Starting Your Baby on Solid Food

Start Safely

Aug 20, 2007 Alina Bradford

How to start baby on solid foods safely, and how to avoid food allergies.

So you are thinking about starting baby on solid foods? There are many things to consider before that first bite. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

When to Start

It is important to start your baby on solid foods at the right age and stage in his or her development. It was once believed that babies could start solid foods as soon as they were born, such as cereals mixed with formula in bottles. Today we know that parents must wait until the baby is ready mentally and physically.

One reason is because a baby’s intestine is not ready to digest food at such an early age. Between four and seven months old a baby's intestinal lining growths, becoming more selective about what it lets through. Before this time, the intestinal lining may let through potentially-allergenic foods, allowing them to enter the bloodstream.

Baby’s younger than four months also have a natural gag reflex that guards them from choking. Sometime between four months and six months your baby’s gag reflex should diminish, giving food an easier way down, and allowing the baby to learn how to swallow properly.

Learning how to swallow properly also includes sitting up. Your baby needs to be able to sit in a highchair, buckled in, without you holding him or her up before you start to feed her solid foods.

Here are some signs to look for to tell if your baby is ready for solid foods:

  • He is constantly hungry

  • She can grab toys

  • He chews on toys and other objects

  • She watches you eat

  • He tries to grab food that you are eating

  • She mimics eating or does a "gimme" sign when you are eatingWhat to Feed BabyMost doctors recommend starting babies on powdered cereals such as rice, oat, or wheat. It is important to get your baby used to a food before you switch to a new one. This could take around a week. You want to introduce a new food only one at a time so that you can monitor your baby’s reaction to the food. This way, if your baby starts to get a rash, diarrhea, or other food allergy symptoms you will be able to tell your doctor exactly what food your baby ate when the symptoms began.Do not give your baby chunky baby food such as diced carrots or fruit until he or she is able to chew. Most babies do not learn how to chew until the ages of six to seven months. Be sure to check with your doctor to see if your baby is ready to move to this next stage of eating.Tips on How to Feed Baby
    • Use a smooth, plastic spoon made small for babies. It will never be cold and won’t cut your baby’s delicate gums.
    • Try mixing the cereal with breast milk or formula instead of water. Your baby will still get a taste he or she loves, but with an added bonus.
    • Simple baby food can be made by pureeing clean, ripe, peel-free fruit in the blender.
    • Never feed baby directly out of the food container. This introduces bacteria to the food still in the container. Always dish out small amounts into a bowl.
    • Always feed your baby when he or she is wide awake and hungry.
    The most important thing to remember when starting your baby on solid foods is to be patient. No baby can be put on a certain schedule. Your baby will let you know when it is ready and will learn eat solids quickly soon after.

    • The copyright of the article Starting Your Baby on Solid Food in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Alina Bradford. Permission to republish Starting Your Baby on Solid Food in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
    Feed baby her first food the right way!, Alfonso Romero
    Feed baby her first food the right way!
    		    
    What do you think about this article?
    NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.
    post your comment
    What is 8+0?