So you’ve recently had your little angel brought into the world. Fast forward to six months, and your baby is done with eating just milk every day. He or she will be ready to take on solid foods. But, where do you begin?
The baby’s first bite is an achievement that all parents are excited about. But before you can give him that first “choo-choo train,” here are a few things you need to know to get your baby started.
Are They Ready For Solid Food?
The World Health Organization recommends that babies be breastfeed or given formula until they’re six months old. But in some cases, babies require a longer time before they can start chewing on some baby cereal, while some can get started as early as when they’re four months old, to complement their milk.
In addition to checking if your baby no longer pushes food out with their tongue, and going for a trip to the doctor, look for these signs as indicators that your baby is ready to eat solid food.
- Ability to hold their head in a steady and upright position
- Ability to sit with support
- Mouthing their toys
- Leans forward with their mouth open, indicating their desire for food
If your baby exhibits all of these signs, then your little one is ready.
What to Give Your Baby
Apart from making sure that you don’t give your baby anything that he or she is allergic to, the diet you give to your newborn is also essential. When he’s ready to eat solid food, he should still be fed at least 32 ounces of milk every day. Here are some foods that you can get your baby started with.
Single Ingredient Food
Remember that your baby is new to this, so he’s still trying to adjust, and both of you are figuring out what’s best. Give him or her different kinds of food every three to five days to see if he’s showing any adverse reaction from the diet. When you feel comfortable that your baby can handle it, give him a combination to test out.
Baby Cereal
Giving baby cereal is a staple for a lot of moms. Start with providing a more liquid formula to see if your baby can swallow it down. Once he or she does, start making formulas that are a bit thicker to ease your baby into chewing.
You can also try alternating the types of baby cereal you give him so he can try out new flavors and textures. There are a lot of online baby stores that will provide you with tons of options for baby food.
Vegetables and fruits
After cereals, start with giving your baby pureed vegetables or fruits so you can slowly introduce him to the flavor and texture. After a while, you can start giving your baby finely chopped vegetables and fruits to provide him with a more robust taste.
When getting your baby started with solid food, it’s important to remember that it takes time. Your baby could even refuse what you’re giving him about 10 to 15 times before he accepts it. But throughout the process, the important thing is that you’re giving your baby the food he needs, so enjoy all the gooey mess he or she is about to make. Though the good news is, you can minimize the mess during mealtimes by plating smaller portions and also choosing the right tableware, which includes sectioned plates and suction cups. Bamboo dinner set for kids is a good option as the suction base keeps the bowl secured to the table or high chair preventing the plate from being flipped over.