When Can You Introduce Solid Food to Babies
Fundamental facts
- Innovate solid foods at around 6 months just not before 4 months.
- Breastfeeding or bottle feeding should continue up to 12 months.
- Nutrient tin be offered in whatsoever lodge as long as it is the right texture and is nutritious.
- Introduce 'allergy foods' when you lot are introducing solids.
- E'er supervise your baby when they are eating.
When should I introduce solid foods to my baby?
Your babe only needs breast milk or infant formula for the first half dozen months.
At around half dozen months old, most babies – whether they are breast or formula fed – need more atomic number 26 equally well as other nutrients, such equally zinc and protein. A baby's fe stores, which build up while they're in the uterus, become low by 6 months. Their torso also demands actress kilojoules and nutrient-dense food.
The current recommendation is to introduce solids at around 6 months but not earlier 4 months. Each babe is an individual and will prove signs of readiness for solid foods at different times. However, all babies benefit from having solid foods by 7 months of age.
Babies also need solid foods, as well as breast milk or formula, to satisfy their hunger and meet their extra growth needs.
How will I know my baby is prepare for solids?
Some babies seem very satisfied with breastfeeding or canteen feeding, even though they take reached vi months. Post-obit your infant's lead will help you lot decide when they are ready for solids.
Offset with small amounts of soft, iron-rich, pureed foods. Your baby can be offered any nutrient, in any gild, as long as it is the right texture (see below) and is nutritious.
Your baby is ready for solids when they tin:
- sit down upright in a highchair with their head and back unsupported
- they're not every bit satisfied with their milk and seem hungry after they've been breast or canteen fed
- might prove an interest in the food you're eating and reach out to eat some, as well
- testify excitement about food
- open their oral fissure as yous offer them a spoon
Why tin can't I give my infant solid foods before vi months?
Babies need to exist developmentally ready to eat solid foods. Learning how to move food from the forepart of the tongue to the back of the oral fissure so swallow is a skill that needs practise.
Until 4 to 6 months of age, babies notwithstanding accept a 'tongue extrusion reflex' – this means they push food out of their mouth with their tongue. Giving solids before iv to 6 months tin exist a choking chance. Until they're sometime plenty, babies only know how to suck and swallow milk, not how to movement more solid textures to the back of their rima oris to be swallowed.
Giving solids before your baby is ready can also mean they fills up on solids and won't beverage the milk they need to grow and thrive.
For how long should I go along breastfeeding or bottle feeding?
Breastfeeding or formula feeding should continue until your baby is 12 months old. After that, water and moo-cow's milk served in a cup should be your baby's master drinks. Cow'south milk should exist limited to effectually 500ml per day. Some babies can accept an intolerance or allergy to cow's milk, so they may need an alternative, such as soy. Follow your md's or allergy specialist's advice and read food labels advisedly.
Breastfeeding can proceed for as long as you and your baby are happy to go on going, but infant formula is not needed after 12 months.
Read more almost balancing solids with milk feeds.
Can I requite my babe 'allergy foods'?
Allergy foods are foods or drinkable that tin can trigger an allergic reaction. Common allergenic foods are peanut butter, moo-cow's milk, wheat, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts (such equally almonds, coconut and hazelnuts), sesame and soy.
The best time to introduce allergy foods is when you are introducing solids. It is also recommended that y'all introduce allergy foods before your baby reaches 12 months old. Leaving it until they are older may increase the chance of your baby developing an allergy.
If you're concerned that your infant could have a nutrient allergy, speak to your healthcare provider.
Learn more hither near how to introduce allergy foods.
How to start introducing solids
Solid foods tin can be introduced in any order every bit long as they are iron-rich and the food is the right texture. Look for signs that your babe's ready for solids.
In that location is no clear recommendation about the best time of day to offer first solids. But information technology can exist helpful to give your babe solids afterward a milk feed, mid-morning, and so if they're unsettled, it's less likely to impact their night-fourth dimension sleep.
If you lot discover your baby loves solid foods so much that they're cut back on their breastfeeds or canteen feeds, reduce the amount of solids you're offering. Breastmilk or infant formula is notwithstanding an important source of diet for the first nine to 12 months of life.
What are the best foods and textures to start with?
Offering your baby healthy, nutritious foods which will back up their growth and development. When they beginning start on solid foods, they won't need much. 1 to two teaspoons is enough until they learn what'due south involved in analogous their mouth to open, chew and swallow.
Commencement by offer your baby pureed foods that accept a polish and easy-to-swallow texture. Even though your baby won't have teeth to chew and grind their nutrient, they will all the same employ their gums to 'chew'. Equally they get older, they can eat foods with more texture. Chewing likewise helps with jaw and speech development.
