Now that your baby has reached the age of 4-6 months, he or she might be ready for his/her first taste of food other than breast milk or formula. There are usually a few clues you can look for that help you determine whether your baby is ready or not.
Signs Baby Is Ready For Solids
His/her birth weight has doubled He/she can sit up with support (such as in a high chair) He/she is showing interest in what others are eating (trying to rip that hamburger right out of your hands) His/her extrusion reflux is disappearing. This is the reflux that makes them push their tongue out. Until this reflux goes away, they will instinctively push the food back out of their mouths with their tongue. He/she drinks more than 32 ounces of breast milk or formula each day.
Introducing New Foods To Baby
With any new food, you want to wait about 5 days before introducing another new food, so that you can determine whether or not the baby is intolerant or allergic. This will also help you pinpoint which food caused any reactions your baby might have. If you have food allergies, asthma or eczema in your family you might want to talk to your doctor about food allergies and what foods your baby should be staying away from in the early stages.
One of the best foods to start with is rice cereal. This single grain cereal is iron-fortified and is easily digested by baby's sensitive tummy. It is also one of the least likely cereals to cause an allergic reaction. The first meal is going to be really messy and they probably won't eat much at all, so don't be worried. It is going to take patience and time in order for them to get the hang of it.
For the first meal, mix 1 teaspoon of cereal with 4-5 teaspoons of warm breast milk, formula or water. Use a soft baby spoon to gently place a small amount of the cereal onto the baby's tongue. Don't be surprised if they push it right back out again. Keep going until the baby turns his/her head or they finish their meal. Gradually increase the amount of food once your baby gets the hang of it. You can also start to increase the consistency of the food as well once the baby gets older.
Once your baby has mastered rice cereal, you can move onto fruits and vegetables. Some people think you should feed vegetables first
so that they don't get to accustomed to sweet things like fruit, but it really doesn't matter which one you start with. There are plenty of vegetables that are sweet as well. Whether you decide to make your own baby food or buy jarred food, there are plenty of choices out there. Here are a list of some good ones to start with and some of the main vitamins they contain (in no particular order).
Healthy First Baby Foods
Sweet potatoes - beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B6 Applesauce - vitamin C Pears - vitamins C and A Peas - vitamin C, vitamin B1 and iron Avocado - potassium, vitamin B, vitamin E and vitamin K Bananas - potassium Squash (acorn, yellow, butternut, zucchini) - vitamin C Carrots - beta carotene, vitamin C Peaches/nectarines - vitamin C Green beans - vitamin C
All babies are going to react differently when they try a new food. Some babies may like certain foods right from the start. Other foods might elicit some really funny faces...the ones you really need to capture with your camera! Just because your baby may make a disgusted face the first time he/she tries a food, doesn't mean they will never eat it. It can take up to ten times of reintroducing a food, in order for them to develop a taste for it. Be patient and persistent and your little one will be gobbling down everything in sight before you know it.
If you are interested in making your own baby food, be sure to read our article on Homemade Baby Foods
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His/her birth weight has doubled
