Baby and Solid Food
Infants are ready for solids when
they have good control of their head, neck, and can
sit without support (usually around 4 to 6 months).
When you first introduce solids, make sure they are
liquidized (keeping them close to the texture of milk).
Start with a taste using a rounded
plastic spoon and slowly increase the amounts. Also,
start giving 'solids' at one feed per day for a few
weeks before introducing a second feed.
By the end of an eight week period,
your baby should be eating solids three times a day
(breakfast, lunch, dinner). By the time your baby
is one year old, her eating routine should be well
established (three meals and two snacks a day).
Just so you can pinpoint the source
if there are any allergic reactions, always wait a
couple of days between starting one new food and the
next.
Here are some babies' first
food that you can consider:
- baby rice
- mashed banana
- mashed potato
- pureed vegetables such as courgette
and carrot
- pureed fruit: pear, apple, and
apricot
Preparing Infant Solid Food
In the beginning, its is worth while
to prepare fruits and vegetables and freeze then in
an ice cube trays. This ensure that you have the right
amount for each meal. It also saves you alot of time
compare to preparing a tiny bit at each feeding.
When you heat up frozen foods, take
care when reheating. Also stir it well to remove hot
spots. Avoid using the microwave. Microwave food may
produce hot spots which can injure your baby. Frozen
foods are best heat up using hot (but not boiling)
water or a food warmer that designed specifically
for this purpose.
When your baby is coping well with
pureed food and starts to get some teeth, you can
start to thicken her food. By the time she is about
8 months she should be able to eat mashed rather than
pureed foods.
By 8 months old you should be able
to introduce your baby to chewing. At around 1 year
of age, you can begin to include finely choped foods
as well as wider variety of meals.
Important Things to Consider When
Starting Solids
The foods and tastes you first introduced
your baby to may influence her palate for the rest
of her life. Wait until she is at least 6 months (
1 year old if possible) before introducing wheat and
nut products, dairy products, eggs, citrus fruits,
and fried or fatty foods into her diet.
Sometime after you introduce solids
to your baby, she may prefer to feed herself. Before
she is 2 years old, she may choose to eat with her
hands. So make sure to encourage good food hygiene
from early on and also encourage your child to wash
her hands before and after each meal.
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