You lot can effort feeding your baby:
- atomic number 26-fortified cereals
- pureed or minced red or white meat, including fish
- cooked vegetables. Aim for white, orange, green and yellow vegetables in their diet each day.
- fruit, either cooked or mashed
- cooked and mashed egg
- dairy foods — for example, unsweetened yoghurt and total-fat cheese
- wholegrain bread, cereal and pasta
As your baby grows, transition them from purees to mashed foods with lumps and textures. You can also serve minced or chopped food, so 'finger foods'. These are foods that are cut into pocket-size pieces which babies can pick up and eat themselves.
How important is diverseness?
Aim for diverseness when it comes to your baby'south foods. Colour, texture and taste are all important characteristics of offset foods.
Where possible, cook and prepare your baby's foods and then you know what's in them. Aim for fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked with a minimum of water until they are soft enough to chew. Freeze small containers or water ice-cube trays containing freshly cooked meals.
Near babies evidence some hesitation when offered new foods and textures. It's worth reoffering foods a few times until they show interest or it's articulate they're not keen and would adopt something else.
Share suitable food from your own plate and get into the addiction of offer your infant unlike tastes. Avoid adding salt or strong-tasting additives or spices to your baby'southward food. Their gustatory modality buds are very sensitive and can detect even the most subtle flavours. By effectually 12 months old, nigh babies should be eating mostly the same food as the residual of the family.
Tips for introducing solid foods
- Until your baby is 9 months, offering them breast milk or formula feeds before solids. After nine months, they can have breast milk or formula after their solids.
- Be sensitive to your baby's cues or signals that they are hungry or full. Don't force them to consume or keep offering nutrient if they're turning abroad, endmost their mouth or non swallowing.
- Give your babe plenty of time to do their new eating skills. At outset, they'll spit the food out, may seem unsure or pull faces at the taste of certain foods. Remember, eating solids is as much well-nigh learning equally it is about nutrition.
- Let your babe make a mess. Every bit soon as they are ready, offer them finger foods and the opportunity to pick up food and put it in their oral fissure.
- E'er supervise your babe when they are eating solid foods. Pocket-size, hard foods can be a choking take chances – although babies tin choke on whatever food of any texture.
- Brand sure you lot cook and store your baby's food safely. Never reheat food that has been reheated previously, or that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Are in that location any foods my baby shouldn't eat?
In that location are some foods that are not suitable for infants, including:
- cow'southward milk as their master milk beverage from vi to 12 months
- reduced-fatty milk or unpasteurized milk and dairy foods
- whole nuts, popcorn, hard sweets, whole grapes, raw carrot, raw apples or other hard fruit and vegetables
- honey — this tin incorporate spores of botulism and should not be given to babies nether 12 months
- cordial, soft drink or sweetness drinks
- tea, java or energy drinks
When tin my infant take water to drink?
One time your baby has reached 6 months, they're former enough to be offered h2o to drink. Cooled, boiled water can exist offered in a sippy cup at mealtimes and in-betwixt.
As long as a breastfed or bottle-fed baby is offered plenty of milk, they don't need actress water to drink. It'due south the practice of drinking from a cup which is useful.
Is a vegetarian or vegan diet prophylactic for my babe?
Babies and toddlers fed a vegetarian or vegan diet can thrive as long as their food contains sufficient energy (kilojoules) and nutrients for growth.
Atomic number 26 is particularly important from vi months. Nut pastes (such as peanut butter), avocado, wholegrains, tofu, healthy fats and oils are all great options. Iron-fortified cereal and green leafy vegetables are as well essential.
If you are planning to offer your babe a vegan or vegetarian diet, speak to an Accredited Practising Dietitian earlier getting started.
Which is improve – bought or bootleg nutrient?
Many babies eat a combination of bootleg and bought food. Store-bought food is convenient and like shooting fish in a barrel to ready. It's likewise handy for when y'all are not at home or travelling. When buying store-bought food for your baby, read the labels and attempt to avert foods that are high in sugar and salt.
Although making your own nutrient might exist a bit time-consuming, the advantage is yous know what's in it. Making ane big batch and freezing in portions will go along way. Homemade food will help your infant become familiar with family cooked meals. You tin can serve minor portions of meals fabricated for the rest of the family before whatsoever table salt or spices have been added. Making your own baby nutrient is likewise more affordable.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information on how to introduce solid foods, bank check with your child wellness nurse, or call Pregnancy, Nascency and Babe on 1800 882 436 to talk to a maternal kid health nurse.
Source: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/introducing-solid-food
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