Our site uses cookies to make your experience on this site even better. We hope you think that is sweet.

Yes, I am okay. Know more
Planning for a baby?
Already Pregnant?
Have a Baby?
Have a Toddler?
Positive Parenting
Baby Names
Child Safety
Cord Blood
Life Skills
Premature Baby
Twins
Have a baby?
Feeding

Introducing Solids to Your Baby? 10 Things You Need to Know

4 min read

At whatever time you acquaint solids to your baby, you will get many opinions and suggestions from your well-wishers. But which ones to take and which ones to let go will depend upon how well you understand the idea of introducing solids for your little munchkin.
Before giving your infant solids, you need to know about a few things:

  • Start solids after 4 or 6 months.
  • Give one food at a time, it makes easy to spot an allergy or any reaction.
  • Baby needs time to accept the taste of any food, so try to give one food again and again.
  • Start with rice cereal.
  • Introduce fruits before vegetables
  • Offer your infant a slice of meat also.
  • Give iron-rich food for a first meal
  • At early stages offer your baby a bland food
  • Don’t forget to give nutritious food

When Should I Introduce Solids To My Baby?

Solid Foods For Baby
According to the experts of WHO, introduce solid to your baby around 4 and 6 months of age. Experts say that solid readiness among babies also depends on the baby’s maturity on the digestion of food and developmental readiness.
Using these considerations, we found that developmental readiness for solids does not depend on months completed by the baby, but it depends on the baby’s ability to swallow food easily. 

Signs That Your Baby Is Ready For Solid Foods

According to research studies across the globe, observe the following growths in your baby before introducing solids:

  • Good head control – Baby can sit easily and hold up his head
  • Curios about food – Seems inquisitive about the food and everything around him.
  • Chewing motions – Starts doing tongue movements and tries to chew every second thing
  • Weight gain – If the baby has doubled with his birth weight, then it is also a sign for baby’s readiness for solids

What Or Which Baby Food Do You Start With?

Every baby is different, so is their food and health propensities. You need to consult with the doctor before giving food for the very first time. According to paediatricians, you can start with a single-grain cereal. Mix with 4-5 spoons of breast milk for a 4-6 months baby. It completes the requirement of iron in the baby’s body. You can also give fruits and vegetable puree for 4 to 8-month infants.

How Should I Introduce Solid Food To My Baby?

For initial feeding, sessions give your baby a small amount of pureed solid by using a soft plastic spoon. If your baby is not willing to take it then don’t insist, just make him smell the food. You can dilute cereal with breast milk and give it to your infant.

  • Introduce One Food at a Time – Introduce your child to one food at a time, it helps in finding out any allergic reactions.Rice Cereal For Baby
  • Always Start with Rice Cereal – Rice cereal is easy to digest that’s why it is recommendable to start with rice cereal.

How Many Times A Day Should I Give Solids To My Baby?

When you begin offering solids to your baby, initiate with one meal a day and later increase it up to two or more. For 4 to 6-month-old babies, one meal a day is sufficient. By around 6 to 7 months two meals a day, then for 8 to 9-month-old infants, three times a day and so on.

But always remember to feed your baby only when he/she feels interested. Don’t force-feed.

What Are The Signs Of A Food Allergy?

A food allergy occurs when the body reacts adversely to certain foods. The allergy symptoms become visible after a few minutes of eating the food. It could be a minor or a severe one. Few signs and symptoms of a food allergy are –

  • Hives around eyes, nose, mouth or any other parts of the body.
  • Itchy skin rashes
  • Blister or swelling
  • Breathing problems
  • Sneezing and wheezing
  • Throat tightness
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Pale skin
  • Dizziness
  • Light-headedness
  • Loss of consciousness

Common food items that may cause an allergy in babies are cow milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, dry fruits, and shellfish.

Do I Need To Stop Feeding If My Baby Has An Allergy?

Not feeding is not a solution if your baby has an allergy. For a very small child, talk to your doctor immediately. For older children first, check if the allergy is too severe. If it is, then take her to a doctor. If not, figure out the source for the allergy and eliminate that food from her diet for the time being. Try a tiny bit of it after a few weeks. If she is still allergic towards it, stop it from her diet completely.

No matter what your baby likes, or how physically ready she is to consume solid food, consult your paediatrician if you are not confident of introducing solids, or if your child seems uncomfortable eating it.

