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

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?

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.
• 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.