Introducing the First Solid Foods
Continue breast milk or iron-fortified formula such as Similac® Advance®, which is still the infant’s primary source of food for growth and development. But now, developmentally, babies will begin to learn the skills necessary for taking semi-solid foods. The sucking-swallowing reflex becomes more voluntary. They can bring their hands to their mouths and have good head control. When supported, they can maintain a fairly steady sitting position.
If you wish, you may offer your baby 1 to 2 tablespoons of iron-fortified cereal once or twice a day. Mix it with formula, breast milk or water. Always feed solids with a baby spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle, and do not add sugar or fruit. Begin with rice cereal, then barley and oatmeal. Wait 3 to 4 days between new foods to see how well the baby tolerates each new introduction.
After your baby is used to cereal, you may double the amount to 2 to 4 tablespoons 2 to 3 times a day. If you find that your baby’s stools have become firm on cereal, it will help to mix the cereal with apple juice.
At 5 to 6 months, we recommend starting vegetables. Start with single ingredient foods. It might be best to start with a few vegetables first before your child gets used to the natural sweetness of fruits. Every four days you can add a new vegetable or fruit to the diet, building up a wider variety. Work up to a cereal, fruit and vegetable meal 2-3 times a day, plus formula or breast milk.
Begin with “Number 2” or “Second Foods” in 4 ounce jars. There is a big cost advantage compared to the smaller “First Food” 2-1/2 ounce jars, and the baby food is the same. When feeding half a jar to your baby, do not feed from the jar. To avoid contamination, always feed from a bowl.
If your child does not like a new taste, don’t give up on that food. By trying the food again in the future, acquired taste may be obtained.
You may wish to prepare baby foods yourself by cooking the and mashing them, or putting them in a blender or food processor. No sugar, salt or butter is necessary. Extra portions may be frozen in a plastic ice cube tray and “popped out” when needed. Home preparation using fresh foods avoids the problem of food additives and is much cheaper, but where convenience is important, processed baby foods are fine.
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