Responses (0)

Please check a captcha
Read this next

Plain Vegetable Khichdi Recipe For Babies

In the Indian culture, Khichdi has always been one wholesome dish, full of nutrition and filling to the core. Khichdi is made with dals or lentils, vegetables and rice, making it a complete food for all ages - you get carbs from the rice and proteins from the dal. Adding vegetables only makes it more nutritious and balanced. It often finds place in Indian homes as the baby's first foods, and can be prepared in many ways. Known to be easily digestible and light, Khichdi is one of the most common comfort foods in our country. Let us present to you vegetable khichdi recipe for your baby. Vegetable Khichdi Recipe For Babies Recipe Type: Beginners Food Category Khichdi Age: 6-9 Months Cook Time: 15 Minutes Prep Time: 30 Minutes Ingredients Moong Daal - 1/2 Cup Rice - 1/2 Cup Turmeric - a pinch Ghee - 1/2 teaspoon (optional) Mixed Vegetables (Carrots, Potatoes, Peas and Beans) - 1 Cup Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon (optional). Directions To Prepare Plain Vegetable Khichdi For Babies Thoroughly wash the moong dal and rice and let them soak for about 30-45 minutes Wash and chop all vegetables into small pieces. Keep aside If you wish to use ghee, take a....

2 min read

Pinworms in Babies – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

[caption id="attachment_27204" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Pinworms in Babies - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment[/caption] In the early years of life, a child's body is in the process of building immunity. Thus, it is quite susceptible to a lot of infections and diseases during this formative period. One of such intestinal infection that is pretty common among the babies and toddlers are pinworm infections. As a parent, you should be more concerned about this parasitic infection. But even though it is not a pleasant experience to watch the scrawling worm protruding from your toddler’s anus under the bright light of the examining room, there is nothing to worry about pinworm infection. It is easily treatable. There are several home remedies for deworming. Continue reading to know more about this common worm infection and ways to treat it. What Are Pinworms?    These worms are small and white. They usually infect the intestine. Their length varies and can lie anywhere between 2 mm to 13mm. These worms are minute when compared to a tapeworm that resembles ribbon and grows up to 25 meters if it remains undetected for 25 years. The eggs lay by these worms, and the infections....

5 min read

Introducing Solid Foods for Kids

Beginning with solid foods for your baby can be a real thrill – picture your highness with food smeared all over the face and the dress – and everywhere else except the mouth. Yes, that is super cute, though it also gets messy. But hey, there’s time for manners and etiquettes, being messy is part of being kids! But how to be sure that solid foods are safe for the baby? And when to begin? Well, none of this is rocket science and if you look closely, the baby will hint himself when he is ready for solid foods. To check on your baby’s readiness for solid foods, first criterion is that the baby should be between 4- 6 months. Until the first half birthday, your baby’s digestive system is not as strong so as to digest solid foods, and all his needs of nutrients and nourishment are supplied by formula and breast milk. Cues of a baby’s readiness for solid foods are as follows:   Head Up Straight: The baby is able to hold his head and neck steadily – with support. [caption id="attachment_2623" align="alignright" width="150"] Baby having Food[/caption] Significant Weight Gain: Generically, birth weight should have been doubled by the time your baby is ready for solid....

4 min read

Can You Give Packaged Juices To Your Baby?

Once you have given birth to your little baby, you become engrossed in motherhood, your world revolving around the little angel. You feed him, clean him, play with him and put him to sleep, while rejoicing the new things that he does every day. For the first 6 months of life, your baby gets all the nutrition from breast or formula milk, and there is nothing else to supplement the baby's diet with. Till your little one becomes six months of age, it is always advisable to stick to only milk - breast or formula. However, as he or she grows older, you need to introduce solid foods and juices too. Wondering if can you give packaged fruit juices to your baby? Read on. Introducing your baby to vegetable and fruit juices by the time he is around six months to eight months would be ideal. The best time to begin your baby on juice is when he or she can drink from a glass or cup. The baby should also be able to sit up straight and has sprouted his first set of teeth. Can you give packaged juices to your baby? Key points to consider when you feed juice to your baby Homemade juices for your baby Can You Give Packaged Juices To Your Baby? While packaged juices are safe in some ways, there....

4 min read

Want personalized reading and shopping suggestions for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Come on, sell the idea of signing up with us in two lines so well that they HAVE to sign up.

Sign Up
image

Top 5 picks

  • 1

     Is It Safe to Take Alprazolam (Xanax) While Breastfeeding?

  • 2

    'Baby Talking' Or 'Parentese' - What's Your Pick?

  • 3

    10 Alarming Postnatal Symptoms That Need Medical Attention

  • 4

    10 Best Weaning Foods For Your Baby

  • 5

    10 Common Mistakes That New Parents Make

Want curated content sharply tailored for your exact stage of pregnancy?

Sign Up
Load More

165+ Services.

6+ Cities.

60K+ Parents Reviewed.

Explore Local Services.

Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.

Begin typing to search