles of joy are growing up and moving on to the next step, its also a good starting point on how you want to give him/her is food.  Some people go all homemade and some go with the prepackaged baby food, so depending on which direction you choose for baby food make sure you know what is in it and is it at the right age for the foods.

When to start:
While some pediatricians and doctors believe that some babies can start as early as 4 months, other doctors recommend waiting until they're at least 6 months old because:

* Your baby simply doesn't need solids before then. Breast milk and formula provide all the nutrition she requires.

* Starting earlier increases the risk of food allergies and obesity.

* By 6 months, your child will have lost her tongue-thrust reflex, which makes her push anything that isn't liquid out of her mouth.

It's sometimes okay to begin solids at 7 months -- some babies may not be developmentally ready until then -- but don't wait longer than that. This is the time when babies really begin to be interested in solids -- you may see your infant curiously eyeing your dinner or opening her mouth as if she'd like a bite. Take advantage of her eagerness to try new tastes.

How to start

Time her first meal so that she's hungry but not ravenous or she'll be too fussy to even let you put the spoon near her mouth. And start off with a small amount as this is their first time eating solids that they may not like it or even eat a whole bunch.  One tactic that you can try if your little one is really fussy is to let her nurse or have a bottle for a few minutes to take the edge off her appetite, and then serve solids. Afterward, she can top off the meal with the rest of her bottle or the breast. Feed her in a quiet place so she's not distracted.

What to feed her
Rice cereal is a popular first food. It's easy to digest and rarely triggers an allergic reaction. Make sure it's iron fortified, and...

* Prepare it very thin at first -- one teaspoon of cereal to four or five teaspoons of breast milk, formula, or water.

* Scoop a little bit onto a baby spoon, and put it between your baby's lips.

* If the cereal comes sliding back out, don't worry. Your baby needs to figure out how to swallow something that isn't liquid. It may take several tries before she gets the hang of it.

* If she refuses to open her mouth or begins to cry, try again the next day. If she still balks, wait a week before trying again.

Something to keep in mind: Some experts now believe that fruit and vegetables (either mashed, strained, or pureed) should be a baby's first food instead of cereal because exposing kids to healthy foods from the start can lay the foundation for healthy eating habits throughout life. So it's fine to try mashed bananas, mashed cooked pears, mashed sweet potatoes, pureed peas, or pureed green beans.

How much to feed her
The first few times you offer your baby something she's never eaten before, getting the taste of it on her little lips is good enough. If she likes it, aim for a teaspoon of food at each sitting and gradually give more as she accepts it. If she closes her mouth, turns away, or slaps at the spoon, it probably means she's full. Babies are born with the ability to self-regulate how much food they need, and will eat only that amount. For some meals -- or days  -- she may not eat much; on others, she may be very hungry.

Foods to avoid:

 Newborn to 4 to 6 months

All solid food: The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding until your baby is six months old.

Foods to avoid: 6 to 12 months

Honey: Honey can harbour spores of Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism. An adult's intestinal tract can prevent the growth of these spores, but in a baby the spores can grow and produce life-threatening toxins. Do not give your baby honey until he is a year old.

Cow's, goat's and sheep's milk: Stick with breast milk or formula as the sole source of nutrition until your child's first birthday. Why? It doesn't have all the nutrients he needs, and it contains minerals in amounts that can damage his kidneys. You can begin to offer these milks in small amounts, in addition to breast milk or formula after nine months.

Egg whites: The egg yolk is a wonderful source of protein for your baby but the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends avoiding egg whites until he is a year old to minimize the risk of allergic reaction.

Salt, sugar, and artificial sweeteners: Try sweetening desserts with mashed banana or a purée of stewed dried fruit if possible, or use expressed breastmilk or formula milk. Your baby's taste buds are more sensitive than yours and he doesn't need any extra salt, sugar, or artificial sweeteners to help him enjoy his foods. These flavour enhancers don't offer him any more nutrients.

Fruit or diet drinks: Artificial sweeteners are not suitable for babies and young children.

Soft mould-ripened cheeses (brie, camembert), liver pâté, and soft-boiled or raw eggs. These are foods which may carry a risk of food poisoning

Low-fat milks (2%, 1%, or skim), low-fat spreads, yogurts and reduced-fat cheeses Always offer your baby the full-fat versions - they need the calories.

Watch out for these choking hazards:

Large chunks: Pea-size pieces of food are safest — they won't get stuck in your child's throat. Hard vegetables like carrots, celery, and green beans should be shredded, or cooked and diced or mashed. Cut fruits like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and melon balls into quarters before serving. Cut meats and cheeses into very small pieces or shred them. Hot dogs should be sliced or diced.

Sticky foods: Spread sticky foods like cream cheese, peanut butter and other nut butters thinly on a cracker or on toast.

Small, hard foods: Nuts including peanuts, popcorn, cough drops, hard candies, raisins, and other small dried fruit and seeds are potential choking hazards.

Soft foods: Soft foods like marshmallows and jelly candies can get lodged in your child's throat.

More choking prevention:

• Always supervise your baby when he is eating.
• Make sure your baby is sitting down when he eats.
• Take the pits out of fruits before offering them to your child.
• Avoid letting your child eat in the car. It's too hard to supervise while driving.
• If you're using a rub-on teething medication, keep a close eye on your baby as it can numb his throat and interfere with swallowing.

Allergies:

It's a wise idea to introduce new foods gradually, waiting several days after each new menu item to make sure your baby doesn't react to it. And if you believe that your baby is likely to have food allergies -- for example, if allergies run in your family -- check with his doctor to determine the best strategy for introducing allergenic foods like eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish

Have some fun and enjoy


Links
www.fraserhealth.ca
www.babycentre.ca
www.webcrawler.com
www.greatervancouverhealth.com