Introducing Solid Foods-Some Useful Tips
When your child completes 6 months and starts to sit by himself it is time to start introducing solid foods. Here are some tips which would come handy for all mothers.
Your baby has completed 6 months, it is the time that solids should be gradually introduced in addition to breastfeeding After the age of six months breast milk alone cannot meet the needs of growing child. The food given should be nutritious, adequate and not contaminated.
Things you need to know while Introducing Solid Foods:
1. Infants are just learning to eat, feed soft food frequently and patiently.
2. Take care to ensure that these food complement rather than replace breast milk.
3. Consistency of food gradually needs to be changed from liquid to semisolid and then to solid with advancing age of the child.
4. Offer homemade (family) food, as they are more likely to adapt to these later. Avoid spices and chilies.
5. Commercially processed foods are seemingly convenient but are not better than homemade foods and they are expensive as well.
6. Never serve the child from the same jar or vessel you had served before as the child’s saliva will contaminate the food.
7. Serve your child on a separate plate or in a bowl this gives a fair idea of the quantity eaten.
8. Only one food should be introduced at a time this helps to monitor your child's food intolerance, choose single ingredient infant cereals and plain fruits and vegetables until you know what your child can tolerate.
9. Never force-feed your child. If he dislikes certain foods it should be removed from his diet for some time and re-introduced at a later stage.
10. Food sensitivities can manifest in several ways. Your child may develop a rash, wheezing, diarrhea or vomiting. Most children outgrow food sensitivities once their digestive tract and immune system mature.
11. To start with you could give a food containing iron, such as cereal, then progress to vegetables, fruits and finally meats. Egg whites are often given after 12 months, because they may cause an allergic reaction.
12. Never feed cereals or other solid foods through a bottle. Cereal or other foods in the bottle may cause the baby to gag or choke.
13. Babies don’t require added sugar or salt in their food.
Things you need to know while Introducing Solid Foods:
1. Infants are just learning to eat, feed soft food frequently and patiently.
2. Take care to ensure that these food complement rather than replace breast milk.
3. Consistency of food gradually needs to be changed from liquid to semisolid and then to solid with advancing age of the child.
4. Offer homemade (family) food, as they are more likely to adapt to these later. Avoid spices and chilies.
5. Commercially processed foods are seemingly convenient but are not better than homemade foods and they are expensive as well.
6. Never serve the child from the same jar or vessel you had served before as the child’s saliva will contaminate the food.
7. Serve your child on a separate plate or in a bowl this gives a fair idea of the quantity eaten.
8. Only one food should be introduced at a time this helps to monitor your child's food intolerance, choose single ingredient infant cereals and plain fruits and vegetables until you know what your child can tolerate.
9. Never force-feed your child. If he dislikes certain foods it should be removed from his diet for some time and re-introduced at a later stage.
10. Food sensitivities can manifest in several ways. Your child may develop a rash, wheezing, diarrhea or vomiting. Most children outgrow food sensitivities once their digestive tract and immune system mature.
11. To start with you could give a food containing iron, such as cereal, then progress to vegetables, fruits and finally meats. Egg whites are often given after 12 months, because they may cause an allergic reaction.
12. Never feed cereals or other solid foods through a bottle. Cereal or other foods in the bottle may cause the baby to gag or choke.
13. Babies don’t require added sugar or salt in their food.
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