Baby Talk - 5/5/16

• Follow your doctor’s advice – There is no ideal age at which all babies start solid food. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides a guideline of between four and six months. Look for signs that baby is ready, such as being able to sit up, holding up the head, and appearing hungry after a full day’s feeding. It is always a good idea to check with your doctor to determine your baby’s readiness for solid food.

• First foods – Most doctors’ recommend beginning baby on single-grain cereals mixed with breast milk or formula. Cereals provide a good source of iron. Baby relies on iron stored while inutero for the first six to nine months of life, so adding cereals fortified with iron around six months of age is suggested. Other great foods to introduce are pureed fruits and vegetables.

• When to eat – Most babies start with two meals between four and six months of age, working up to three meals by the time they are one-year old. Serving sizes of two to four tablespoons is appropriate for younger babies, increasing portion size over time to that of baby’s fist. Continue to give baby breast milk or formula when adding solid food to the diet. Until the age of seven to ten months, babies drink the majority of their calories. Solid food at this age is more about getting used to eating, textures, and taste than it is about nutrition.

• Be patient – Introducing solid foods can be challenging for all involved! It is a new experience for baby and it may take a little time to get used to having a spoon in the mouth and tasting something other than breast milk or formula. Follow your baby’s lead and enjoy this next developmental stage!

What were your experiences when you started your little one on solid food? Please, share!