Thank you, Your baby has reached a stage when you can give him complementary foods. Baby starting solid foods is an exciting and joyful step for you and your baby. But this often raises many questions. You may be wondering if and how to know if your baby is ready for solid foods when the first solid foods are offered. The following patterns will help you in this next phase of your big move on solid foods.
Great nutrition for baby:
After the age of 6 months, babies need extra food along with breast milk for growth and mental development. Since their stomachs are still very small, the food should contain extra food-grade nutrients. Iron is one of the essential nutrients for children of this age. So the first foods you introduce to your baby should be iron rich. Meat is a great source of iron. It is recommended as a baby’s first food.
Fortified Infant Cereal provides great nutrition for young babies. They are designed to provide essential nutrients in a small form. Fortified Infant cereal is easily digested by babies’ stomachs and makes another good option for the first taste of solid food. Make it thin and feed the baby first and then go to a thicker texture as your baby eats with a spoon. This helps you keep up with their eating habits. Introducing new foods at the right time is an important part of establishing healthy eating habits for life.
How do you know if baby is ready?
Young children have not yet acquired the skills necessary to move solid food into their mouths and successfully live life. By the time your baby is 6 months old, he needs to sit up while eating, take food with a spoon and develop to turn his head.
Observe the following signals:
*Sits up without help because he already has control over his body.
*Can turn head right or left on its own.
*He will move his tongue back and forth rhythmically when you have the spoon in his mouth. It facilitates him to receive and swallow food. It may take a few days to get used to eating with a spoon but he will learn it quickly.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician before starting solid foods when your baby is around six months old.
What is good nutrition for?
Young children continue to grow and have specific nutritional needs. Fortified Infant Cereal B Vitamins n , Zinc, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin E All these nutrients are key to rapid growth of babies. Nutrition from iron-rich cereals can be an important part of your baby’s diet until the age of two.
Here are some tips to prepare your baby for his first spoonful of food:
*Breastfeed him so that he is not fussy or very hungry.
*Take time to feed the baby. Choose a time of day so you don’t have to rush.
*Choose the right spoon for your baby. Use a small spoon that can be coated to protect your baby’s dry mouth.
*Allow him to explore. Put a dollop of puree or cereal in his high chair so he can draw with his fingers and get used to the texture. Allow him to explore the texture and smell of food.
*Baby’s first Bite: You sit in front of the baby and hold half a tablespoon of food about 12 inches from his mouth. Get his attention and place the spoon next to his mouth. If he takes the first taste and bites the next one, he will want to eat it himself. Feed your baby as slowly or as quickly as he wants and always watch for signs of satisfaction.
* Try again. Don’t be surprised if your baby bites you then. This is a natural reflection. If your baby doesn’t like the experience, stop trying for now and try again later.
Good to know:
Breast milk is your baby’s main source of nutrition. This will help introduce your baby to new surfaces and textures. Tips for introducing iron-fortified baby cereals:
*Start with rice-based baby food grains. First identify your potential food sensitivities or reactions by sizing up single-grain foods, For example, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, or may cause new food habits.
*Some food grains should never be prepared in bottles. You can start feeding with just one spoon. Unless your pediatrician tells you otherwise.
*When you start giving cereals it is recommended to mix them with breast milk. When you feel that your baby is developing a slimmer build, make a thicker tax cereal.
*Prepare only the amount of food that you think the child will eat. Do not store prepared cereal. Because it can easily release bacteria.
If you wait three days before introducing a frequent food, you can detect any signs of illness or sensitivity, such as rash, diarrhea, runny nose, and vomiting. If you suspect a reaction is occurring, stop giving your baby the new food and talk to your baby’s specialist.
A day in your 6 to 7 month old baby’s Diet:
This sample day was developed by registered dietitians to help meet your baby’s nutritional goals at six to seven months of age. You should always understand your baby’s cues and moods.
Morning feeding:
Cow’s milk should not be given to children under one year of age, mother’s breast milk must be given.
Breakfast :
2 tablespoons of pureed fruit such as peaches or pears 2 tablespoons of iron Fortified dry infant cereal mixed with breast milk.
Mid Morning:
Mother’s breast milk.
Lunch:
A quarter cup or four tablespoons of pureed vegetables such as carrots Pureed meat 4 tablespoons.
Dinner:
Two tablespoons of iron-fortified dry cereal can be mixed with breast milk along with two tablespoons of pureed fruit. Breast milk before going to sleep.
Foods you should skip later:
Give your baby more grown-up foods such as classy drinks, chips or cookies that are tastier to the baby But these foods may seem tasty to the baby but they are not very nutritious in terms of nutrition. Children need nutritious foods that provide important nutrients in an age-appropriate amount of calories.
Do not give your baby sugar or salt:
Some babies start eating salty snacks such as chips and soda at seven to eight months of age. Such foods are not suitable for such young children and there is a risk that they will fill up before eating more nutritious foods. It sets bad eating habits from a very young age that are difficult to change over time.
Do not give your child sugary drinks:
Sweetened beverages should not be part of a baby’s diet, and because of their relatively high natural sugar content, some nutrition and health experts recommend that babies should not be given fruit juice in the first year. If you decide to juice then you can start after six months. Can start with one to two ounces 30 to 60 ml a day and should not be fed above 120 minutes a day. Only give your child 100% juice, not juice drinks or other juice mixes that contain added sweeteners.
cow’s milk:
The World Health Organization recommends that babies be breastfed for the first year of their lives. This ensures a good supply of important nutrients in your baby’s diet. Cow’s milk is not an appropriate drink for your baby before he is two years old.
Consult your doctor:
Talk to your pediatrician to see what type of milk is right for your baby after your baby reaches his first birthday.
Honey:
Honey can contain bacteria that can cause infant botulism, a disease that occurs when a child ingests toxins in the mouth.
Avoid choking:
Your baby will start with pureed food with a thin consistency, progressing to thicker and then softer pieces. You may want to try other things, but don’t give your baby foods that make him an choking until he’s at least four years old or older.
