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Your baby has grown very quickly over the last few months, and so has her appetite! Luck for the both of you, it’s time to introduce some new yummies to her diet.
Ideally, you want to feed your child a wide range of foods. That being said, it’s important not to rush through this process. You want to take your time in offering these new foods, and try to space them out by a few days. For example, once you start feeding your baby pureed carrots, don’t introduce any new foods for about 2 or 3 days. This will give you ample time to gauge whether or not your baby is allergic to the new food. It will also allow your child to get used to and experience all the new tastes and textures.
The older your baby is when you first introduce her to solid foods, the better her digestive tract will be able to handle the new, foreign substances. This is the key point in avoiding severe allergic reactions to food.
More on Baby Allergies
Keep in mind that your baby may not like or accept a certain food right away. This is nothing to worry about. Experts say that it may take anywhere from 10 to 20 servings of the same food before an individual will accept it. In some cases, it takes that many servings before they will even try it! Husbands, anyone?
You want to build a “Feeding Baby” routine or schedule, and stick to it. Try to establish certain mealtimes and engage in talking, smiling and encouraging your child. You want these times to be relaxed and happy, as well as consistent. Doing so will help your baby realize what is happening and what her part in the routine consists of.
Remember: These new foods are simply an addition to your baby’s diet of breast milk or baby formula, not a replacement.
Safe Foods to Start With:
- Baby cereals – iron fortified rice cereal, barley cereal, wheat cereal
- Pureed vegetables – carrots, potatoes, parsnips, sweet potatoes (almost any pureed veggie)
- Pureed fruits – mangoes, peaches, bananas, cooked apples, cooked pears (almost any pureed fruit)
NOTE: Breast milk carries enough zinc for the first six months, but by the seventh month you will need to introduce and feed your baby an alternate source. If you think your baby is ready, you may want to start feeding her small amounts (1 or 2 ounces) of soft, cooked beef or turkey. Baby formula is also a reliable source of zinc.
Once your baby has eaten a variety of stand-alone foods, it may be time to try a few combinations of food. However, try to resist the urge of mixing in a food loved by your little one, with a food she hates. There is a good chance she will end up liking neither.
Well Received Food Combinations:
- Stewed Apples + Stewed Pears
- Brocolli + Sweet Potatoes
- Potatoes + Parsnips
- Parsnips + Carrots
- Bananas + Mangoes
You may notice a fluctuation in your little one’s appetite. This is completely normal and can be a result of a number of things. Whether it’s a growth spurt, the weather, your baby being too alert, too tired or even a little sick, her desire to eat may vary from day to day. Not only that, but her preferences may vary as well. For instance, the cold tends to make food taste a little different, and so does being cranky! So the food she absolutely loved yesterday may not be so appealing today.
It may be hard to interpret your baby’s reaction to certain foods. Does she like it? Does she hate it? Just because she offers you an odd expression or even a look you interpret as “disgust”, try and offer her another spoonful of the food in question. If she likes it, she will open her mouth and try it again. If she doesn’t, try not to be forceful or persistent. You can try again with the same food on a different day. Don’t give up just because of her initial reaction.
Foods to Avoid (now and up to 3 years of age)
- Salt
- Processed Foods – These tend to have too much salt
- Nuts – Especially if there is a history of allergies in the family
- Sugar or Honey – Use mashed bananas as a sweetener instead
- Soft Drinks – Often contain high levels of artificial sweeteners or sugars. You may offer diluted fruit juice as an alternative, or stick to milk.
- Foods With a Higher Risk of Food Poisoning – Any food can fall under this category, depending on how it had been prepared. For instance, soft boiled eggs or mold-ripened cheese.
- Low Fat, High Fiber Foods – Babies need more calories than bulk in order to grow
- Foods With Risk of a Choking Hazard – Large pieces of fruits, nuts, celery, uncooked peas, whole grapes
Question: My baby tends to cry when hungry and in need of food, yet she still keeps crying even between mouthfuls of food. What is going on?
Answer: Your baby has been used to sucking milk down in order to satisfy her hunger. She may not have realized yet that these new foods will do the same. So if she’s crying, and yet willingly eating what you offer her, it doesn’t necessarily mean she doesn’t like that particular food. It may simply mean she’s still hungry.
Question: My baby doesn’t seem to be swallowing any of the food I put into her mouth. She simply pushes it right back out. What can I do?
Answer: Whatever food you are feeding her may be too thick for her to handle. Up until now, all she has had to eat has been the consistency of water. Try diluting her food even further, and slowly work up to a thicker solution.
